Always You (Adair Family 3)

What was the positive here?

I glanced at Arro.

I’d saved her from being hit by that car.

I chanted that over and over in my head until it sank in. “I know,” I eventually responded. “Thank you.”

Unfortunately, she removed her hand from my leg. Still, I could feel her there like a phantom touch.

“Who is Lisa?” she asked tentatively.

As much as I didn’t want to remind her I’d been with other women, I was in my forties, and my sexual history was fact. Besides, it wasn’t like Arro hadn’t been with other men. I was almost certain she’d slept with Grayson Evans at Lachlan and Robyn’s wedding. The prick. “I met Lisa years ago when Lachlan was still acting. She was just a police officer in Glasgow then, and we had a casual affair.”

“Oh?”

“We’ve remained friends, and she’s flown up the ranks since. She’s a chief constable now.”

“Very good.”

The sharpness in Arro’s tone almost made me smile. She sounded jealous, and while I hadn’t intended to make her jealous, it did mean she still had feelings for me. And I’d take what I could get.

After updating Lachlan, I assured him, despite Arro’s quiet protests, that I would sleep on her couch. There was no way I was just sitting outside her house. I needed her close. No arguments.

We’d barely let ourselves into her bungalow when the patrol car pulled up and parked. I went to the door and ushered the two constables inside. They asked us questions about the incident outside the sports center, and I explained there was CCTV at the building entrance that might provide useful footage for their investigation.

“You do know this is more than likely part of a bigger investigation?” I asked.

The female constable, PC Bell, nodded. “We’ve been briefed on the situation.”

They asked a few more questions, but when they repeatedly grilled Arro about if she was sure the car had tried to reverse over me, I broke in, “She said she’s sure. And like I said, there is CCTV at the sports center. Don’t you think that’s where you should focus your time?”

The male constable threw me a look, but nodded.

Minutes later, they departed with promises to update me.

“I don’t think you did us any favors losing your patience. It isn’t like you, Mac,” Arro said behind me.

Turning from the closed front door, I shook my head. “I have no patience for the suggestion you’re not intelligent enough to know what you witnessed.”

She sighed, nodding her head. “Aye, I was seconds away from biting their heads off too.” With a shrug, she gestured to the living room. “Go sit. I’ll make us coffee and grab snacks. You must be hungry.”

As I moved into the living room, however, my ankle throbbed and my ribs hurt from the impact with the car. Limping a little, I stopped to pull up my trouser leg and have a look. My ankle was swollen.

Arro sucked in a breath, and I brought my head up. She watched me from the kitchen doorway. “Are you sure it isn’t broken?”

“I don’t think so. If it is, we’re talking about a minor fracture. Nothing to worry about.”

“Take off your shoe and sock,” she ordered, marching over to the armchair to grab its cushion. Then she piled all the sofa cushions with it at the end of the sofa. “Sit, elevate that foot.” She gestured to the plush stack. “I’ll get ice and paracetamol.”

Not one to be fussed over, I’d usually protest, especially after the mind-numbing recovery after my stabbing last year. Yet, I quite liked Arro fussing over me. I always had.

By the time she returned to the living room carrying a tray with supplies, including our coffees and snacks, I was sitting up on the couch with my legs outstretched, foot elevated on her cushion tower.

Arro tutted as she studied the red, swollen ankle before applying a tea towel filled with ice. The frigid touch to my hot skin made me involuntarily jerk.

“Okay?” She looked at me.

I stared into those stunning, pale-blue eyes and felt relief and peace settle over me. She was here, and she was safe. “It’s good, thanks.”