Hetch (Men OF S.W.A.T #1)(62)

And it’s all I can ask for.

These boys need to think about their future. Think about doing better for themselves so when they leave they have the tools and the resources to keep off the streets.

We spend the rest of lunch talking about what sort of things Hetch and the men of SWAT deal with on a daily basis and by the time lunch is over, and our table has been cleared, Mitch is adamant he has decided his career path.

Okay, so maybe I don’t need to smack Hetch for dropping by unexpectedly.

I’ll just kiss him later.

Way later.





Twenty-One





Hetch





Liberty: I was going to smack you for showing up like that today, but judging by the change in Mitch’s attitude since you left, I think I’m going to have to kiss you.



I read the text over again and quickly respond.



Me: Sweetheart, I’d like to see you smack me.



Liberty: I so could smack you. I just don’t want to. :P



“You gonna put your phone down so we can finish this workout, or you gonna keep being a *?” Sterling flicks his towel at me, causing me to drop my cell on the ground.

“Fuck you, *.” I bend down and reach for it, then place it into the pocket of my gym shorts.

He’s right, though. It’s been a long day and as much as I would prefer to sit around sexting Liberty, the quicker we get through this workout, the quicker I can head home and sex her.

While the tactical unit is required to participate in group PT three times a week, a typical week for the boys in our unit includes those three PT sessions, but also an extra two group sessions in the gym. This afternoon happens to be group training.

“Ahh, leave him alone, Sterling. He’s in love,” Fox taunts from across the gym, starting up a round of catcalls and collective awws.

Assholes.

They’ve been on my back all afternoon, ever since I walked into Betty’s Diner like a f*cking puppy.

When I received the text from Mitch letting me know they were out for lunch, I couldn’t drive fast enough to catch up with them. The boys and I had finished weapons training out at the firing range, and we were heading back to the station when I told the boys we were stopping for lunch in town.

They didn’t catch on to why I needed to backtrack three blocks to Betty’s Diner until we walked in and they found Liberty sitting all f*cking innocent and sexy in the back booth.

“Fuck you all.” I ignore their taunts and move back to the bench press.

“Come on, admit it, boss. You love her,” Tate chimes in with his jab, bringing it three to one.

“I don’t have to admit anything.” I lie back on the bench, ignoring their snickers, and continue with my set.

“It’s always the hard ones who fall so fast.” Hart enters the gym, bringing their tally up to four.

“Who would have thought the blonde would bring him to his knees?” Fox asks as he comes to spot me.

“I knew he was a goner the moment she sent the drink back,” Tate announces.

“Boy, you didn’t know what his extracurricular activities were.” Fox snorts, dismissing Tate. “I didn’t know how far gone he was when he made me chase the punk-ass thug down two streets. It wasn’t until he wanted the reservation at Il Centro I knew he was hooked.”

“Damn… he took her to Il Centro?” Hart asks. “Shit. If I didn’t already suspect he was hooked when he started having us bust down doors to get Dominic Westin, then that info would have sealed the deal.” I finish my set and sit up, raising a brow at him. I’m not surprised Hart’s playing along, but I did expect more from him.

“I knew when you ordered our asses to the damn car wash,” Walker shouts across the gym, giving his opinion. “Then made us pay fifty dollars for a lousy detail.” I grin, realizing, yeah, I did threaten them with unfavorable consequences if they didn’t show up. Boys Haven made a pretty penny on the guys from the department who came down and made a donation.

“Fucking highway robbery is what it was,” Fox grumbles.

“Fuck you, it was for a good cause.”

“Yeah, if that’s what you’re calling it these days.” He nudges me off the bench so he can knock out his set.

“What about you, Sterling?” Hart asks.

I turn my head in his direction. “Yeah, Sterling. Seeing as though you all seem to think you have it figured out, you wanna throw in when you think I fell?” I don’t know why I’m encouraging this. Maybe it’s my way of wondering when I really did fall. If I have fallen at all.

I think I have, but how can I be sure? It’s been so long since I’ve been in this situation, my feelings are almost foreign.

“You take her out to the house yet?” He holds my stare in challenge.

The f*cker has a way of messing with my head.

“No.”

“Then I’m not sold.” He shrugs like that settles it.

“What?” A collective cry rings out amongst the guys.

“I’m not saying he’s not whipped. I’m saying I don’t think it’s love.” He stands and rubs his towel over his face.

Fuck him. He’s trying to get in my head.