Free Dangerous Deputy by Talya Bosco Page B

reminded that the majority of them were as immature as he was.
    “Why the hell are you his friend, anyway?”
    Dennis snorted. “Coworker more than friend. Trust me.”
    “Okay, well then, how about you explain your actions tonight?”
    “Fuck.”
    Julia waited.
    “A combination of things. I’d been trying to talk to you all week, but every time I called, your sister blew me off. And Jim wasn’t any help, all he could do was complain about the fact his wife was being a bitch to him and he didn’t know why.”
    He shook his head. “Hell, even if I’d gotten through to you, I don’t know what good it would have done. Our work schedules were completely at odds with each other. Every time you came off, I had to go to work an hour or so later, and the same for me. I wanted us to be able to actually have some time to talk. Then tonight, when I saw you pull up with Howie, I saw red.”
    “You know Howard?”
    “We all do. He does the work on the department cars.”
    That would explain how Carrie and Jim knew him. Small town. She’d never get used to everyone being so closely connected. Forget six degrees; this town was closer to three.
    “He hasn’t dated since Sarah died. So when I saw you with him, well, I guess I got a bit jealous. He’s an incredible guy and would be a great catch for any woman.”
    “We only went out as friends. He said he wanted to placate his daughter.”
    Dennis smiled. “That little thing is only twelve but you’d swear she was twenty. And she has Howie wrapped around her finger.”
    “Yeah, well, that was it. He fixed my car. We went out to dinner.”
    “I knew he wasn’t ready to date yet, but it was you in the car. I forgot everything I knew about him and thought I’d already lost you. When you took a step back from me, I was hurt. I didn’t understand why. Then when you got angry at me, I started to get angry, too. You wouldn’t even look at me, never mind talk to me.
    “I didn’t think. Or maybe I did. This whole thing started with me pulling the stupid stunt of cuffing you and throwing you over my shoulder, so I guess instinct-stupidity kicked in.”
    “You really don’t think before you act, do you?”
    “Apparently not where you’re concerned. If you ever told my coworkers that, they’d never believe you. Normally I think everything through before I do it. With you, though, I lose all sense.” Dennis squeezed her hand. “When you stepped back, all I could think was that you were afraid I’d really hurt you. Like maybe I had already hurt you. And I have; I know that. Shit. Maybe I should just give it up. Apologize for hurting you and let you go.”
    Julia sat there for a long moment, thinking about everything he’d said. It made sense. All of it. Just because Jim was an ass didn’t mean everyone around him was. Assuming the worst of Dennis because of Jim wasn’t fair. And tonight—well instead of acting like a reasonable adult, she hadn’t even given Dennis a chance.
    He dropped her hands and stood up. He took a couple steps before stopping and turning back to her.
    Julia waited only seconds before going to him. She placed her hands around his waist. “Is that what you want? Do you want me to leave?”
    He turned around so quickly she almost lost her balance. “Hell no. I want you to stay here. Be with me. To hell with Jim and his stupid-ass ideas. Trust me. Believe me when I say that I hadn’t planned last weekend but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
    “I do trust you, Dennis. I know you would never hurt me. I stepped back in surprise. In embarrassment. Shame, even. I left you Sunday without any explanation.”
    He opened his mouth, and she quickly covered it with her hand. “Yes, I heard the message Jim left. But I know Jim. And I’d like to think I know you. The man I was with all weekend wouldn’t agree to fuck someone’s sister-in-law to get her out of his friend’s hair. That man wouldn’t do any of the things the message made me