Jacked (Trent Brothers #1)(45)

“Fine. You don’t want to tell me.” She fumbled through her purse and tossed a ten-dollar bill onto the table. “That ought to cover my meal. It’s been a long night and I need to get home.”

She started scooting out of the booth.

“Erin, wait.”

She leveled me with a glare. “I knew just looking at you that you’d turn from someone I used to like a lot into someone I used to know but I’m surprised it happened so quickly. Congrats, you’ve set a new record. Take care, Detective.”

Damn it!

“Wait a second,” I ordered, expecting her to halt but like hell on fire she kept going. I chucked money on the table, took back her ten, and snagged my leather jacket.

I managed to grab a hold of her arm as she was opening up the front door. “Would ya hold on a second? Damn it, woman.”

I spun her on her heels before she hit the door.

Her chin came up in defiance. “A few hours ago you said to me that you had no patience for games and here you are, playing games. I’ve got news for you, Detective, I’ve got no time or patience for games, either.”

I took a deep breath. She was right; she deserved the truth but I knew once it was out there, things would change. Doctor Erin Novak deserved better than to have her life threatened or her world disrupted by prying cameras, and I had no plans to let her surgically remove what was left of my heart. I let her arm go.

“Sorry Doc. You’re right. I, uh…” My mouth dried and a hollow burn started to fester in my chest. I wanted to run, to hit something, blow a few thousand rounds through my gun and annihilate the pain. She was standing there, that sexy mouth hanging slightly open, waiting on me to fix this disaster. “Let me give you a ride home.”

She turned a shoulder. “That’s okay. I can call someone or get a cab.”

“I’m not going to let you do that, Erin. Come on.”

Kara came rushing over, adding to my problems. “Adam? Baby, are you okay?”

“Baby?” Erin questioned. “Are you serious?”

Fuck.

“Yeah, and who are you?” Kara snipped.

I needed to get Erin out of here—FAST. Asking her to meet me here was quickly turning into a very bad idea.

“Who am I? Who are you?” Erin shot back.

“I’m his girlfriend,” Kara announced.

FUCK! “No, she’s not.”

“Girlfriend?” Erin was obviously shocked.

“Yes, girlfriend. Adam and I are dating,” Kara said, then turned to me. “You didn’t tell her about us, did you?”

My head was about to explode. “There is no us, Kara. All right? Never was, never will be, so get that straight in your head right now.”

Kara’s face fell. “Why are you saying that? We’ve been together for months. You going to deny we had sex, too?”

Erin turned and shoved her way through the door.

Kara was yelling my name, but I ignored her and followed Erin.

She started walking through the parking lot, marching that pretty little ass again in a hurry to get away from me. Just like last time, I wasn’t having any of it. I jogged to catch up and stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “I’m not letting you walk home or whatever the hell it is you think you’re going to do, so turn around.”

She defiantly crossed her arms as the bitter February wind tossed her hair around. Damn, I loved her fearlessness. Still… “Easy way or the hard way, but I’m driving you home.”

She glared and then tried to step around me. That’s when I snagged her by the arms, clipped her thighs and hoisted her up over my shoulder. I expected her to fight it and she didn’t disappoint.

“Put me down,” she growled, kicking her legs a bit. “Your girlfriend in there will see us.”

“She’s not my girlfriend. Never was. I told you I’m not seeing anyone.”

Erin scoffed.

I used my good hand to swat her ass, making her twitch and yelp on my shoulder as I hauled her to my truck. “Call me a liar again.”

She gave me the death glare when I set her down next to the passenger door. “I can’t believe you just did that.”

“It’s freezing cold, we’ve both had a long night, and sometimes I’m an *.” I opened the door, motioning for her to climb in. “But I don’t care how mad you get at me, there is no way in hell I’m letting you out of my sight.”

The drive to her house was short and silent and I knew she was pissed. I didn’t need anyone to clue me in on how much I’d just let her down. I pulled into her driveway, right behind her car, which I noted was still missing a plate. I needed to fix that.

She grabbed the door handle and in that split second I knew she wasn’t even going to say goodbye.

“Erin, wait.”

She had one foot out of the door with her bag in hand, and I felt like my heart that had been out of the equation for so long was being twisted and sliced seeing her go.

As soon as I had her eyes, words came rushing out like a confession.

“Last year, my unit was approached to do a pilot for a reality TV show. Things took off and now every Sunday night at nine o’clock I’m on television. The show is called Car Jacked and that’s why I have a film crew following me when I’m on duty.”