Filed to story: Reclaimed Book by Roxie Ray
Steph wound his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Be careful out there.”
“You know I always am,” I said, and sealed the promise with a kiss.
I caught Striker watching and knew he was imagining sharing a similar moment with Cassidy.
“Call me if anything happens,” Steph said to Striker. “I’ll be there.”
“I know you will,” Striker said with a salute.
There was still a lot of danger out there, but it was easy to feel safe with Steph and his clan watching my back.
After I got dressed, Cassidy and I went on our way. Rome drove us into town, and Striker followed on his bike. The nail salon was on the main strip of downtown. I bought coffees for all four of us, then Cassidy and I ambled into the salon. Rome stayed posted out front, just like he had when I met with Blakely, but to my surprise, Striker followed us in.
“You getting your toes done, too?” I asked with an eyebrow quirked.
Striker snorted. “Maybe next time. I’m just here to keep an eye on things, not interrupt girl time.”
“That could be a good punishment,” Cassidy said. “Full mani-pedi? Maybe an eyebrow threading? See what us girls really go through.”
“If that’s what you want,” Striker said with his dark eyes fixed on Cassidy.
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her lips parted as she locked eyes with Striker. A second later she snapped out of it, then huffed and turned on her heel. “We’ll see,” she said as she marched toward the pedicure chairs at the back of the salon.
We dunked our bare feet in the warm foot baths, and the nail technicians came over with their rolling cart of supplies. I sipped my coffee and sank deeper into the cushy massage chair with a happy sigh. It’d been way too long since I’d had a proper day of pampering, especially with my best friend-even if she was in a mood. It was a little funny to see her obviously pissed at me and Striker while still sneaking glances at the man leaning against the front door.
“I can’t believe this,” she huffed.
“What part?”
“I came up here for you and Dylan, not to get all wrapped up with a dragon of my own.”
I smirked. “Oh, so he’s your dragon now?”
She blushed again and tossed a napkin at me. “You know what I mean.”
“I really am sorry, though,” I said. “I thought about telling you, but….”
“But it’s not your business,” Cassidy said. “I know. Striker should’ve told me ages ago, not because I happened to overhear him talking about how he’d tell me eventually.”
“Yeah, I’m with you there,” I said. “He was probably planning something romantic. Waiting for all this bullshit to blow over.”
“God, imagine if I was getting ready to head back to Atlanta and he dropped that on me… I would’ve killed him!”
I giggled at the image of Striker putting together some dramatic airport confession, and Cassidy immediately chewing him out for the theatrics of it. She liked a romantic gesture, but it needed to be on her terms. Cassidy was a woman who knew what she wanted.
“So what now?”
“I don’t know!” Cassidy huffed and crossed her arms over her chest. She stared down at her toes. “This is a crazy situation. I mean, you of all people know how pathetic my dating life has been in Atlanta, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready to throw myself at the first dragon who says I’m his?-“
“Sorry to interrupt.”
Cassidy snapped her mouth shut, and we whipped our heads around toward the man who had interrupted us. He was standing with his arms over his uniformed chest, gun on one hip and radio on the other. Forrest. The corrupt Lakeview sheriff.
“I said hold it,” Striker barked. He was just a pace behind Forrest. “What the hell do you want with them?”
“Can you give us a moment?” Forrest asked the salon employees.
The two employees glanced up at me and Cassidy. I sighed and nodded. “Sorry about this,” I said. “I promise we’ll tip extra.”
They glanced at each other, then sighed and stepped away.
“What the hell is this about, Forrest?” Striker snapped.
Forrest glared at him. “It’s not a crime for me to speak to visitors in this town I’m paid to serve and protect.”
“Yeah, I don’t think for a second you do any of that.”
“Harley,” Forrest said, “Can I speak to you privately?”
“Not a chance,” Striker said. His voice was so deep it sounded more like a dragon’s growl. I glanced over at Cassidy and saw her mouth was a little slack again. She wiggled a little in her massage chair.
Yeah, despite what she said to me, she was seriously into Striker.
“That’s not your decision,” Forrest said to Striker. “Harley can make her own decisions.”
“You’re not getting her alone,” Striker snarled. “Not after what you’ve done.”
“What exactly are you implying?” Forrest snapped. His hand rested right on the butt of his gun as he glowered at Striker.
“Guys, guys,” I said. “Can I speak? Since this is about me?”
Both Forrest and Striker turned to face me.
“Whatever you have to say to me, you can say in front of these two. We’re family.” Usually, I’d be irritated about Striker speaking for me, but in this case, he was absolutely right. I didn’t want anything to do with this dirty cop. I didn’t know how deep that corruption ran. How long had he been working with Sean? Had he played a part in my kidnapping? I hadn’t trusted him before, and now I definitely wouldn’t. I crossed my arms over my chest and scowled at him. “What can I do for you?”
“You know, I asked for privacy for your sake,” Forrest said. “I was trying to save you some embarrassment. But if you insist.” He wrinkled his nose like he’d smelled something foul, then began to speak in an unnecessarily loud voice. “We arrested your mother last night for drunk and disorderly conduct. She’s in custody at the station for assaulting an officer.”
“What?” I squawked. I’d expected to be intimidated and bullied, Forrest-I hadn’t thought this would have anything to do with my mother. Jesus. I couldn’t catch a break with her.
“We’ve decided not to press charges.” Forrest said this so haughtily, like he’d given me an amazing gift. He was still speaking loud enough to echo through the salon. “We’re not releasing her on her own. We need someone to take her home. Considering you’re her next of kin, it’s up to you if you want to collect her or leave her in the drunk tank.”
The employees glanced over at us, then leaned in close to whisper to each other. The other women in the salon fell quiet and sent curious glances my way.
Shame burned through me. I felt my ears flame red, and I shrank back in my massage chair like I could escape the looks and the whispers. God, this was so embarrassing. It seemed like everyone in town knew Mom, and now everyone knew she was my mom. I bet the women in here would gossip, and soon all of Lakeview would know.
“I did try to keep this private,” Forrest said smugly.
I exhaled hard. I wasn’t going to let Forrest get to me. She was my mother, but her choices didn’t reflect on me. I had to keep telling myself that if I wanted to stay sane. I pulled my feet out of the warm bath and toweled them off briskly. “Fine. I’ll come get her.”
“I’m heading back to the station,” Forrest said. “Need a ride, Harley?”
“Absolutely not,” I said, at the same time Striker said, “No way in hell,” and Cassidy said, “Ew, of course not!”
“Fine,” Forrest scoffed. “I expect to see you there shortly.”
