Total pages in book: 30
Estimated words: 28702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 28702 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 144(@200wpm)___ 115(@250wpm)___ 96(@300wpm)
“Yeah. My guess is that Emma figured it out and tried to do something.”
“She got caught by Finley and came away with the busted lip.” I straighten up and grab the half-empty bowl.
“Hey, I wasn’t done with that,” Frank yells.
“You are now. Time for us to go play some football.”
“What?”
“It’s field day, and Emma said people play football.”
“Touch football, yes,” Frank says as he follows me into the kitchen. I empty the bowl and stick it in the dishwasher.
“It’s tackle today.”
The park activities are in full swing when we arrive. Chief Finley is standing in the middle of some kids, handing out cotton candy. Across the lawn, Emma’s glaring hard enough to burn a hole through the chief’s head.
Don’t worry, babe, I’m going to give you satisfaction out of bed too.
“How about some football?” Frank bellows. He spins the ball in the air. A number of guys come running. I send the teens away.
“Whatever, old man,” a couple of them grumble as I tell them that they can have the field after us.
“He just doesn’t want to be embarrassed by us,” says his friend.
“Getting roasted by some teens,” Frank chortles. “Good going.”
“Can’t have minors become secondary victims in this fight.”
“Good point. Finley’s at three o’clock. Heading our way. Look sharp,” Frank murmurs.
“I see him.” I arrow in on the asshole with a bright, dumb smile. “Chief Finley, up for some ball or do the town tax dollars not allow you to do that?”
He bristles. “The town’s tax dollars are spent efficiently and for the good of the people, unlike the federal government that wastes it on worthless projects.”
“Field day is nice,” I reply. “But if you’re scared to play ball with us, just say that. I understand.” I give him a lazy once-over. “I know how you cops like your donuts.”
Finley’s jaw tightens, and the cotton candy stick breaks in his fist. “Neal, get over here and cover for me. I gotta teach these out-of-towners some manners.”
“I’m from here,” reminds Frank.
Finley ignores him and lets out a piercing whistle. Quickly, he gathers a team, including some of the teens we rejected. No one comes over to our side.
“Just you two old men,” crows one of the teens. “We’ll waste you.”
“Frank and I have been a team for longer than you’ve been able to do multiplication,” I reply.
“Make that three.” A new voice joins us.
I look over to see a man about my height and slightly less built stroll up. He holds out his hand.
“Ezra Jackson,” he introduces himself. “I’m Rosie Remington’s fiancé.”
I arch my eyebrow slightly. Is it a coincidence that the soon-to-be husband of Rosie, one of the women that may have tangled with Finley, turned up out of the blue to join this lopsided game?
“It might get physical,” I warn.
“I’ve been waiting for this opportunity.” He grins broadly.
No. I think it’s no coincidence at all. I nod and shake his hand. Frank does the same.
“We’ll be skin,” Frank says. The three of us tug off our shirts and toss them under a tree. Around us, the women are hollering.
Finley puts his hands on his hips in irritation. He doesn’t like that he’s not the center of this attention.
“We can be skins,” he says and gestures for his team to take their shirts off.
“Nah, you’ve got some minors there. We can’t encourage them to be stripping in front of their moms.” Frank and I exchange grins.
Over at the ambulance station, Emma is waving her hands. I trot over to her.
“What’s up, baby?” I lean down to give her a quick kiss.
“In front of everyone?” she gasps when I draw back.
“Gotta stake my claim, and I didn’t think you wanted me to pee on your leg.”
“No. I actively discourage urinating in public. It’s unhealthy. I also think you should put your shirt on.” She holds up a small towel and presses it against my pecs.
“You so hungry to see Chief Finley’s abs?” I tease.
She makes a gagging sound. “I’d rather pour acid in my eyes.”
“One of us has to make the sacrifice then.”
She giggles, and Sam groans.
“Be careful,” she says, sobering up. “Someone could get hurt.”
I grin broadly. “That’s the whole idea.”
CHAPTER 20
EMMA
“This is not going to be good.” I run my tongue across my bottom lip. It doesn’t hurt, but the mark is noticeable. “How does Vincent even know about Finley?”
“He’s got a bullshit detector?” Sam responds from beside me. I pull my eyes away from Vincent’s chest, which all the female population around and some of the male are staring at.
Sam shifts on his feet. “What?”
“What?” he repeats back to me, running his fingers through his short hair.
“Samuel Keeland.” I glare at my partner. He holds his hands up in defeat.
“Okay, maybe your brother and Vincent pulled me out of bed in the middle of the night to ask me some questions.”