"The law isn't a joke, hotshot. You're trespassing, and I imagine I could make an attempted daylight B
and E stick. " The cuffs jingled in her hand. "Either way, trying is just going to make my day. "
"I didn't go in the damn house. " He'd just been considering it. "And if you think you're going to arrest and cuff me for trespassing - "
"Goody. I can add resisting. "
"Cut me some slack. "
"Why the hell should I?"
"I didn't come up here to poke around. " Though he had poked, a bit. "I'm just as concerned about Mia as you are. "
"Too bad being a lying sack of shit isn't against the law. "
"How about this for truth?" He leaned over until they were nose to nose. "I don't give a rat's ass what you think of or about me. I'm going to make damn sure this house and the woman who lives in it are protected, especially after what nearly happened to her this morning. And if
you think you're going to get those fucking cuffs on me, sweetheart, you'd better step back and think again. "
"It's not your job to protect this house. And if I want these cuffs on you, city boy, you'll be flat on the ground eating dirt while I secure them. What the hell do you mean, 'after what happened this morning'?"
He started to spit something back at her, but then his gaze narrowed in speculation. "Mia didn't tell you?
She tells you every damn thing. Always has. "
Ripley's color came up a little. "I haven't seen her today. What happened?" Then the color drained away again as she gripped his wrist. "Is she hurt?"
"No. No. " His temper ebbed, leaving only frustration. He raked his fingers through his hair. "But she could've been. Nearly was. "
He relayed the story, appreciating when Ripley swore impressively and stalked around the front yard as if looking for something handy to kick.
It reminded him why he'd always liked her.
"I didn't see any skid marks. "
"I vanished them after I cleansed the area," he explained. "I thought it would upset her to see them again. God knows, it bothered me. "
"Yeah, well. " Her voice dropped to a mutter. "You're right. "
"Excuse me? I don't believe I caught that. "
"I said you're right. Don't milk it. You took care of things here?"
"Yeah. Just added a layer over what she's done. She's stronger than she was," he said half to himself.
"And she's thorough. "
"Obviously not thorough enough. I'm going to talk to Mac about it. He has all sorts of ideas. "
"Yeah, he's full of them," Sam said sourly, then shrugged his shoulders when Ripley scowled at him. "I liked him. So congratulations and best wishes on your marriage, and all of that. "
"Gee, thanks, that was so heartwarming. "
That made him smile. "Maybe it's just hard for me to imagine Let-It-Rip cozied up in connubial bliss. "
"Shut up. That was high school. "
"I liked you in high school. " Because he had, he tried again. "I'm glad you and Mac bought the house. It's a great spot. "
"Yeah, we think so. No hard feelings your old man sold it out from under you?"
"It was never mine. "
She opened her mouth, shut it again. For a moment he'd been the lost and restless boy she remembered. And had cared for. "You messed her up, Sam. Seriously messed her up. "
He stared at the cliffs that rose over the sea and spilled down to it. "I know it. "
"Then I messed her up. "
Puzzled, he looked back at Ripley's face. "I don't understand you. "
"She didn't tell me about this morning because we're just getting back on even ground again, after a long time. I dumped her just as hard as you did, so I'm thinking . . . " She drew a breath. "I'm thinking I don't have any right to take shots at you, when part of it's just to ease my own conscience. You knocked the ground out from under her, but I didn't stick around to help break her fall. "
"You want to tell me why you didn't stick?"
She sent him a hard, level look. "You want to tell me why you didn't?"
He shook his head. "No. Why don't we start dealing with now? I'm part of this, and I'm sticking this time around. "
"Fair enough," she agreed. "I say we can use all the help we can get, from whatever the source. "
"I'm going to do whatever I can to convince Mia to let me back into her life. "
"I'll wish you luck. " At his surprised glance she smirked. "But until I make up my mind about you, pal, I won't say whether that's good luck or bad. "
"Reasonable. " He held out a hand, and after a moment's hesitation she took it. Heat shimmered and sparked. "Figures," she said in a dour voice.
"Connections. " He gave her hand a friendly squeeze before releasing it. "What can you do?"
"I'll let you know when I figure it out. I have to finish my patrol. " She waited a beat, inclined her head.
"After you. " She jerked a thumb at his car. "And keep that phallic symbol on wheels under the speed limit. "
"Oh, absolutely, Officer Friendly. " He sauntered back to his car. "One more thing? Let's not mention my little visit here to Mia. She'll just get pissy about me questioning her skills. "
Ripley snorted as she climbed into her own car. She had to give Sam credit for one thing. He still knew his woman.