Tom glanced over at me.
“I'll head home,” I told him. “She's safe and in good hands. If you need anything tonight, you have my number.”
Gratitude washed over his face. “You should take my truck,” he said, handing me the keys. “We'll drive the van home.”
I took the keys from him and gave them both hugs. “Give Leigh Ann all my love, and tell her I'll see her right away,” I told them. They both promised to give her hugs and kisses just for me.
I watched as they held one another and headed back to the post-surgery area. My heart ached. As much as I loved Leigh Ann, she wasn't my daughter. I wasn't going to go back to her and make her smile. I wouldn't be the person she wanted to see.
I sighed and pocketed the keys. Just then my phone buzzed. It was Jacob with a picture of salmon on the grill.
All yours if you're hungry, said the message.
I smiled, feeling my spirits lift. Leigh Ann was safe and I was going to see a handsome man and get dinner. Life wasn't so bad.
I headed out to the parking lot only to realize I hadn't asked Tom where he parked. I pulled out the keys and started hitting buttons. I was going to have to play the “where's my truck” game in the parking lot. I just hoped that Tom parked close.
Chapter 17
It took me ten minutes to find Tom's truck. Luckily, security didn't bother me since it was still mostly daylight out and I was obviously looking for a car. I imagined that this happened fairly frequently.
I thought of seeing Jacob and my body went hot and fuzzy at the thought. I took off my scrub top to show off the low cut tank top I wore underneath. I had made sure to wear my sexy bra today. With the way Jacob and I were going, it was a good idea to wear a sexy bra everyday.
Tom's work truck chugged down the highway as I made my way back home. Twilight crept along the road behind me, finally overtaking me with darkness a few miles from town. I sung along to the radio as I turned down the street leading to Jacob's house. I was going to have to tell Jacob that he needed more light on his street. It seemed like none of the streetlights were bright enough.
That's when I saw the police cruiser flip a u-turn and put on its lights behind me.
I mumbled a curse and pulled to the side of the road. My heart started pounding. I'd been pulled over a grand total of two times in my entire life. This would be the third, and I had no idea where the registration or proof of insurance was for the car.
I turned off the engine and kept my hands on the steering wheel. It wasn't because that was what I was supposed to do. It was because my hands were shaking too badly to put them anywhere else.
A flashlight tapped on my window and it took me a moment to find the right buttons to make the window lower.
“Evening, Officer.” My voice cracked. “Is there a problem?”
“Is that you, Hannah?” A light shone in my face and I squinted for a moment until it moved. “It is you.”
“Oh. Hello, Officer Matthews,” I stammered. I probably should have called him Chief Matthews, but I wasn't sure what his real job title was. He was Jacob's father. He was also the chief of police for Riversville, but I had known him as Officer Matthews growing up.
Officer Matthews frowned slightly at me. The two men were of a similar build, but Jacob had more of his mother's lean lines. Mr. Matthews had a stronger chin and darker hair, but the same blue eyes as his son.
“What are you doing driving the Rochesters' truck?” Officer Matthews asked. He ran his flashlight over the length of the vehicle.
“Leigh Ann, their daughter, had to go to the hospital. I drove her and her mother in their car,” I explained. “Tom told me to take his truck home since I didn't have a car.”
Officer Matthews nodded. He put the flashlight away. “Do you know why I pulled you over?”
I did a quick mental check and couldn't remember how fast I was going. It didn't feel fast in the big truck, but that didn't mean I wasn't speeding. “I, uh.... I mean, uh...”
“Your headlights aren't on,” Officer Matthews supplied.
I smacked my head with my hand. They weren't automatic on the truck. No wonder it felt so dark. I couldn't see not because the street lights were dim, but because I was.
Officer Matthews chuckled. “What are you doing on this side of town anyway?” he asked. “The only person that lives out here is Jacob. Why are you going to see him at this time of night? I was just coming from his place. I half expected to see Katie out here, not you.”
My skin went cold. I couldn't tell him that I was off to shag his son. Especially since he seemed to be under the impression Jacob was with Katie.
That would not go over well. I remembered Officer Matthews as being more patient than his wife, but it still wasn't something I was excited to share. I tried to resist the urge to tug on the straps of my tank top and hide the cleavage spilling out of my shirt. I knew the lace was poking out and it was all I could do not to bring attention to it.