she assumed.
In a blink, the man rose from his chair and collected his brother. Some terse words preceded Patrick and his brother exiting the bar, but after the door shut behind them, everyone went back to business as usual.
Xavier pulled Patrick’s glasses from the bar top. “Good timing as usual, Hutch. Coffee?”
Hutch? Elli’s cheeks warmed. Ant had referred to Brady as Hutch.
“Yeah. Thanks, Xav.” The cop turned, giving her a view of his profile and her world lurched into slow-motion.
“You.”
Brady Hutchins—Officer Brady Hutchins—faced her and smiled the same way he had in the parking lot the night she arrived. “Elliott?”
He was ripped like she’d reluctantly noticed that first night. Sinewy forearms, strong shoulders, that long, lean build with plenty of long, lean muscle to go with it… He was too hot to be a civil servant.
“Are you a stripper or something?” she asked.
Lou guffawed as she retook her seat next to Elliott. “Oh my God, did you seriously just say that?”
“Yeah, I guess I did.” Elli’s cheeks grew warmer. She hadn’t had enough practice in society for this level of surprise.
“Not a stripper. And the gun is real,” he answered with a cheesy wink. “But I’ll take that as a compliment.”
He should. His dark-blond hair was offset by even darker eyebrows, eyes that were an alarming shade of green, full lips and a firm jaw. In that uniform, Brady could easily pass for a stripper.
“How’s the tire?” he asked, those paralyzingly gorgeous eyes locked on Elli.
“Fine. Great. But I owe you—” She stuck her hand into her purse and felt his warm touch on her arm.
“Ant and I worked it out.” He pulled his hand away, thanked Xavier for the coffee, and threw a five-dollar bill on the bar.
“Brady. Uh, Officer, I can’t let you pay my way.”
He faced her again, his handsome mug stunning her stupid. “No? Why not?”
Why not, indeed. When an answer eluded her, she shook her head and admitted, “I can’t remember.”
He grinned one last time and dipped his chin. “All right then. You think of a reason, you let me know.”
With that, he was off, stopping to chat with a couple and their children lounging in a booth. She watched until he walked out, staring in his wake.
“You’re drooling.” Lou offered up a napkin.
Elliott faced front in her barstool in time to catch a hint of a bemused smile from Xavier.
“Are you a stripper.” Lou laughed.
“Shut up.” Elli snatched the napkin from Lou’s hand, but laughed, too. It felt good to laugh. And maybe Lou had a point. It did feel nice to be treated well. By anyone.
But especially by Officer Brady Hutchins.
Chapter 6
Nearly a week had passed since the Bar Incident.
Elli was fairly certain Brady couldn’t care less about her accusing him of taking his clothes off for money, but she felt as if she owed him an apology anyway. And a thank-you for covering the tire repair.
It was like she’d lost all semblance of how to be a polite human over the years of solitude with Neil.
After debating how to appropriately show her gratitude to Brady, she settled on buying him coffee. She knew he liked it, since he’d ordered some from Xavier. Though she had no idea if Brady’s coffee had been black or creamed or sugared, or both.
While Salty Dog was a great place for beer, she doubted it was the best place to buy coffee. Instead, she drove down Endless Avenue before spotting Cup of Jo’s and stopping there.
The coffee shop was cozy with its rich mahogany tables and upholstered chairs. A long, tall table was the centerpiece of the room, complete with metal stools lining both sides. Cup of Jo’s was charming, smelled amazing, and she had no problem spending money while she was there. In addition to a branded mug, a bag of freshly ground beans, and a medium caramel latte all purchased for herself, she bought coffee for Brady.
Correction: she bought four coffees for Brady in a variety of ways he might take it.
Drink carrier on the passenger seat of her car, she drove to the police station. She had no idea if he was here, but she figured someone here could tell her how to find him. By the time she arrived, though, she lost her nerve and circled the block once. Then one more time. By her fourth loop, she was beginning to feel foolish and was slightly worried someone was watching her and growing suspicious.
She parked and stepped into the warm June sunshine, a