Protective Lawman (Warrior Peak Sanctuary), page 17
That was one thing she loved about Aaron—he was always so thoughtful and he cared about her feelings. “I’m excited,” she replied. “A little anxious, too, if I’m being honest. The last first day I had at a police department didn’t go so well.” She shrugged a shoulder.
He tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “That’s true, but just remember that Blue Ridge isn’t Kings Mountain, and there are more good cops out there than ones like what we dealt with from Kings Mountain.”
She sighed. “I know you’re right. I’m excited to be part of the department here. Willis has been such a big help with our case.”
“You have a lot to offer the BRPD. I’ve always known you were a good cop, even before I fell in love with you,” Aaron said.
Bailey smiled. “Right back at you, Ward.”
Aaron laughed. “Want to make some breakfast together before you have to get ready to go?”
She sat up and swung her legs off the side of the bed. “Yes, that sounds great.”
They made their way into the tiny kitchen of the cabin where they lived. Even though it was a small, cramped space, it was sentimental to Bailey because it was their first place together. She knew that someday they would need to find another bigger place, but for now, she was happy right where they were.
They worked together like a well-oiled machine. Bailey brewed the coffee and set the table while Aaron scrambled eggs and made some toast. Then they sat down to eat breakfast together, like they did almost every day. They chatted comfortably about the sanctuary, their friends, and Aaron’s plans for the day while Bailey was at work.
After they cleaned up their dishes, Bailey took a shower and got dressed for work. She looked at herself in the full-length mirror—it almost felt strange to be wearing a uniform again after everything that had happened. It felt good, though. Being a police officer was what she was meant to do. She’d never been more sure of that.
She walked out of the bedroom and into the small living room where Aaron was, and did a flirty little spin like she was a supermodel at the end of a runway. “What do you think?”
Aaron whistled. “Hottest new cop I’ve ever seen in Blue Ridge,” he said, linking his arms around her waist.
She swatted his chest playfully. “You probably say that to all the new cops.”
He tipped his head back and laughed. “I can assure you, I definitely do not.”
She went up on her toes and kissed him. “I love you. I’ll see you tonight.”
“I love you, too. You’re going to kill it today, and I can’t wait to hear about it when you get back.”
Bailey smiled as she walked out the front door of the cabin to her truck. She couldn’t wait to see what the day had in store for her.
* * *
Bailey drove down the mountain toward the town of Blue Ridge, thinking about the accident she’d had on that very road just a few months earlier. Although it was a scary, horrible, painful situation, ultimately it was what had allowed them to arrest Ziegler and his band of crooked cops, and get justice for the people who had suffered because of them.
She pulled into the parking lot of the small-town police department and took a deep breath, gathering her courage. She knew Willis and had met many of the other officers while working the case to put the corrupt cops behind bars. It was also part of living in a small town—almost everyone knew each other in some capacity, even if the only interaction they had was a friendly wave when their paths crossed at a local store.
She realized that she enjoyed small-town life more than she thought she would. When she thought back to her time working behind a desk in a small beach town and how much she wanted to get back to Kings Mountain, she couldn’t believe how her life, and desires, had changed. She didn’t need fast-paced and dangerous. She was perfectly content to make sure that Blue Ridge stayed the safe and quiet little town it was. Of course, Aaron being in the safe and quiet little town had a lot to do with her change of heart as well.
With one last calming breath, she stepped out of her truck and walked toward the front doors of the police station. Once inside, she walked up to the front desk, where a pleasant-looking older woman sat.
“Hi, I’m—” she started.
“Bailey!” the woman exclaimed, her face lighting up with a smile. “I know who you are, honey. Sheriff Willis is waiting for you in his office. Do you want me to show you the way?”
Bailey couldn’t help but smile back at the kind woman. “You don’t have to do that. I know the way.”
The woman nodded. “Okay, dear, but let me know if you need anything. My name is Evelyn.” She leaned in conspiratorially. “I keep these officers here in line like they’re my own children. You be sure to let me know if anyone gives you any problems.”
Bailey’s smile widened. “Thank you, Evelyn. I’ll be sure to let you know.”
“See that you do,” Evelyn replied, waving her off toward the sheriff’s office.
Bailey was still smiling from her interaction with Evelyn as she walked down to Willis’s office, finding the door open. He was on the phone but motioned for her to come in and have a seat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. She looked around the room while he finished his phone call. On the walls were awards and certificates, and on his desk and credenza behind it were pictures of his wife, kids, and grandkids. She smiled at one particular picture of a little boy, face smudged with mud, holding up a tiny fish and grinning broadly like it was his prized possession.
Sheriff Willis said his goodbyes to the person he was talking to and hung up the phone. “Sorry to be on the phone when you first arrive, Bailey.”
“No apology necessary, sir, I know you’re a busy man,” she replied.
Willis nodded his thanks. “I take it you met Evelyn out at the front desk?”
“Yes,” she confirmed. “She seems very nice.”
“Oh, she is,” he replied. “Just don’t get on her bad side. One time I tracked mud through the lobby after I had been walking through the woods in the rain for a case. She was so mad that I had to bring her that fancy coffee she likes every morning for a week before she would forgive me.”
Bailey chuckled. “No to mud, yes to coffee. Noted.”
“I think you’re going to fit in here just fine,” he said with a smile. “Do you want to go meet the others before I show you the ropes and give you the whole introductory spiel?”
Her stomach flipped but she nodded confidently. “Yes, that sounds great.”
She followed behind Sheriff Willis as he led her out to the bullpen where the officers’ desks were.
“Everyone, this is Bailey,” Sheriff Willis said over the din of the busy environment. “Bailey, this is everyone.” He swept an arm around the room.
Bailey smiled and waved awkwardly. “Uh, hi, everyone.”
“You’ll have a chance to learn everyone’s names and get to know them personally soon,” Sheriff Willis promised.
Throughout the day, almost every single person found Bailey to talk to her and kindly welcome her to the department. Some of them asked questions about how Aaron was doing or how things were going with the rebuilding of the parts of the sanctuary that were damaged in the fire. She realized that she had no reason to be worried about these people being like the guys she had worked with in Kings Mountain. Aaron had been right—they were good cops and good people. She was excited to be a part of this group of officers.
By the end of the day she was tired but happy. Some of the officers invited her to grab a beer at the local bar after their shift, but she declined, promising to join them next time. She didn’t say no because she was worried about a repeat of what had happened at the bar in Kings Mountain, but because all she wanted to do was get home to Aaron and tell him about her day.
She got in her truck and drove back toward Warrior Peak. She waved at Hannah and River, who were taking a walk, as she drove by but didn’t stop to talk. She would give them all the details about her first day on the job tomorrow. Right now, the only person she wanted to talk to was Aaron.
When she pulled up in front of their cabin, she paused for a moment, taking in its charm. Sure, it was small and rustic and the hot water didn’t always work, but if home was truly where the heart was, then this was definitely home. At the end of a long day, that’s all she could ask for.
She got out of her truck and walked into the cabin to find Aaron cooking dinner. He turned and smiled when she came in.
“Hello, officer,” he said with mischief in his eyes. “I promise I’m not doing anything illegal.”
She tried to look stern, playing along. “I sure hope not, or else I might have to handcuff you.”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Is that so?”
She nodded solemnly. “Yes, and I was given my department-issued cuffs today, so you better watch it, buddy.”
He laughed. “Let’s save that for later. First, let’s eat and you can tell me all about your day.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” she said. “I’m starving and whatever you’re making smells delicious.”
They sat down and ate together, and she told him all about her day. The people she’d met, how kind they’d been, and how much she looked forward to working for the department. Aaron listened and asked a few questions, then told her about his day. He’d had some physical therapy and then worked on some small projects that he had convinced Lawson and Xavier to let him do.
“Sounds like we both had a pretty productive day,” Aaron said.
Bailey nodded in agreement. “Are you ready to do it all over again tomorrow?”
“I guess so,” Aaron replied. “But first, I have some other plans for us tonight.”
“Do you?” she said coyly, standing up from the table.
He stood, too, and grabbed her around her hips, lifting her off the ground. “I sure do. Let me show you.”
She wrapped her legs around his waist as he walked them into the bedroom, and couldn’t remember a time she was so content in all areas of her life.
She was finally where she was meant to be.
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Aaron looked around the cabin that he and Bailey shared and sighed. Things were quiet now that she worked and wasn’t around all day. He was so incredibly proud of her, but he missed her when she was gone. He had gotten used to slow mornings, midday walks to visit Wheatie and give her treats, afternoon coffee on the tiny back porch of their cabin, and cooking dinner together every night.
They could still do those things sometimes, just not every day like they had been. It didn’t help that he wasn’t fully back to work, building and doing other physical jobs around the lodge grounds. He could admit that he was a little envious of Bailey being able to put that uniform on each morning and go to work helping people. While he didn’t want to be a police officer anymore, he did want to do something that mattered.
He felt like what he did at the sanctuary mattered. Now, if he could just convince Lawson and Xavier that he was healed up enough to go fully back to his job. He’d been consistent with his physical therapy and going to all of his doctor’s appointments. He felt strong and capable of returning to work. He decided he was going to go talk to Lawson and Xavier about it right then and there.
He made his way to the main building, stopping to pet Wheatie and give her an apple. Even though Wheatie seemed happy to see him, she looked past him as if she was searching for Bailey. When she didn’t see her, she turned doleful eyes back to Aaron.
“I know you miss her, girl,” he said softly to the horse, stroking her silky head. “I do, too, but she’ll be back this evening and I know she’ll want to come out here to see you.”
Wheatie nudged him gently with her nose and snorted like she understood what he was saying. With one more pat, he left Wheatie in the paddock and continued toward the lodge. He was a little bit nervous about this conversation with Xavier and Lawson, because not only did he want to talk about fully returning to work, but he also had something else important that he wanted to ask them.
When he stepped through the doors of the lodge building, he saw Hannah.
He waved at her. “Hey, Hannah, have you seen Lawson and Xavier? I was hoping to have a meeting with both of them.”
Hannah’s brows shot up. “Yeah, I think they’re both in Lawson’s office. Is everything okay?”
“Yep. Everything is great,” he replied reassuringly.
Something like relief passed over her face. He knew she worried about everyone after the fire and the other things that had happened that night.
“How is Bailey liking her new job at the police department?” she asked. “I feel like I haven’t had much of a chance to talk to her about it because she’s been so busy.”
“She’s really loving it,” he said with pride in his voice.
“I’m so glad to hear that.” Hannah smiled. “Hopefully, I’ll catch up with her soon. But for now, I’m going to let you go track down the guys, and I need to head to town for some supplies.”
They said their goodbyes and Aaron continued down the hallway toward the offices. When he reached the outside of Lawson’s office, he knocked twice.
“Come in,” Lawson called.
Aaron opened the door and poked his head in, where he saw both Lawson and Xavier, just as Hannah had predicted. “Hey guys, I was hoping to have a conversation with you. Do you have a few minutes?”
Xavier and Lawson exchanged glances before looking back at him. “Sure,” Xavier said, gesturing to a chair next to him. “What’s on your mind, Aaron?”
Aaron took a seat and a fortifying breath before jumping in. “I’m ready to start working again.”
Lawson looked confused. “You have been working.”
“No.” Aaron shook his head. “I mean, like my real work. I want to get back to building and all of the things I was doing before my injury and surgery. Not the easy little odd jobs you’ve been creating to make me feel useful.”
“Aaron,” Xavier started. “You were shot only a few months ago. We just want you to have a chance to heal up before you’re back to climbing ladders and doing all of the other things you do.”
Aaron made eye contact with each of them. “I am healed up. My doctor cleared me and he said I can go back to my life—and work—as usual.”
The men smiled genuinely. “That’s great news, Aaron,” Xavier said. “Just promise to let one of us know if something is too much or if you start to feel like you need to take a step back again.”
“I will,” Aaron promised, and excitement bloomed in his chest.
“Was there anything else you wanted to talk to us about?” Lawson asked.
“Actually, yes, there is…” Aaron trailed off, trying to decide how he was going to bring up this next topic he wanted to talk to them about. “It’s about Bailey and me.”
For the next hour, Aaron, Lawson, and Xavier talked through logistics, asked questions, and Aaron showed and explained the plans he had.
“Bailey doesn’t know any of this yet, though,” he warned. “I would appreciate it if you could keep this between us for the time being.”
Lawson and Xavier agreed.
By the time Aaron left Lawson’s office, he was so excited and relieved. And for the first time in a long time, he was looking toward the future, instead of dwelling on the past. He knew exactly who to thank for that.
With Bailey by his side, he knew there was nothing they couldn’t accomplish together.
Forever.
Epilogue
Bailey edged the car to a halt at the edge of the path, letting out a long sigh as she pulled her hair from her ponytail and shook it loose. No matter how long the day, no matter how hard the case, she was always glad to come back to this place. It was home to her. But more importantly, it was home to Aaron, and she couldn’t wait to see him.
She climbed out of the front seat and locked up the car, then tucked her keys into her pocket. She’d been given her own cruiser a couple of months ago, and she was still proud to drive it. A reminder of how far she had come, and how well she had done in earning Willis’s trust.
It had been nearly a year since she’d arrived at Warrior Peak Sanctuary, and the difference between her then and her now was almost staggering. When she’d gotten here, she’d been a scared little girl, on the run for her life. Now, she was a self-assured woman who had a thriving career and a reputation for bringing down the shadiest cops in the business.
The relief of knowing that the men who had tormented her and Aaron were behind bars was immense to her, even more than she thought it would be. They had each been put away on plea deals, and a handful of cold cases had already been solved based on evidence they had obscured or destroyed, with a few more well on their way to the same end. She had been working with the victims directly, doing what she could to restore their faith in the police after what they had been through. She could only imagine how hard it had been for them, and she was able to relate to them based on her own experiences with Ziegler and his gang.
She made her way up the path to the cabin where she and Aaron had been staying for the past year. It was small, but it wasn’t like they needed much space from each other anyway. He had been teasing her since they had first moved in together that he had been keeping her flexible through his physical therapy, and she supposed with their bedroom antics, he was kind of right. A flicker of a smile passed over her lips as she looped the final corner to their cabin.
Aaron was sitting out on the back porch, in the chair he’d grabbed from a dump and started to fix up in his own time. It was something he had really gotten into over the last few months, restoring old furniture. Most of it, he donated to local charities, but some pieces they had kept for their place. It was starting to feel like a real home, and she found herself craving something even more like that.
He looked up from his lap when he saw her coming over. It still felt a little strange to be in uniform and him not, but when he looked at her with such appreciation in his eyes, nothing else mattered. She made her way up the steps to the porch, and looked down at what he was working on. Spread across his lap was a blueprint, covered in small pencil strokes here and there.
