Stud Muffin (Donner Bakery #2) - Jiffy Kate Page 0,112
reconciliation between you and Asher, but that was only because you’re my baby and I want what’s best for you… I want you to be happy. That’s all.”
“Thank you, Mama.”
We talk a little small talk for a few minutes, until there’s a knock at my door.
“Mama, I’ve gotta go. There’s someone here,” I tell her, standing from the bed and walking over to the door. “I’ll call you later.”
Hanging up the phone, I put it in my pocket and place my ear to the door. “Who is it?” I ask, placing my ear up to the metal. I really need a peep hole.
“It’s Cole.”
When I swing the door open wide, my cousin is standing there with a mischievous grin on his face. “Well, hey… to what do I owe this honor?”
Cole tilts his head to the side, giving me a regretful smile. “I’m going to, uh… I’m here to take you in.”
“Take me in?” I ask, confused as I start racking my brain, trying to think of something I’ve done recently that would require me being arrested.
Outside of the heated discussion with Mindy and Asher at the reunion a couple weeks ago, I can’t really think of anything.
“I’d read you your rights,” he says. “But I’m pretty sure you’re familiar with those.”
“Cole!” I demand, widening my stance as he takes me by the arm. “What is this about?”
“That, you’ll have to take up with Sheriff James.”
“Sheriff James?” I screech, twisting and turning as I try to release myself from his grasp. I think about using one of the self-defense moves Cage taught me during our sessions, but I don’t want to hurt him. “What would Sheriff James want with me?”
“You’ll have to ask him yourself,” Cole says, huffing. “Now, you know this is my job… please don’t make it any worse than it already is.” He gives me the look that says “Come on, Tempest, just cooperate for once in your stubborn ass life.”
I stare back at him, pissed that he’d agree to arrest me. I don’t care if it’s his job or not, I’m his family, and damn it, that should account for something.
Plus, I’m hungry, which just makes all of this worse.
“Listen,” I say, poking my finger into his chest. “I just got signed off on from my anger management counselor and I haven’t done anything wrong. So, I’m going to need to see some kind of warrant… or something,” I tell him, breathing heavily out of my nose as my emotions take over. “Give me something, Cole.”
“You know that’s not how these things work,” he says, putting his hands on his hips all business-like. “Now, please, just come with me and don’t make this any harder than it is.”
We have a stare-off for a few seconds standing in the doorway of my apartment. When I see he’s not relenting, my shoulders sag in defeat. “Fine,” I grit out, forcefully grabbing my keys off the table beside the front door. “But I just want you to know, I’m not happy about this and Christmas is just around the corner.”
In Cole’s defense, he actually looks remorseful as he makes sure my door is secure before escorting me down the stairs and to his police cruiser waiting by the curb.
“Can you give me a hint?” I ask, as he puts me into the cruiser.
Cole scrunches his face as he runs a hand over his short, cropped hair. “Something about a misunderstanding, but Sheriff James wants you to come down to the station. It’s something that needs to be worked out face-to-face.”
I spend the next few minutes as we drive through town stewing and trying to rack my brain over what this might be about, but I come up empty-handed.
When we pull up, Cole gives me a reassuring smile, and I flip him off.
“Did you just flip off an officer of the law?” he asks in mock horror.
“I know my rights,” I tell him with a huff, folding my arms over my chest. “Come open my door so we can get this over with.”
Cole chuckles, muttering something under his breath I can’t hear, but knowing what’s good for him, he walks around and opens my door and then guides me inside. As we walk down the long, familiar hallway, I nod at Mary, the receptionist, giving her a forced smile.
“Well, Miss Cassidy,” she greets. “We haven’t seen you in here for a while.”
I sigh, looking over at Cole and gritting my teeth. “Yeah, and I was hoping you wouldn’t.”