by Rachel Lacey
He got ready for work a few minutes early and took an envelope from the catch-all in the kitchen. As he did every payday, he drove to the ATM and withdrew a hundred dollars. He pushed five crisp twenty dollar bills into the envelope, sealed it, and dropped it into the mailbox down the street from his bank.
His way of giving back to the Hill family. It wasn’t enough, but it couldn’t be easy for Tamara, raising Zach on her own. The least he could do was help.
He was on his way to the station when his cell phone rang. Olivia’s number showed on the display.
“Are you on duty?” she asked when he answered, and a bad feeling took hold in his gut.
“Yes. Why?”
“I need to file another report.”
“What happened?” He shifted into the left hand lane, preparing to turn back toward her house.
“More of the same.”
“I’ll be there in five minutes. Stay inside and lock your doors.”
He turned onto Peachtree Lane three minutes later, and as he approached the little gray house at the end of the street, under any other circumstances, he would have laughed.
Someone had hurled dozens of eggs, splattering the entire front of the house in slimy, dripping yellow goo. A harmless prank, except in this case, because eggs came from chickens, this was most likely tied into her feud with Halverson Foods.
Olivia met him on the front porch, her eyes flashing with anger. “This is disgusting.”
“Good morning to you too.”
“Sorry. Come in.” She stepped back, and he followed her into the living room. The sound of dogs barking and toenails clattering against linoleum came from the kitchen.
“Did they bark during the night?” he asked.
“They’ve barked every night since I started leaving them downstairs. I heard them around three, but when I peeked out the window in my bedroom, I didn’t see anything.”
“This is where that motion-activated camera would have come in handy,” he said.
She pressed a hand to her forehead. “We had that discussion yesterday. I didn’t get a chance to look into it yet.”
“Well let’s get it done now. I can get a camera and install it for you tonight.”
Olivia folded her arms over her chest. “I’m working tonight.”
“Tomorrow then.”
She stared at him for a moment then released a weary sigh. “Okay. I’ll buy the camera; you just tell me which one to get.”
“I’ll text you a link. In the meantime, let’s get this written up.” He gestured toward the front of her house.
“I feel like I’m wasting my time even filing a report. A lot of good it’s done me so far.”
“Reporting a crime is never a waste of time. At the very least, you need a paper trail, a record of every incident showing a pattern of behavior in case anything more serious happens later on.”
“They’re mad because I went on TV.”
“Probably.” And this was exactly why he’d wanted her to lay low.
He took her statement and photos to document the scene, all the while fighting the urge to beg her to back off Halverson Foods for a little while. He knew it would be a waste of breath. Nothing was going to change her mind. “Be careful,” he said instead.
“I am. I have been.” Her chin was up, defensive.
“And let’s get that security camera installed.”
She nodded.
“All right. I’ll be in touch about the camera. Call if anything else happens before then.”
* * *
Pete installed the camera for her on Thursday afternoon. She’d be able to view the feed on her television or her phone, so at least he wouldn’t have to worry about her running around in the dark chasing criminals anymore. And if anyone vandalized her house again, they’d have the fuckers on tape.
When he arrived at the station the next morning, Solomon gestured down the hall toward the sheriff’s office. “Linburgh wants to see you.”
“Thanks.” Pete set the paperwork he’d been carrying on his desk. Somehow he doubted the sheriff wanted to praise him on his most recent arrest. He found Linburgh in his office, door open and talking on the phone
Linburgh motioned him in. “Absolutely, Tom. I appreciate your cooperation. It was great talking to you. Give Marcia and the girls my best.”
Pete stood inside the doorway. He stared idly out the window, watching the sky darken with impending rain.
“Sampson, thanks for coming in,” Linburgh said, after he’d ended his call. He motioned for Pete to close the door.
He closed it and turned to face his boss. “No problem. What can I do for you?”
“I hear you’ve been spending a lot of time with our little vandal, Olivia Bennett.” Linburgh leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head.
Pete’s skin prickled with misgivings. “I’ve been looking into the vandalism on her property, trying to see if it’s tied into the other vandalism around town.”
“And installing a home security system for her.” Linburgh’s eyebrows lifted.
How in God’s name did he know about that? Didn’t matter. “Just helping out a citizen.”
“Olivia Bennett is a troublemaker, and if I have any say in the matter, she’s going to pay for that in court on Monday.”
Pete rocked back on his heels. “I’m not sure what you’re getting at, sir.”
Actually, he knew exactly what the sheriff was getting at, and it pissed him off royally. Linburgh had no reason to take an interest in Olivia’s case or care whether Pete installed a security camera for her. Her crime was a petty misdemeanor, which she’d already made restitution for.
The only explanation was Linburgh’s connection to Halverson Foods. He was going hard on her to kiss ass with his biggest campaign supporter.
It might not be illegal, but it sure as hell made Pete’s skin crawl. Politics had no place in police work as far as he was concerned.
Linburgh leaned forward and poked a finger in Pete’s direction. “Just remember, your objective here is to tie her to the other vandalism in town, not to get in her pants.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
Olivia stood in the courtroom Monday morning, dressed in a black pencil skirt, white shirt, and gray blazer, her hair pulled back in a simple bun. She’d gone for the mature, law-abiding citizen look this morning, and she was about to find out if it had worked.
“Miss Bennett,” Judge Gonzalez said. “You’ve completed your thirty days of probation, and it’s time for the court to rule on whether or not to press charges against you for your acts of trespass and vandalism at the Halverson Foods chicken-processing plant last month.”
Olivia drew a breath and crossed her fingers beneath the desk before her. At her side, her dad rested a hand on her shoulder.
“I gave you a chance to demonstrate that yours was a one-time mistake. However, I’ve learned that you’re still causing trouble for Halverson Foods. Just last week, you appeared on the Channel Two news speaking against them. And the sheriff’s office tells me you are currently under suspicion for an act of vandalism at Frank Holloway’s farm. This leaves the court with some concern about future actions you might take. Therefore, I hereby find you guilty of misdemeanor trespass and Willful and Wanton Injury to Property.”
Guilty.
Panic rose up to clog her throat. She would have a criminal record for the rest of her life. She might even have to serve jail time.
Oh God.
She glanced over at Pete, sitting near the back of the courtroom, but he was staring straight ahead, his expression set in stone.
The judge cleared his throat before continuing. “You’ve already made restitution to Halverson Foods by removing the graffiti. The remainder of your sentence may be served in the form of one hundred and twenty hours of community service, to be performed here in Dogwood County over the course of the next year. The court will provide you with a list of approved charities you may choose from.”
&nbs
p; Olivia closed her eyes. A slow breath leaked from her lungs. Community service. She could handle that. She embraced that. Her throat constricted painfully. How could she have been so stupid? The judge should have dropped the charges against her.
But he hadn’t. And it was because she’d pissed off the powers that be at Halverson Foods. They wanted her to back off. Well, fuck that. Her hands tightened into fists.
The judge banged his gavel, and everyone started talking at once. Her dad muttered reassurances as he gathered his papers and stuffed them into his briefcase. The clerk started calling the next case. Somewhere, a baby cried.
Olivia looked over her shoulder to the row where Pete had been seated. He was gone.
Her dad placed a hand on her shoulder and guided her through the throng of people in the aisle toward the door. She had a criminal record. Her legal career was probably over. Not that she’d wanted one. But she hated having the decision taken away from her.
Hated knowing that she’d brought all of this on herself.
As for Pete, she had no idea where this left them. Would he still meet her at the lake after work? She’d had such high hopes for tonight too. She was really overdue for some great sex, and she had a feeling he could deliver on that, and then some.
“It’s all right.” Her dad patted her on the back as they reached the front steps of the courthouse. “Community service isn’t so bad. I bet you can volunteer at the animal shelter.”
She forced a smile. “Not bad at all.”
“What’s this about Frank Holloway’s farm?” His brows knitted.
“Someone spray-painted cows, but I had nothing to do with it, Dad. I guess I’ll be Suspect One for all the vandalism around town for a while.”
He shrugged. “This’ll all die down soon enough. Can I take you to lunch?”
No rose immediately on her tongue, but she’d taken the day off from work, she hardly ever saw her parents, and some company might be nice. “I’d like that, Dad.”
She followed him down the street to where he’d parked his Mercedes. Her legs felt heavy, and she still couldn’t swallow past the lump in her throat. A criminal record.
Her dad started the car, then rested his hand on her knee. “It’s not that bad, you know.”
“This will make it even harder for me to get back into law school. You must be so disappointed in me.” She stared down at her lap.
“Oh, honey. I’m sorry your mom and I put so much pressure on you. I know you never wanted to be a lawyer. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. You can stop beating yourself up over not wanting to be what we wanted you to be. You’re a wonderful, smart person, and I’m proud of you, no matter what you decide to do with your life.”
She blinked back tears. “Really?”
He gave her a serious look. “I’ve always been proud of you. I’m sorry if I didn’t show it.”
“But I’m just a waitress. I haven’t found a career, or gotten married, or any of the things I’m supposed to do.”
“You’re a smart young woman who’s not afraid to speak up for what she believes in. You give voice to the animals no one else cares about. That’s something to be proud of, Olivia.”
And then he reached across the center console and gave her a hug.
* * *
Pete’s Monday had gone from bad to worse. First he’d watched Olivia be charged with vandalism and sentenced to community service. He’d then spent the rest of the morning sorting out a domestic dispute in which the wife refused to press charges against her abusive scumbag of a husband.
A handful of traffic stops later, he’d been about to clock out for the day when he caught a traffic accident near the high school. He’d had to watch as a seventeen-year-old girl was zipped up in a body bag, her life cut short because she’d felt the need to send her boyfriend a text message as she drove home from school.
Having to deliver the news to her parents, having to watch their hopes and dreams dissolve in utter devastation, had left him somewhere between empty and ready to punch a hole through the nearest wall.
When he finally made it home, he took a long, hot shower. Belatedly, he looked at the clock. It was almost seven. He’d been supposed to meet Olivia by the lake at six.
The charges against her should have been dropped. But she’d had to push the damn envelope and piss off the management at Halverson Foods with that TV interview.
He shouldn’t go anywhere near her. She wasn’t good for his reputation even if she’d gotten off today. And with charges on her record? It didn’t violate a written rule, but it might make the sheriff think twice about promoting him, especially after their conversation on Friday.
She probably hadn’t gone to the lake anyway. And even if she had, she’d probably gone home by now. But tonight he needed a distraction from the grim realities of life. He needed to feel alive. He needed Olivia.
If she was there at the lake, he’d take whatever she would give him.
* * *
He hadn’t come. Of course, Olivia had known he probably wouldn’t. He shouldn’t be with her, not now. But she’d come anyway, hoping against hope. When he hadn’t arrived by six thirty, she indulged herself in a few tears, but they’d only made her feel worse. So she dried her cheeks, sat in front of what remained of the sunset, and meditated.
She worked the tension out of her body inch by inch until she no longer felt the weight of today’s many disappointments on her shoulders. She looked ahead to a fresh start for herself. She would achieve what she needed to with Halverson Foods and begin a new chapter in her life.
Start a new career. What would it be?
Tension coiled in her shoulders, and she shook it free. She didn’t have to decide today. But it was time to start looking around for ideas. Something involving animals. Animal advocacy would be a dream, but there weren’t many paying jobs, and she needed to pay her bills.
“You’re still here.” Pete’s voice came from behind her, and Olivia jumped about three feet in the air, landing in a heap.
She scrambled to her feet, brushing dirt and leaves from herself, her heart throbbing in her chest. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“I just got off work.” He was a voice in the darkness, like the night they’d met. Tonight though, there was a hard edge in his tone. “I’m sorry I’m late.”
“Long day?” She took a step toward him, outlined in the last light of the setting sun.
“Yeah.” That one word said it all. This had nothing to do with her court appearance this morning. He saw things, did things in the line of duty that she’d never want to imagine. He yanked her against him and buried his face in her hair. “Promise me you’ll never text and drive.”
Oh God. “Never.”
“She was only seventeen.” The pain in his voice was palpable.
She wrapped her arms around him. “Oh, Pete.”
He fisted his hands in her hair and kissed her, rough and raw. She went up in flames for him, just like that. His tongue thrust against hers while his hands roamed down her back to her ass, which he gripped, pressing her into him.
She whimpered with need, pulsing with it, desperate to strip him naked and give him release from his pain, to find pleasure together, to lose her fucking mind with what was sure to be some of the hottest sex of her life. But— “Wait.”
He froze, hands still on her ass, his chest heaving for breath.
“Should we—I mean, I was convicted this morning.” Shame flooded through her, burning in her blood, mixed with the fire Pete had ignited.
“No, we shouldn’t, but I don’t care.” His voice was low and rough.
She groaned, letting her head fall against his shoulder. “I want this—you—more than anything, but you can’t sacrifice your career for sex. That’s stupider than me spray-painting a building on my birthday.”
Laughter rumbled through his chest. “I’m not sacrificing anything for you. Are you good for my career? No. But neither are a lot of things. I need you, Olivia.”
She felt how much he needed her, pressed hard against her belly, and dammit, he was still too tall. She went up on her tiptoes and kissed him. “Then have me. Please.”
He let out something similar to a growl, once again crushing his mouth against hers. She gripped his shoulders and jumped, wrapping her legs around his hips. She wiggled against him, his erection pressed right where she needed it. Finally.
Then they were kissing and groping frantically until she thought she might spontaneously combust in his arms. Her skirt had come up around her waist, and the friction of his jeans against her panties was almost too much. The throbbing need inside her overtook all her other senses.
Pete sank to his knees on the blanket she’d laid out to meditate on. He laid her on it, then followed her down, one powerful leg thrust between her thighs. The night air had cooled, spreading goose bumps over her flushed skin. She shivered with delight as he kissed his way down her neck.
A blanket of stars covered them. Somewhere over the lake, a hawk called. It was absolutely the most romantic setting she could have ever envisioned.
She pulled him closer, drinking him in, totally intoxicated with the man in her arms and the nightscape around them.
He rested his forehead against hers. “We can’t do this, not here.”
“What?”
“Public indecency and all that.” He smiled against her lips.
“Please.” Her voice was a needy whisper, and she thrust her hips against his.
He groaned. “Come to my place. Stay the night.”
“Yes.” She held in a groan of her own, as he untangled himself from her, pulling her up to stand beside him. “Just give me one minute.”
She pulled out her phone and texted Merry. Huge favor?
Shoot, Merry answered.
Will you feed the dogs and take them out for me tonight?
Why…? She could almost see the playful twinkle in Merry’s eyes.
You’d approve, I promise.
It’s a work night for me, so this better be good.
