His voice was eerily calm.
“You’ve got two choices. Come with me voluntarily, or I throw you over my shoulder and cuff you to my car.”
“Handcuffs? I had no idea you were so kinky, Chief.” I replied saucily.
If Jake were a cartoon, there would have been smoke coming out of his ears. He moved closer and I could see the intent in his eyes.
“Fine, fine, I’ll come with you,” I said petulantly. “But for the record, it’s under duress.”
He handed me into his car – the front seat at least, not the prisoner section – and drove to his house without saying a single word. I glanced over at him, noting the muscle that was twitching over his jaw. I’d never seen him this mad before.
“Jake...”
He held up a finger.
“Not a word Evie. I’m hanging onto my temper here by the thinnest of threads.”
I sighed and crossed my arms, getting up my own head of steam the farther we got away from the store. I was proud of the way my girls and I were able to catch Brian tonight, and I could already tell that I was in for a lecture from Mr. “I’m the Law Here”. I didn’t like it.
Jake pulled into his driveway, then opened my door, pulling me out. His touch was gentle, but firm. He tugged me into the kitchen, pointing to a chair. I sat down without a word and watched as he grabbed a bottle of whiskey off the top of the refrigerator. He poured two healthy shots and slid one to me. I ignored it as he downed his shot, then poured himself a second one and drank that one too.
Taking a deep breath, Jake leaned forward, his hands flat on the table.
“What. The. Fuck. Were you thinking?”
I raised an eyebrow at the deceptively calm tone, completely at odds with his words.
“I was thinking someone was fucking with my store, with my livelihood, and I wasn’t going to sit on my hands waiting for your guys to figure it out. Also, I was thinking I was an adult, on my own property, and could do what the hell I wanted.”
“Brian is a criminal who’s had law enforcement training. He could have easily overpowered you three and hurt you. He could have stabbed you or shot you.”
“But he didn’t,” I pointed out. “We got the drop on him and solved the case. So again...you’re welcome for doing your job for you.”
I watched in fascination as a red flush climbed up Jake’s face. I wondered if he had high blood pressure. I hoped not, because he looked like he was about to stroke out. He looked up at the ceiling, as if seeking inspiration from the heavens.
After several deep breaths, he met my gaze. His voice was ragged but serious.
“I love you, Evie. Don’t you get it? If something had happened to you tonight, I don’t know what I would’ve done. It would have killed me.”
I ignored the warm flush in my chest and instead said, “You can’t love me. We’ve known each other for two weeks.”
“When you know, you know.”
“Look Jake, I’m sure you’re a nice guy. And I admit I’m attracted to you and the sex, well, we both know that was off the charts. But I’m not looking for anything serious, and I’m definitely not interested in dating a cop.”
I looked down at my hands and added in a soft voice. “I’m sorry. Truly I am.”
“You don’t want to date me because of what happened with your father? Is that it?”
My head snapped up so fast I think I sprained a muscle. “How...?”
My mind raced. Only two people knew my history: Dawn and Emma. I connected the dots between Emma to Wyatt to Jake and felt a rush of irritation.
“Damn that Emma.”
“It’s not her fault. Wyatt overheard her and Dawn talking about it. She didn’t intentionally betray your confidence.”
When I didn’t respond, Jake reached across the battered wooden table and took my hand. It was warm and calloused and I didn’t want to think too hard about why everything in me once again calmed with his touch.