Beneath the Badge (First Responders 4)

He shrugged. “I’m a cop. Occupational hazard. So how come you’re walking? You didn’t even finish a single drink. I’m sure you’re fine.”

“I’m a lightweight,” she confessed. “And I’v

e had a long day.”

“And you only got as far as the parking lot?” He fell into step beside her.

“I realized I’d left you with the bill and was coming back.”

He chuckled. “You’re really something, you know that? Most women would figure they got a free meal out of it and not give it a second thought.”

“I’m not most women.”

“Clearly.”

She wasn’t sure if he meant it as a compliment or not. “Look, most of the women I know wouldn’t have done that, so it’s obvious you’ve been hanging around with the wrong sort of people.”

“No argument there,” he said easily, but his jaw tensed just the slightest bit. Her observation bothered him on some level. Lindsay knew she should not waste time wondering who the wrong sort of people were. She was not getting involved.

They reached the bridge crossing the river and she paused. “Well, see you later.”

He laughed again. “I can walk you home, you know.”

She frowned. “That makes no sense. You live that way…” she pointed back towards the pub and the streets beyond it, “…and I’m a good couple of miles this way.” She hooked her thumb over her shoulder, motioning towards Wolfville.

“It’s a nice night. I can use the walk. Good for clearing the head.”

He was like a bad rash she couldn’t get rid of. More so because she agreed with him. The fresh air and warm sun were great at blowing away the cobwebs of work stress that still lingered, even after the relaxing effects of the wine. Still, for all his flippant charm he had an uncanny ability to correctly peg her behavior, and that was unsettling.

“But you’ll have to backtrack,” she insisted.

“Maybe I don’t want you to walk alone.”

“It’s broad daylight.”

“Things happen then too, you know.”

“I should feel very protected being escorted home by our detachment’s finest,” she commented, adding a healthy dose of sarcasm while secretly pleased on some mysterious level that he was walking her home.

“But you don’t?”

She looked up in his face and couldn’t help grinning at last. “My, Grandma, what big teeth you have.”

He laughed, hanging his head a little as if he was totally busted. She had to admit it was slightly adorable. “I am not the Big Bad Wolf.”

“That’s what he said. Just before he pounced on poor Red.”

Their steps grew lazier. “So, is some big woodsman going to come racing around the next corner, determined to do away with me?”

Was this his way of asking if she had a boyfriend? She wasn’t sure if she should be flattered or terrified.

“No,” she answered. “No woodsman. I can take care of myself.”

They ambled along in silence until they reached the main road heading into town. It was odd how the lack of sound wasn’t awkward. It was comforting. There was no pressing need to say anything at all simply to fill in the silence. They just walked and felt the sun through their clothes and caught the scent of a nearby rose garden.

When they got closer to the heart of town and the houses and businesses were nearer together, Lindsay spoke up. “So, how do you like it in the Valley? Where were you before this?”

“Wolfville’s nice. A peaceful little town. Just what the doctor ordered.”