Center Mass (Code 11-KPD SWAT 1)

The IA officer looked at me sternly for a few long moments before she started to leave.

She stopped once she had the door open, looking over her shoulder at me.

“I’m not your enemy, Officer Roberts. I’m here to make sure all is well. You’d do well to remember that. You’ve been reinstated effective immediately,” she said primly, then left the room.

I gaped at the closed door, surprised that she’d reinstated me so quickly.

I’d spent the last week working a fucking desk, and my nerves were frayed.

I hated being behind a desk. I was an action person.

Although getting off in time to get my daughter from school had been nice, I wasn’t the type of person to sit idle and do nothing all day.

I was the get out and experience something different everyday type of person.

If I’d learned anything this last week, it was that I did not want to have the chief’s job. Not now, not ever.

I was seriously tempted to tell him I didn’t want to be acting assistant chief anymore, either. But I knew if it wasn’t me, it’d be nobody. And I wouldn’t leave the chief in a bind like that.

My desk phone rang, and I was just about to answer it when my door was opened, and a very freaked out looking Reese was pushed through my door.

I saw the look of satisfaction on Nico’s face as he shoved her in, and I made a mental note to beat his ass later.

What the fuck?

“Uhh,” Reese said, looking at me, to my phone, and then back to me. “You gonna get that?”

My eyes didn’t leave her lower half for a bit, mesmerized by the tightness of her pants, and what they did for her legs.

The top wasn’t much to look at, but it showed off every inch of her sexy, curvy body.

She looked good. Sweaty, but good.

Then the tear stained face, and the redness I’d mistaken for a blush finally penetrated my brain, and I stood.

“What’s wrong?” I asked, standing quickly.

She shrugged.

Was her daughter okay? Was it her mom? Her sister?

Why the hell was I so worried?

It felt like a punch to the gut to see her face so haunted.

I walked to her slowly, rounding the desk as she crowded back against the door.

Her hair was in a low ponytail at the base of her neck, hanging over one shoulder.

When I reached forward and grabbed her hand, she hissed in pain.

Looking down, I saw that her knuckles were scraped and bleeding.

“What happened?” I asked again, much more calmly than I felt.

Her head hung for and for an instant, I thought she wasn’t going to answer me. Then the next words made my blood boil.

“My ex wants custody of Rowen,” she whispered quietly.

Her head still hung, and I instantly understood her tears.

She loved her little girl like crazy.

I didn’t have to spend but thirty seconds in the presence of her and her child to know that.

Hell, I’d even done some asking around at her mother’s recovery party.

A party that I’d been forced to attend because my sister had deemed it necessary.

Reese had changed her whole life so Rowen could have a better life. So she could be home in time for her to get off of school.

Not once had I heard any mention of the ex. I’d only assumed that he wasn’t in the picture, but apparently, he was.

“Look at me,” I said.

She lifted her face to my gaze, and my heart started to hurt. “You want me to arrest him?”

She burst out laughing, which was exactly what I’d wanted to happen.

“Yes,” she answered.

I shook my head and took her hand, pulling her to the seat in front of my desk.

“I have a few more things I need to take care of, then I’ll take you out to eat,” I said as she sat. “Tell me everything.”***“You wanna come to my place for a few seconds?” I asked as we walked out to my SUV. “I need to go change. It gets uncomfortable when people recognize me because I arrested them. At least out of the uniform I’m not as recognizable.”

She nodded. “Sure. I need to change, too. At least my shirt, anyway.”

I looked her over. “You’re about my sister’s size. I have some of her old shirts at my place if you’re interested. Or we can stop by your house. Whatever you want to do.”

She stopped at the passenger side door, and I unlocked it for her.

I was already about halfway through with helping her in the car when I realized I had my hand on her head.

“Shit,” I said, removing my hand. “It’s habit.”

She was giggling quietly when I closed the door behind her.

Shaking my head, I rounded the SUV and got in.

The powerful engine rumbled to life, and I backed out of my spot next to the chief’s.

I guess that was one of the perks of being the assistant chief. The close parking spots.

Nobody else would dare park in my spot.

They’d tried once and I’d moved their car. With my wench.

Then I’d booted the car so they couldn’t drive until they came to see me. Then had apologized.

It’d been hilarious.

Of course, I hadn’t let them know that I found it funny, but it had been.

“I’ll wear one of your sister’s shirts,” she answered as she watched the town go by through her window.

“Where would you like to go?” I asked, sitting my elbow on the console between our seats.

When I encountered her arm already there, I followed her hand down and clasped them together.

She held on tight.

Her hand felt tiny inside my own.

Her hand was soft. Mine was rough.

Hers skinny and fragile. Mine strong and sturdy.

Her hand fit perfectly into mine. As if it was made for me to hold.

She rubbed her thumb back and forth on my own as she spoke. “I’m not really familiar with Kilgore, yet. I’ve gone to that bakery I saw your friend and you at. And a place called The Back Porch. I haven’t even gone out of the city yet. I’ve heard there are a lot of places to eat in Longview and the surrounding area.”