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She needed to hear it again, more for reassurance, because she believed him the first time.
“No matter what the outcome, Cyn, you will be okay. But I need you to let me do my job. Please don’t make me come after you.”
She didn’t say anything to that because ever since she stepped away from him, she wanted to be right back snuggled up to him, to find the comfort she hadn’t felt in a long time.
A patrol car pulled into the drive.
Hunt gave her one more long look, then went to speak to the officer who’d arrived to do what Hunt had recused himself of taking on so that Rad wouldn’t be able to accuse Hunt of a personal conflict or vendetta.
Rad rushed toward Hunt and the officer. “You can’t arrest me. I didn’t do anything.”
Hunt finished saying whatever he’d been quietly talking to the officer about, then looked at Rad. “I’m not arresting you. But this officer is going to ask you some questions about your missing girlfriend and daughter. I suggest you answer truthfully and tell him where Angela and Lana are so that we can confirm they are alive and well. If not, you’ll be looking over your shoulder until I find them.” Hunt turned and walked back toward her.
She wanted to stay and get the answers, but Rad had already dug in and was yelling at the top of his lungs that he was being harassed by the police and hadn’t done anything wrong.
Hunt put his hand to her back to nudge her to turn around and walk away.
It was the hardest thing she’d ever had to do.
“I’ll follow you back to your place.”
She stopped beside her car and looked up at him. “You’re beyond exhausted. Get in. I’ll drive you home.”
“I’m fine.”
“Your shirt is not only on backward but inside out. You don’t have any socks on and you didn’t even tie your boots. You look like breathing is too much to do right now.”
Hunt glanced down at himself, surprise and dismay lighting his eyes, then he planted his hands on his hips and stared at her. “Cyn. I can’t do this with you right now. I need my truck to get to work in the morning. Just get in the car, and let’s go.”
“You can’t what with me?”
“Argue. Defend myself against accusations you know aren’t true, but want to put on me, anyway. We can go back to that tomorrow, but right now, I just want to get you home where you’ll be safe and out of trouble. Canyou do that for me? Please. Just this once, don’t make me be a cop and let me just be your friend.”
She fell back against her car, completely taken aback by his words and seeing the raw need he had for her to let him take care of her.
“No.”
His shoulders slumped.
“You’re right. I’ve given you a really hard time about doing your job. And then I called and asked you to help me in that same capacity. After the way I’ve treated you, I’m surprised you said yes.”
He opened his mouth to say something but she held up her hand to stop him.
“I’m also not surprised at all that you agreed to help me. It’s your job and you’re good at it.”
“That’s not the only reason I agreed.” He took a step closer. “Or why I rushed out here to catch up to you.”
She heard something new in his voice. “Because you want to be my friend?”
He sighed. “That would be a good start.”
She tried to read the almost desperate look in his eyes. “Because of our connection to Shelby, or something else?”
Hunt took another step closer, his gaze direct and locked on hers. “Somethingmore.”
She didn’t know what to do with that at the moment. “Okay. I’m going to just let that simmer for now.”
“I’ve been doing that for a while, Cyn.”
