Dear god. “I have to get home. I’ve got a call I’m waiting on.”
He slid his beer toward Cain, but Debra reached out and stopped him. “Come on, Zep. Don’t be like that. I know all about the deputy and how she’s leaving. There’s no reason for you to play the good boy now. We’ve missed the baddest boy in all of the parish.”
“I’m going to need to ask you to move along, ma’am.”
His heart jolted at the sound of the voice. He turned and Roxanne was standing just past the doorway looking like the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen in khakis. She was here. She was standing close enough that he could almost touch her.
“How are you here? You’re supposed to be on the plane to New York by now,” he said, taking her in like she was the sunshine and he’d been in the darkness forever.
“And you’re supposed to be at home watching our dog and cat,” she replied, her eyes narrowing. “I suppose Delphine got that duty.”
“Hey, now.” Debra stood up and faced Roxie. “I heard you were gone and that means he’s fair game, and we aren’t even on parish land so you can’t tell me what to do.”
“I said move along. I’m not saying it in a police capacity, Debra. I’m telling you plainly to get your hands off my man. Unless he’s been doing something he shouldn’t,” she began, sending him a look that had him answering in quick time.
Zep held his hands up. “Nope. I was crying into my beer because I love you and I couldn’t stand the thought of you leaving, and I didn’t even drink the beer.”
“He’s been perfectly innocent, Deputy.” Cain backed him up. “He was, in fact, pathetically lovelorn, and I think you’ll find he’s left you a text. Debra here was getting handsy. You know, Deb, that whole sexual harassment thing works both ways.”
Debra glared at Cain and snorted. “Yeah, sure. Because men don’t like it when you come on to them first.”
“Should I change?” Roxie stepped in, her hands on her hips. “Because the ass kicking I will give you if you hit on him again will not be parish approved. Do I make myself clear? Or should I say it again?”
Debra lost every bit of her courage at Roxie’s words and close proximity. “I am moving along, ma’am. Nothing to see here.”
She scampered back to her friends.
“Have you been drinking, Guidry?” She had on her stone-cold cop face.
“I had a few sips of one beer.”
“And were you planning on driving?” she asked.
Why was she asking him cop questions when they needed to talk about real things? “Rox, what are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in New York. Why are you in uniform?”
“Major’s father had to go to the hospital,” she explained. “He had a fall. He’s fine but no one else could take his shift and I happened to walk into the stationhouse at the perfect time to take over. As for why I’m here, you should understand it’s not for you. I’m here because I want to make this place my home. I don’t want the job in New York, and I’ve informed Armie that I will be staying for the foreseeable future. Now, I came out to this bar because I heard there was trouble. I know this is technically not parish land, but I can still handle my business.”
He needed to make her understand. “Roxie, baby, I made a mistake.”
A brow rose over her eyes. “I would say you did. You’re parked in a fire zone.”
“We have a fire zone?” Cain asked. “I didn’t think we had any of those. Our parking lot is made of gravel and there are no actual spots. People just kind of park.”
Roxie shook her head. “His truck is blocking what would obviously be used as a fire escape should the building catch on fire. So I’m going to have to take him in. Mr. Guidry, put your hands behind your back. You know the routine.”
He was being arrested? He stared at her, bewildered, as she touched his arm, turning him around gently. “Baby, just look at your phone.”
“I don’t look at my phone while I’m on duty,” she replied, and he felt the cold cuffs snap around his wrists. “Cain, I’m taking him down to the station. He’ll come by in the morning and get his truck.”
“But what if we have a fire?” Cain yelled the question over the thump of the music.
“Don’t,” she called back as she guided him toward the door.
What the hell was happening? “I made a mistake. Can’t we please talk about this?”
She pressed him through the door and out into the parking lot, where his truck was parked in a perfectly respectable place. “I’ve decided you’re a dumbass. But you’re my dumbass, and if this is the only way I can keep you safe from your own dumbassery, then this is how it’s going to be. What do you want for dinner? I’ll call it in on our way.”