If I Love You

by Tmonique Stephens

  Mick didn’t say anything until he parked his cruiser in front of the station. “Now, we book you.”

  “Book me? But I said I’m sorry.” She squeaked.

  “And I accept, but you assaulted an officer in front of other officers. I’m sorry ain’t cutting it.” He climbed out of the car and opened the back door for her. With a hand to her elbow, he helped her out. “I’m gonna book you and get you situated. Tomorrow you’ll get a court date and be able to bail out.”

  “Court date? Are you serious!” A slow panic set in. “I can’t have a record. I-I could lose my nursing license.”

  “You should’ve thought of that before pushing me.”

  Ain’t that the truth. But she hadn’t. Thoughts of what she could lose never entered her mind when she saw Noah thrown to the floor after disarming that man. In quick order, she was fingerprinted, photographed, searched for weapons—aka— humiliated, as Linda, another former classmate, gave her a thorough pat-down, and processed into jail.

  She shivered as she was shown to a cell in the basement of the station. Mick handed her a rough, dingy blanket with Property of Sessory Corner’s Jail stamped in bold letters before he closed the door behind her.

  “I’m sorry about this, Kensley. If the sheriff hadn’t been there…well, I could’ve looked the other way, but it’s an election year, and the sheriff has to look tough, especially in front of the cameras.”

  She hated to use the father card, but… “Does the mayor know I’m in jail?”

  Mick shook his head. “Not yet. But I’m sure the sheriff will phone him…and the local news. After all,” he smirked, “it’s an election year.”

  Well, he’d just lost her vote. “Mick, I’m really am sorry about shoving you. I shouldn’t have. I was wrong.” And she wasn’t ashamed to admit her mistake, repeatedly if necessary.

  “Thanks,” he chuckled. “Though I’ve had worse than a shove from a pretty woman, I appreciate the apology.”

  He wasn’t flirting with her. No, really, he wasn’t.

  “I also appreciate a woman defending her man. Though I was on the receiving end, that shit was hot, especially from the mousy girl I remember from high school.” He winked at her.

  He was flirting. And Mick was hot. Not the blazing inferno that was Noah, but definitely a two-alarm fire. “I-I don’t have a man.”

  His brow shot up to his hairline. “Someone should tell the guy you shoved me for. By the look on Noah’s face, he has a different opinion.”

  Right. Whatever. “Where is Noah?”

  “He’s been released. Perry woke up and gave a statement naming the robber. Plus, we got the video.”

  “Great.” Hard to jump for joy when she had bars separating her from freedom.

  “The video also shows Eric as the aggressor. You can press charges against him.”

  She said a quick no. “I don’t need that headache. I want all of this over with.”

  “Understandable. Be grateful it’s Sunday and not Friday. You’ll be arraigned tomorrow and should be able to make bail.”

  Seven a.m. She had to open the clinic to the patients were had lined up early. What would they think when she didn’t show? What would Dr. Fitzroy think when he discovered why she hadn’t shown up to work on time and ready to do her job?

  “Get some rest, Kensley.” Mick walked away, his footsteps fading along with her freedom.

  Kensley unfolded the rough blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders. She eyed the concrete slab with a pitiful mattress on top and chose the floor, close to the bars. Morning couldn’t come soon enough.

  Sixteen

  “Kensley Jacobs.” Judge Byron Sidlow peered over his glasses at her. His gaze narrowed on her party playoff attire. “You’re not related to the late Mary Morris who lived on Preston Road, are you?”

  Kensley swallowed the lump in her throat. The judge knowing her grandmother had to be a plus. Please God, let it be a plus, especially after the state attorney charged her with Felony Assault of an officer. “Yes, sir. Mary was my grandmother. She passed almost three months ago.”

  He nodded slowly, his attention focused. “I’d heard. I was hospitalized and couldn’t attend the funeral. We were both on the school board for a time and the church board. Such a lovely woman. Gracious. I remember her speaking about her granddaughter, the Registered Nurse, with such pride.” He dipped his head and glared at her. “Would that be you?”

  None other. Ducking her head, she murmured, “Yes, sir.”

  His rheumy eyes narrowed further. “She would be highly disappointed to know you had ended up in my court, young lady.”

  If she hung her head any further, it would be on the floor. “Yes, sir, she would,” Kensley sniffed and glanced at her court-appointed lawyer for guidance, but the man looked like he’d just passed the bar and hadn’t had his first cup of coffee. His chin was smoother than a baby’s ass. Hell, puberty hadn’t skipped ahead of him, it had never arrived. Her fate rested in his hands, which meant she and her RN license were doomed.

  The judge harrumphed and shifted in his leather wing back chair. Then he got back down to business and waved the paperwork at her. “It says here you struck Officer Michael Mikelson. Young lady, that’s a serious offense. He’s a respected member of the community.” He punctuated each word with a wave of the paper. Her grandmother had always said the judge had a theatrical flair. Something she’d never liked.

  “She did it to protect me, your honor.”

  Kensley jerked around and stared open-mouthed at Noah. When had he slipped into the room? she wondered since he hadn’t been there when she entered.

  He rose from his seat in the last row and strode down the center aisle as if he owned the place. A bailiff rushed to intercept him. Noah towered over the guy, had him by six inches and fifty pounds of muscle. Beard, shoulder-length hair, flannel shirt with only a Nordic vest for an outer coat, he belonged on a mountain ridge surveying his domain, not a courthouse.

  “Who are you? Who is this man, Miss Jacobs?” The judge demanded, not at all impressed.

  She opened her mouth to respond, but Noah beat her to the punch. “I’m Noah Kirby. I was with Miss Jacobs at the Watering Hole. I stopped a man who was assaulting her and another man attempting to rob the place.” Noah halted at the tiny wooden gate separating the seating area from the rest of the courtroom, only a few feet away from her.

  Judge Sidlow studied Noah over the rim of his readers. “Two different men, you say?”

  Noah nodded once. “Yes, sir.”

  The judge harrumphed. “You did all that, and she protected you?”

  The corner of his mouth curled into a lopsided grin. “Yes, your honor, she did.”

  Judge Sidlow gave a pointed stare at Noah—all six-foot-four of Noah—and then cast a disparaging glance at Kensley’s not quite five-foot-six frame. Quickly, he rifled through the file on his desk and settled on one sheet of paper, his finger tapping. The judge’s glasses slide down to the tip of his nose. “I find that difficult to believe when you’ve proven more than capable of taking care of yourself, Mr. Noah Kirby, formerly of the United States Marine Corps.”

  Noah scowled and cleared his throat. “While that is true, sir, Miss Jacobs came to my defense when the police thought I was the one robbing the place. Plus, it didn’t help when Eric Hamilton lied and said I assaulted him when he tried to drag her out of the bar against her will.”

  Judge Sidlow sat straighter in his seat and rifled through the file again. “I don’t see that here.” He looked up. “Why is this not in her paperwork?” He glowered at the state attorney, who shrugged and studied his own paperwork. “Is that true, Kensley? Eric Hamilton tried to drag you from the bar?”

  “Yes. It was Eric.” In a town this small, she didn’t need to tack on his daddy’s title. They all knew he was the banker’s son. “I even have the bruises to prove it.” She held out her left arm and pointed to the five black and blue discolorations.

  “Your honor, if I ma
y,” Noah held up a thumb drive. “The owner of the Watering Hole was kind enough to provide me with a video copy of what happened at the bar.”

  The judge waved Noah forward and extended his hand for the drive. Noah spared Kensley a glance when he crossed through the small gate and approached the bench.

  The state attorney cleared his throat. “Your Honor, this is not the trial. The evidence can be presented at—”

  “There is no precedent preventing me from viewing the evidence and possibly saving the county some money,” the judge snapped. He snatched the drive from Noah and waved him away.

  Kensley watched Noah as he watched her. He didn’t seem any worse for wear. In fact, he looked rested and showered while she begged not to come across a mirror.

  Judge Sidlow inserted the drive into the laptop on his desk. Five minutes later, a scowl tightened the judge’s weathered features. “That boy is a complete disappointment. This flash drive shows Eric Hamilton assaulting Miss Jacobs and Mr. Kirby. The young fool threw the first punch.”

  He scrutinized Noah with a critical eye, then cackled and pounded his desk. “I can’t wait to see Jeffrey Hamilton at the country club and tell him how his boy thought he could take a swing at a Marine.” He regained his composure and glared at the state attorney and Mick. “While I suspect I know the reason Eric Hamilton is not mentioned in the case file and while I’m sympathetic to the reason why Miss Jacobs assaulted Officer Mikelson, that does not excuse you from facing the consequences, Miss Jacobs.” Judge Sidlow sighed heavily. “In fact, this evidence doesn’t help your case at all. That does not mean the State could not or should not show leniency since you were defending an innocent man.”

  The state’s attorney kept silent.

  The judge turned to the court assistant. “When is the next opening on the court calendar?”

  The assistant tapped away on her laptop. “March twenty-second. One p.m.”

  “All right. The trial is set for that date, in front of this court…unless the state and defense attorney can come up with a deal.” He glared at both men. “Which I highly recommend.”

  Hope bloomed in her chest only to be snuffed in the next second.

  “Bail is set at ten thousand dollars.” The judge slammed his gavel down, signaling the end of the arraignment.

  Ten thousand dollars! She knew the town was a speed trap, especially for out of towners. It helped the local economy. She didn’t have that kind of money on hand. What money she received from Kevin’s death, she locked into a trust she couldn’t touch for a year. It was blood money, and she needed to process the ramification before she went on a shopping spree. At the time, it was the responsible thing to do. Now….

  Did that mean she’d have to sit in jail for the next month?

  “All you need is ten percent of the bail and a bail bondsman to guarantee the rest. They’ll set you up with a payment plan.”

  Doogie Howser Esquire didn’t get it. She had the ten percent, it was the ten thousand dollars she’d have to put on a payment plan and pay interest on. But she had no choice because asking her father was out of the question. Staying in jail for a month also was not an option. She’d lose her job. Shit! She’d lose everything.”

  She turned to her attorney, aware Noah had already left. “Alright. Tell me what I need to do.”

  Three hours later, Officer Mikelson came into view…with the keys to her cage. She’d always liked Mick. He was a nerd in high school, went away to college, and returned home with muscles and an attitude. Rumor had it his sheets never got cold between partners.

  He jangled the keys like they did in prison movies. “Time to kick you loose.”

  Kensley hopped up from her perch on the slab of a bed as he unlocked the door. “Really?”

  He swung the door wide open and stepped aside. “You’re free to go.”

  Kensley bolted out of the cell. “Thank God!” Tori had come through. Her bestie had saved her. Kensley would head to the bank as soon as she had a shower and a meal and repay her every dime. This walk on the wild side would delay her planned move. She’d have to rebuild her nest egg. With the outcome of the assault still pending, she had time.

  Mick showed her to the ladies’ room. Her first glance in a mirror… Whoa. The night hadn’t been kind. Her liner had smudged all the way to her temples, and her hair, the slick style Tori fashioned, had devolved into a tangled nest.

  It didn’t matter. She was hopping into Tori’s car and going home for a hot shower, a meal, and real sleep in her own bed.

  “Kensley.” Mick stopped her with a hand on her arm when she exited the restroom, somewhat refreshed. Voice lowered, his gaze darted around. “I’ll talk to the sheriff. He’ll drop the charges once everyone hears about your arrest. You’re needed here, it won’t go over well.”

  Kensley didn’t want the drama. “It’s okay. It’s not your fault I went ballistic when you handcuffed Noah.”

  “You’re a townie, one of us. You got friends. Everything’ll be alright.” He patted her back, then had her follow him to sign some papers and collect her personal belongings, which was nothing. Not even her purse. She had no coat, no phone, no wallet.

  “I can get you a coat from the donation bin.” Mick offered.

  “Thanks. I’m sure Tori is around here somewhere with my stuff.”

  “Well, keep the blanket. Just in case.”

  Kensley strolled out of the police station and into the fresh air. That first breath…Oh. My. Sweet freedom did have a taste. She closed her eyes and sipped the air like Moet had bottled it and charged a grand for the privilege.

  Then she opened her eyes and focused on Noah, standing in front of his truck. Smoldering in nine-degree weather.

  Where’s Tori? Kensley looked around the parking lot for Tori’s blue 4runner as she carefully navigated the slick concrete steps in stilettos. He met her when she reached the last one.

  “What are you doing here?” she said through chattering teeth. In just a few steps, all the heat had leeched out of her body.

  His brow knit together in a frown. “That’s how you say thanks for bailing me out?”

  A slap would’ve been gentler. “Tori bailed me out.” Kensley had called her and told her what she needed. ‘Don’t worry, I’ll have you out in no time,’ Tori had said.

  “Once the judge set bail, I paid the whole thing.”

  Confused, Kensley shook her head. “You mean you paid ten percent, which, you had no right to do.” The last thing she wanted was to be in debt to Noah.

  Mimicking her, he shook his head. “No. I paid the entire bail. I didn’t want it hanging over your head.”

  She couldn’t believe it. It was bad enough owing him one thousand dollars when she hadn’t asked him for help. But to owe ten thousand. Fuck!

  She pushed him away. More like he allowed her to move him a few measly inches. “You have no right! No damn right!”

  He gripped her wrists to keep her from shoving him again. “What are you so pissed off about?”

  “What am I—” She balled her fists to keep from knocking his teeth down his throat. “I didn’t need you to rescue me. I had Tori for that.”

  He released her but leaned real close. “Do you see Tori here ‘cause I sure as hell don’t.”

  He couldn’t possibly know who Tori was, but that wasn’t the point. She wasn’t here. Still, that wasn’t the point. “I didn’t want you to rescue me because I didn’t ask you. I didn’t need a savior. So, you and your white horse”—she pointed to his silver truck—— “Can hit the road!”

  She spun on her four-inch heels and went for the dramatic exit…and landed on her face. Literally. Stupid heels! She French kissed the concrete and stayed there too embarrassed to move. Until Noah scooped her up and carried her to his truck. He dumped her onto the passenger seat with all the care one would handle dirty laundry and waited as she righted herself and her skirt. On a good day, she and four-inch heels didn’t mix well. Today wasn’t a good day.

&n
bsp; “Are you done?” he asked without a shred of patience in his voice.

  She buckled her seatbelt and folded her hands in her lap. He slammed the car door hard enough to shake the entire truck and crossed in front to climb into the driver’s seat.

  The silence was as loud as his Hemi engine. However, her thoughts screamed in her head.

  Why would he do this? Why did he think he could just show up with ten K and think I’d be grateful? He bought me. That’s what it felt like, but for what purpose? If this was to get into my good graces, he’d failed.

  And where did he get the money? Who has ten thousand dollars to spend on an hours’ notice? Not me or anyone I know.

  “I’m paying you back.” Whatever he was involved in, she wanted no part of it.

  “I don’t want your money,” he grumbled.

  “I don’t care what you want.” She didn’t have the money but would when the house sold.

  The engine rumbled as he opened it up and tore down the road. She was surprised his grip on the steering wheel hadn’t twisted it into a pretzel. “The speed limit is fifty-five, not seventy.”

  He mumbled something she’d swear sounded like, “Still not as fast as your flapping lips.”

  She flipped around and faced him. “What did you say?” And was that a smirk on his face. Hard to tell with his beard.

  The bastard kept driving until he parked in front of her house. She had her seatbelt unbuckled and her hand on the door handle when he stopped her. “I bailed you out because I couldn’t leave you there when it was my fault you were there in the first place. You want to pay me back, fine. I won’t stop you, but there are a lot of charities in the town that could use that money more than me.”

  Well, that was altruistic and unexpected. So why couldn’t she accept it? Why was she still chewing on this bone, and why couldn’t she let it go?

  “Especially the veteran’s charities.”