It made her want to cry.
“I—I need to go home.” She pulled away from him yet again. “I’m tired.”
“I’ll take you home,” he offered but she shook her head.
“I can drive myself. It’s okay.” Turning around, she began to walk away, but he caught up with her, grabbing her by the arm.
“I have to drive you home. We came in my car.”
She kicked at the ground like a little kid and he let her go. “Fine. But I don’t want to talk about it. Just take me home.”
They walked together toward his car, a uniformed officer stopping him to talk for a brief moment. She didn’t bother listening to what they had to say.
“They want you to come down to the station so they can get your statement now,” he said once the police officer walked away.
“Of course they do.” She breathed deep, sick of everyone telling her what to do.
“I promised him I’d bring you in tomorrow morning. First thing.” Leaning in, he pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. “Let’s get you out of here.”
“Okay.” She nodded, ignored the tight clench in her chest, could hardly look Nate in the eyes.
She felt his weighted stare on her as he opened the passenger side door and she slid into the car. Biting down hard on her lower lip, she closed her eyes tight to stop the tears.
God, she was so confused. And sad. More than anything, she was disappointed. In Nate and in herself.
* * * *
“You let her go?” Greg yelled and Nate winced.
The headache that started the second he dropped Janelle off at her apartment intensified under his partner’s booming voice.
“Stop yelling,” Nate muttered.
“Why the hell would you do something so stupid?”
“It’s not like she’s going to run. She’s not Ginger.”
“We need to get her statement. I doubt Ginger Pearson is going to be a willing witness.” The look on Greg’s face said it all, expressed exactly what Nate had been trying to explain to Janelle.
Too bad she hadn’t believed a word he said.
“Janelle’s coming in first thing in the morning to give her statement. She needs her rest. She’s been through a lot.”
“Ginger’s
been through a lot too, but I don’t see her resting,” Greg said, still loud enough to make Nate grimace.
“She has an arrest warrant, asshole. Janelle did nothing wrong.”
“Says who?”
“Says me,” Nate practically snarled.
Greg took a step back. “What is it between you two anyway?”
“I’m in love with her.” Nate said the words so quietly, he almost didn’t hear them.
“Say what?” Greg stared at him wide-eyed. “You are in love with her?”