Be With Me(102)

“No,” she said quietly. “I needed to speak to you about something. It’s . . . personal.”

“Al right. I don’t need to tel you that whatever is said here wil remain strictly in confidence.”

“I understand, sir, and I appreciate it.” Why was this so hard? But it had to start here. If she couldn’t even tel the chief, how could she expect to be able to handle it when her relationship became public? And it would. No way she could continue to live with three men without smal town talk making the rounds.

“Regina?” he prompted. “There was something you wanted to say?”

“Yeah, uh, there’s something I think you should be made aware of. As my superior.”

“Okay,” he said patiently.

She took in a deep breath. “I’l be remaining with Cam Douglas, Hutch Bishop and Sawyer Pritchard on a permanent basis. That is I’m involved . . .

romantical y with them.” Her cheeks tightened and heated as she stumbled over just how to explain such a relationship.

The chief obviously caught on, because his eyes widened despite his best attempt to remain impassive.

“I see.”

“I know there’l be talk,” she said quietly. “I don’t want to ever do anything to bring dishonor to this department. I love my job, but if it ever comes down to me choosing between them and my job, it’s a no-brainer. I’l choose them.”

“Are you saying you want to quit?” the chief asked.

She shook her head. “No. I want very much to keep my job, but I also know things could get difficult.

You might be pressured to let me go. I don’t want to embroil the department in a public relations nightmare, nor do I want the people of this town to ever doubt the ability of their police department to keep them safe. As much as I want to keep my job, I won’t al ow my personal choices to jeopardize our department or its reputation.”

The chief sat back in his chair and fiddled with the pen in his fingers. “As you wel know, I try never to get involved with my officers’ private lives. I operate on the principle that if it doesn’t affect the job, it ain’t none of my business.”

She sensed an unspoken but.

“But in this case, I feel compel ed to ask if you’ve thought this through, Regina. Are you sure this is what you want and what is best for you?”

“I know it’s . . . different,” she said for lack of a better word.

“That it is,” the chief muttered. “You have obviously steeled yourself for the worst of the gossip and the possibility of losing your job, but have you thought longer term than that?”

“I just know I don’t want a life without them,” she said quietly. “I know it’l take sacrifices. I’m not fooling myself into thinking it’l be easy.”

The chief studied her for a moment. “I can see you’re serious about this. You’ve always fiercely defended those boys and they’ve always had a huge soft spot for you. I won’t say that I don’t think you’re making a mistake, but as your chief, it’s none of my business as long as it doesn’t interfere with your job.” Hope rose in her chest. “Does this mean I stil have a job?”

“Of course it does. I can’t afford to lose good officers. Your sex life is none of my business and it sure as hel ain’t the public’s business. Not that they won’t make it theirs, but you have to be prepared for that. I can’t guarantee you what’l happen next week or next month, especial y given the fact your father is the mayor, but as far as I’m concerned you’re a good cop and unless you f**k up on the job, you’re staying.”

“Thank you, sir,” she said around the knot in her throat. “I won’t let you down.”

“I know you won’t, Regina.” He glanced up at her with kind eyes. “This won’t be easy for you. You know that.”

She breathed in deep. “I know. I don’t expect it to be. And maybe the important things shouldn’t be easy.” She stood. “Thank you. I real y appreciate your understanding. If you don’t mind, I’d like to get back home. I have three men pissed off because I’ve left them high and dry.”

The chief chuckled. “I have a feeling you’l run circles around those boys. I almost feel sorry for them.”

She grinned and turned to walk out of his office.

She hadn’t taken a ful step when she looked up and saw her father leaning against the wal just outside the chief’s door. His face was drawn into a tight mask, his eyes dark and angry.

He straightened and stood staring at her for a long moment. “If you persist in your line of behavior, I’l have no choice but to recommend your removal from the police department.”

She laughed. It came out dry and cracked, but it was either laugh or give in to the fury racing like a tornado through her veins. The bastard had eavesdropped on her conversation with the chief, and now he was trying to blackmail her into compliance?

There was so much she wanted to say. She wanted to blast him with both barrels, but he wasn’t worth it, and the men she loved were home waiting on her.

She walked forward, pressing close and angling her face until they were just inches apart.

“Since you quite obviously eavesdropped on my conversation you already damn wel know that if I ever have to choose between them and my job, then I’l find a new profession. Now, if we’re through, I have somewhere to be. Namely home.”