Free Back to You by Natalie-Nicole Bates Page A

she’s confused.”
    “Well, I’m going to have to do a lot of convincing for her to take any money from me. But I can’t just sit around and allow that cheating bastard she’s married to, take her life away from her.”
    Lynsey admired how much Nick loved his family. But in a way, it was a stark, cold reminder that she had no one. She finished preparing the coffee, set a mug in front of Nick and took a seat at the table.
    “I just can’t believe that Suzy wants to take Doug back after he’s caused her so much pain and humiliation. He should be so ashamed of himself for what he’s done to his wife and children that he wouldn’t want to show his face in public.”
    His gaze locked to hers. “So, you’re saying that a man isn’t entitled to make one major, catastrophic mistake in his life? Does it damn him to hell forever?”
    “Of course everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes really bad and hurtful mistakes. As long as they’re truly sorry for the pain they have caused, and the person they hurt can accept, then I see no reason they shouldn’t be forgiven,” she answered.
    The intensity within his blue eyes caused her to shiver . It seemed to Lynsey that their conversation suddenly took a personal turn. It was time for a change of subject.
    “Hey, I’ve heard that you’re up for a big promotion at work, and that you have your pick of two prime positions.” After the depressing topic of the day, she strove to sound happy and upbeat.
    He looked away. “Oh, and who told you that?”
    She didn’t want to bring Caleb into the conversation knowing how Nick felt about him, so she chose her words carefully. “I heard about it at the party last week. You have your choice of becoming a sergeant or a detective. I’m so proud of you!”
    “Well, don’t be. I’m not putting in for either position. I’m happy with things just the way they are.”
    She frowned deeply. “Why not? There’s no one who’s more qualified than you.”
    “The detective position is for Evan’s replacement. I will not take my friend’s job.”
    It was loyalty to his best friend, she realized. Reaching over, she took his hand. “I think that Evan would be very happy to have you replace him.”
    “But I wouldn’t,” he stressed. “Besides, I’d be cooped up in an office most of the day doing paperwork.”
    “What about the sergeant position? It’s a day shift, and you would still be on the street all day. You would be a great supervisor.”
    He shrugged. “I’m not interested.”
    “Nicky, you’ve earned those sergeant’s stripes. Why would you allow someone who isn’t even half as qualified as you to become your supervisor?”
    “It’s not important, Lynsey. Just let it go, okay?”
    “I think it’s important. This is me, Nicky. It’s Lynsey. Just tell me the truth. Say, ‘ I don’t want the sergeant’s position because I don’t want the added responsibility,’ or, 'I don’t want to be a detective because I’d be considered a rookie again and Owen will boss me around…’”
    “That’s not it at all,” he balked. “I don’t shy away from responsibility! But if you must know everything, I don’t want the detective position because I have no interest in it. As for the sergeant, I’m not cut out to be a supervisor . I froze in a critical situation .”
    Lynsey found this hard to believe. “What happened?” she asked gently.
    “I was on duty the afternoon Evan got hit by that car,” he said as he rubbed circles over his temples. “This…this woman who hit him had been talking on her cell phone, and turned around in the driver’s seat to scream at her kids when she plowed over him in the crosswalk.
    “When I arrived at the scene, she actually had the nerve to ask me when she could leave. Can you believe it? My friend is lying in the middle of the street all bloody, twisted, and broken, and she didn’t give a damn.”
    She wondered about Evan’s accident, but no one ever seemed comfortable enough with