As I’m staring at the truck, I realize there’s a large decal of a sheriff’s badge with HFPD written below it on a blue line, on the back window. I’ve seen these on police vehicles and some non-police vehicles around town since I’ve been back in Harper Falls.
I release the breath I’ve been holding and stand at the window for a while staring down at the truck, wondering if it’s Cam in there. As my eyes adjust to the dark, I’m able to make out the silhouette of a man. I watch him reach for something, and when a light illuminates his face, I'm happy to see that it’s Cam sitting there. I’m about to walk away from the window when I notice him look up at me and wave. Grinning like a fool, I shake my head and pull the curtain back in place.
Feeling more at ease with Cam keeping watch out there, I’m able to fall asleep a lot easier than before. He might have been a jerk to me in school, but he’s not an evil jerk. He’s out there to protect me, and I trust that he’ll do just that. When I wake up to get ready for work, a smile forms on my face when I take a peek and see that he’s still out there. A giddiness like I haven’t felt since I was a teenager starts to build inside me. I know I’m being ridiculous, but when I walk out to my car and see Cam standing beside it looking exhausted, my heart skips a beat.
“Did you sleep at all last night?” I ask, smiling up at him.
He shrugs his shoulders. “I’ll be fine.” He tells me as if he isn’t affected by the lack of sleep.
We both stare at each other for a long moment before I look away, feeling self-conscious, and unsure about what’s happening here. Unlocking my vehicle, I open the door then turn to face Cam. “Thank you for coming back last night.”
He steps forward and reaches out his hand to hold my chin between his two fingers. “Roe, I will always come back.” He says before sliding his thumb against the edge of my bottom lip. The small touch makes my lip tingle and my stomach flutter.
“I’m going to work,” I say, moving away from him.
“I’m going to follow you to work.”
“You don’t have to do that, Cam.”
He grins. “Actually, I do. It’s in the job description.”
Embarrassed, I look down. “Oh. Right, duh.” I laugh awkwardly. “Well, we better get going then so we can do our jobs and all,” I tell him, then get into my car. I shut the door just as he’s about to say something. Of course, he’s only doing his job, Monroe. Why else would he be sitting out here overnight? What am I even thinking right now? He’s a police officer, and I’ve got an abusive ex in town. This is nothing more than that. Why would I want it to be more than that anyway? The man did nothing but bully me the whole time I was in high school.
Cam stands there for a moment, looking confused before turning around and going back to his truck. He pulls out of my driveway and waits for me to do the same, then follows me to the coffee shop.
When I park, I’m not expecting him to pull up beside me and get out.
“I got it from here. You can go now.” I tell him, but he gives me an irritated look and walks beside me as I make my way to the back door.
Once I unlock it, Cam draws his weapon and holds it at the ready before walking in ahead of me. “Stay behind me. I want to check things out before I leave you here.” He murmurs.
Jesus, that’s sexy as hell. I’m not paying attention to where we’re going. Instead, I’m staring at his ass, his firm ass, as he walks through the coffee shop checking things out—his biceps bulge against the sleeves of his t-shirt. The man has seriously filled out in the last ten years. He played sports throughout high school, keeping him fit, but he’s added a ton of muscle, everywhere, and a couple of inches since then. He’s got to be at least a foot taller than me, and I’m five foot four. My head is in the gutter, imagining what he could do to me with all of those muscles when he stops in front of me. I run into him and bounce off, falling on my ass at his feet.
“Oh, my God!” I groan to myself, not daring to look up at him.
Two hands come into my line of sight and reach out to help me up. When I look up at Cam, he’s smirking like the pompous ass he’s always been. Grabbing onto his hands, he pulls me to my feet, leaving only an inch or two between us. One second my breath is catching in my chest as I watch his tongue lick his bottom lip, and the next, he’s tangling his hand in my hair and pulling me in for a searing kiss that leaves me gasping. I reach up and hold his neck in my hands as his other hand wraps around my waist and grips me tightly as he takes control. Our kiss goes from hot to explosive. Walking me backward, my back hits a wall just as he squeezes my ass in his large hand, making my pussy clench in need.
Distantly, I hear a throat clear, and I pull away just enough to see Dani standing there staring at us with a massive smile on her face. “Sorry. Didn’t mean to interrupt. You two carry on with what you’re doing,” She says, walking towards the front.
Once she’s out front, I push him back, putting space between us. “What are we doing?”
His warm eyes burn into mine as he smirks. “Something we should have done a long time ago.”
“Isn’t this sort of thing against the rules?”
His brows pull together. “What are you talking about?” He laughs, only pissing me off.
“Or do you make it a habit to go around kissing the women in the cases you’re working?”
“Don’t be like that, Roe. I have more respect for you and my job than that. You’re different, you always have been.”
“Am I?” I question, crossing my arms against my chest.
“Let me take you out tonight, and I can prove it to you.” He says, stepping up to me, rubbing his hands up and down my arms.
“We shouldn’t. This is going to get even more complicated than it already is.”
“My Captain already knows this is personal for me.”
“He does? It is?” I gasp as my cheeks heat. I hate that so many people know my business.
“He doesn’t like it, but he knows that I won’t rest until we get your bastard of an ex put away where he can’t hurt you anymore.
Whatever happens between us, I’m going to make sure we get him, Roe. I promise you that. Men like him shouldn’t be out on the streets.”
“I hope you do. Honestly, I just wish he’d leave so that I can live my life in peace.” I can tell Cam doesn’t like what I’ve said, but I can’t worry about that. “Look, I’m going to get out there and help Dani setup. We’ll have people here in less than an hour beating the door down for their caffeine fix. Thanks again for last night and this morning.”
“You don’t have to thank me, Roe.”
“Because I’m a job?” I sass, confused about everything.
“Because you’re you and I’m me. Because the last thing I want is for someone to steal the light that’s starting to come back into your eyes again. Where’s the fire that used to blaze there before?”
I shrug. “Must have fizzled out. Flames don’t burn eternally.”
Cam captures me in his gaze, “Sometimes they do. I’ll see you in a few hours. Call me if you need anything before then.” He says before walking out the back door.