Free Only Love by Victoria H. Smith, Raven St. Pierre Page A

judgment in his tone. It seemed as though he simply wanted to figure out what had caused me to retreat so quickly. “I just thought that since… since it’s always just you and—”
    I reached down and grabbed Gabby’s box, wanting to flee before Adam had a chance to see the heavy onslaught of guilt that was going to take over my expression in 3… 2… 1…
    “I’m sorry, Adam, but this was all a mistake. I shouldn’t have…” I trailed off, knowing I only half believed what I was about to say anyway. “I have to go.”
    Confused, Adam stepped away and let me leave without protest. I took the steps down to my floor by two, wondering how and why I let him get inside my head like I had. But it was the truth. I liked him—more than I was allowed to seeing as how it wasn’t just Rissa and me like Adam assumed. The truth was, I was still very much in a committed relationship with Javi, and I’d just messed up.
    Big time.
     
     

 

    Maybe I misread the signs with Aubrey. I mean, I didn’t plan what happened. Kissing her. Tasting her. But that’s what I wanted, what I felt like she wanted too, which was why I had or I never would have went there with her. I must have gotten lost somewhere along the course of the events last night. Maybe I picked up signals that may not have been there. But then again, I didn’t think so. She said she shouldn’t with me. Not that she didn’t want to.
    Was there someone else?
    That question plagued me since last night, and into today at the start of my shift, my partner driving us around the residential neighborhoods, tapping his finger on the steering wheel while he whistled. If I was being honest, that question haunted me a bit earlier as well. Aubrey had a child, and whether it was just she and Rissa the majority of the time or not, her baby had a father. He might be in the picture, he might not, but he was there.
    I should have asked her about him. You can never assume anything when it comes to dealing with a situation that involves a child. That was my fault. I wouldn’t make it again. If she didn’t say anything first the next time I saw her, I’d ask. I really liked Aubrey, yes. But I’d back off if that’s what she needed me to do. It wasn’t just her in this situation, and I needed to be conscious of that.
    Don’s deep laugh kicked up beside me, causing his dark mustache to move with the sound. “Check that out.”
    And I did, just ahead to a vintage muscle car stopped at the light in front of us. The owner took care of his baby. A perfect shine gleaming off the rims and a fine paint job let me know this work wasn’t done by an amateur. I didn’t consider myself much of a car guy, but I could definitely give a nod to some nice art. A comment beside me let me know that’s not why Don called attention to the vehicle.
    “Everything on that car is probably hot,” he said. “These people.”
    He smirked and pointed at the back to a detail I missed because what other reason would I have to call attention to it. His index figured directed to the bumper, a decal of a Puerto Rican flag on the back.
    I glanced back to the light, not regarding the comment or the action. I’d like to say instances such as this never happened with Don. Damn, did I. But unfortunately, I couldn’t. The man was a damn good cop, but even the best of us could be the most shortsighted.
    The light changed and I forced myself to ignore the turn in my gut by yet another occurrence of this with Don today, but the feeling didn’t ebb away long. Our dash vibrated as the car ahead turned on their radio at the change of the light. The sound of music I normally listened to cut through the air, but at about ten times the volume I listened to it. We cruised behind the vehicle for a bit, not following as we were on route, but when Don’s knuckles went white on the wheel, his jaw working at the car traveling down the street in front of us, I realized every meter traveled could easily be interpreted as