Total pages in book: 73
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 70115 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 351(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 234(@300wpm)
“I can’t do this now.” Hugo could hear the plea in his voice, and he hated himself for it. “I know you’re in pain, but I just got off a week of all-nighters and now you show up drugged and injured in the emergency room and I…”
I want to take you home. I want to take care of you. I want to forgive you and fuck you until neither one of us can move for a week.
The sober expression reminded Hugo of the uptight, public persona he’d used as chief. “You’re right. Now isn’t the time. Go home, Wayne. Get some sleep.”
Hugo took a step away from the bed, telling himself he was relieved. But the way he’d said it had gotten under his skin. “Was that an order? You’re in no shape to be telling anyone what to do, and we both know I don’t work under you anymore.”
What was he doing?
Don’t argue. Just leave.
Solomon shook his head wearily. “Hugo, if I thought I could get away with it, the last thing I’d do is order you to go away. And I think what we both know is that I’d be the one under you.”
Damn. Solomon under him. The ideas those words were giving him…
“Hell, I wouldn’t have been in the shower alone in the first place, working out my frustration with my ha—”
“Your cousin is on his way.” Bronte ripped the curtain open, cutting him off mid-sentence. Her short-legged stride brought her to Hugo so quickly he almost flinched in surprise. “One of the good ones, although I should tell you he laughed for at least two minutes when I told him about the one who stole your car. And I talked to the doctor about your reaction. He says it’s not that unusual, and after this first dose, they shouldn’t make you too loopy if you need them again while you’re recovering.”
That was probably a good thing. Too much honesty from Solomon would destroy all of his defenses in under an hour.
“You go on, Hugo.” Bronte was suddenly in front of him, pushing his bag against his chest and basically marched him out of the room. “Get some rest so you won’t be a zombie for your birthday dinner.”
He was hesitating again. “You’re on duty upstairs. I could hang around until Seamus—”
“Go home now. I’ll stay with him.” He knew that tone. It meant he wasn’t going to win this argument.
“Okay, Bronte, I’m going.” He met Solomon’s heated gaze and frowned. “If you need anything…”
He’d what? Come running? Hadn’t he been the one to cut the cord between them for a hundred valid reasons he couldn’t remember right now?
“Thanks,” Solomon said, cutting through the awkward silence. “And happy birthday, Hugo.”
He nodded mutely, turning and making his way to his car without seeing anything but his favorite shade of blue and an emotion in Solomon’s eyes that he’d wanted to see for years.
Something that couldn’t be there. Not after all this time.
Chapter Three
“This is a bad idea.”
Solomon watched Seamus kiss his daughter Penny and whisper in her ear, sending her into a fit of giggles before she nodded and ran outside to join her brothers in the backyard. Even though he had a feeling the laughter was at his expense, he wished he could join her. At this point, he’d even wear one of her tiaras. She’d love that.
You’ve entered the bargaining stage. Not a good sign.
“Bell, tell Solomon that ties are not a bad idea. Normal people dress up a little when they go over to a stranger’s house for a party. It happens all the time. At least I let you keep the jeans.”
“Let me?” Solomon looked down at the skewed tie and cursed as he brushed back the hair that fell forward to obscure his vision. “I should have gotten this cut today.”
“I have rubber bands. Most of them are pink, but I have them.”
He felt like snarling. “That would be perfect. An unemployed ex-cop in borrowed clothes with a pink ribbon in his hair is exactly the kind of man you’d invite to a family dinner.”
He still wasn’t sure why Bronte Wayne had extended the invitation. He remembered them talking before Seamus came to pick him up. Well, she listened. He was pretty sure he’d done most of the talking, though he couldn’t remember exactly what was said.
He had a feeling it was mostly about Hugo.
By the time he was walking out the doors Bronte had made him promise he’d come to her parents’ house for Hugo’s birthday dinner the next day. She’d even given Seamus the information so he wouldn’t forget.
He got the sense she was trying to give him the opportunity to have the conversation with Hugo her brother had been avoiding. Or maybe she just felt sorry for him because he’d been so pathetic.