I Know You Love Me (13 page)

Laughing, she slapped his hands away and shooed him back into the bathroom. “Go get clean. I'll deal with Joseph."

That man is in serious trouble. Glad I'm not him.

Stealing one last kiss, he turned back toward the bathroom. “Be nice."

"I'm always nice. Just not always polite."

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Walking into the living room, Allison leaned up against the door frame and watched Joseph look around Drew's home. “Hello, Joseph. You're looking well."

"Ali? What are you doing here?"

His rude, suggestive tone grated on her nerves. “Don't tell me that it's escaped your attention that Ten Deep is in town?"

"Yes, yes, I saw that. But what are you doing
here
?"

Now he was dismissing her explanations without even listening to her. She was seriously tired of his attitude. “The Sheriff was kind enough to offer me a place to stay while I'm in town. The hotels are all booked solid because of the concert."

"What are you wearing?"

That was the last straw. “It's called a shirt, Joseph. Now, why are you here?"

"I'm doing a follow-up on the audit. It was found that you may have been too severe."

Crossing her arms, she walked over to the table and had a seat. “Since when do you do the follow-ups?"

"I choose who gets assigned which cases, and decided to take care of this one personally."

You're an idiot, Joseph.
She sorely wanted to say those words out loud, but refrained. “Let's say I believe that. What did the Sheriff say when you told him why you were here, and what was the decision?"

"We've decided to give him back his file clerk."

"He agreed to that?"

Joseph, sat back against the cushions with a smirk. “He didn't refuse."

Looking out the window, Allison saw Jeremy dart out of his house for school and wanted to say goodbye before leaving. She needed some time away from both Joseph and Drew for a bit. “Excuse me a minute, Joseph."

"Of course."

She didn't care what he thought about her anymore. By agreeing to re-hire Bonnie, Drew had betrayed her, so she didn't care what he thought anymore either. Opening the door, she made her way across the parking lot as fast as she could. “Hey Jeremy, wait up a second.” Spinning toward her, Jeremy almost lost all his books. The boy seriously needed a proper book bag. She'd bring one back for him when she returned on Thursday.

"Oh, hey there, Ali, thanks for letting me use your car while you're gone. It's the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me."

Laughing, she reached out and took the books out of his hands then placed them on the front passenger seat before he dropped them. “You're very welcome, just be careful with her. It's my..."

"I know, she's your baby. I'll be careful, I promise. Jimmy, tell her how careful I am behind the wheel."

Laughing, Jimmy walked over to them and slid his hands over her shoulders. “He's a very good driver, but...Jeremy, promise or no promise, if you're late for school you lose the car!"

"Yikes. Bye, Ali. Have a safe trip."

Allison couldn't stop the smile that curved her lips at the boy's panicked expression. “Starting tomorrow! Don't look at me like that, Jimmy; that's my baby he's in, and it's technically my fault he's late today. That gives him a reprieve."

She felt Jimmy's sigh on the back of her neck. “Jeremy, do you have your lunch?"

The boy hung his head in defeat. “Bro, I'm like gonna be so-o-o late."

"Here. Thank Allison. She made it for you this morning while we were sleeping"

Grinning sheepishly, Jeremy took the bagged lunch from his brother. “What did I do before you moved to town?"

"You probably went hungry,” she teased, pushing him toward the car.

Entering the living room, Drew frowned when he found Allison missing. “Mr. Pretty, where's Allison?"

"Outside with the real reason she never came home when this audit was done."

Looking out the window, Drew grinned. “She's only saying goodbye to Jeremy before he leaves for school. She's a big girl. What makes you think Jeremy is why she stayed behind?"

"Not the child, you fool. The man with his arms around her."

Ignoring the pompous attitude, Drew opened the window. “Hey, Jimmy, what's up?"

"Allison is having a twinge of separation anxiety. I'm just trying to help her save face."

Drew relaxed and started laughing. “The car?"

"You know it. I think this is the first time she's been apart from it. Can't wait ‘till you guys have kids; it should be entertaining."

"Need me to come get her?"

Allison snorted. “Seriously you two, I'm not an invalid and I can do whatever I please."

Jimmy snickered and gave her shoulders a quick squeeze. “I'd say she's recovering nicely. She should be home shortly. Will you stop by the station on your way to airport?"

"If we have time. We're running a little late this morning."

Jimmy flashed Drew a mischievous grin and kissed Allison's cheek, then let her go and started back into his house. “Later, Allison. Go easy on the guy. He's new to all this."

"Deputy, you're lucky I'm not a jealous man."

"Right, Boss. And I'm the pope. See you in four days, Ali. I'll make sure Jeremy takes good care of your baby."

Seeing the cool look in Allison's eyes when she looked over at him, Drew turned to Joseph with a slow burning anger. “Mr. Pretty, exactly what did you say to my Lady while you two were alone?"

"Your Lady?"

The disbelief in the man's voice answered part of the look Allison was glaring at him and started a serious dislike for this man. “You heard me correctly the first time. Now, tell me what you said to her before she walks through that door."

"I mentioned that we'd discussed the report and decided to let you keep your file clerk."

"And?"

"And that you didn't disagree with the notion."

That explained why Allison was so angry with him. “Do you know why Allison insisted that I fire my file clerk and replace her with one or two high school students who are in their graduating year? Students who may wish to enter law enforcement? Students who would cost the station less money?"

"It wasn't in her report."

Joseph's superior attitude was slowly starting to make Drew see red. “Let me educate you—first she asked Bonnie to fetch her a few files. She asked very politely, I might add, yet two hours later, no Bonnie, no files, and no response, so she went after them herself. Jimmy was kind enough to point her toward the file room and explain to her how the system worked. You see, Allison wasn't the only person having trouble getting files from our file clerk. So my deputy was quite well-versed with the inner workings of the file room."

"Where was your clerk during all of this?"

"According to my secretary, she was having a coffee and buffing her nails. When Allison asked for another file, Bonnie was quite rude and informed her that she didn't have to do anything for anyone but the officers she liked."

Joseph nodded and took a few notes. “So far, Allison is justified to report the woman, no more. She's been getting very vindictive against beautiful women of late."

Drew gritted his teeth and counted to ten. “The last straw was when she caught Bonnie in the file room having sex with one of my deputies."

"I can see where Allison might not enjoy that, especially if she had designs..."

That was his last straw. This man wasn't Allison's friend; friends didn't demean or undercut your authority when speaking to a stranger. “She didn't have designs on the deputy. She had a date with Jimmy that night, Mr. Pretty, and for your information, Allison isn't vindictive of beautiful women. She is a beautiful woman."

"She dated—"

"I just told you that Allison is a beautiful woman. Of course she dated."

Joseph narrowed his eyes at him. Jealousy lurked beneath the surface, finally explaining the man's action's to Drew. “Did she date you?"

Drew grinned and sat back against the sofa cushions. “I skipped the whole dating process and asked her to marry me. After seeing how serious Jimmy was about winning her over, I wasn't taking any chances that someone else would steal her away. Allison McKay is officially my fiancee; I asked her to marry me last night and she accepted."

Allison came storming into the living with fire in her eyes and determination in her step. She was furious at him. He realized then that it would take more than a few kisses to calm her down once the pompous ass left their house and he could explain.

"Joseph, if you change so much as a coma in my audit report, I'll quit! And Sheriff, you have a visitor at the back door."

Throwing Joseph a glare he turned love filled eyes on Allison. “Sweetheart, I believe Mr. Pretty has something he wants to tell you."

Turning her deadly glare on him, she narrowed her eyes. “Don't, ‘Sweetheart,’ me, you double-crossing, two-timing fink! I don't care what he has to say; all the proof I need is on the back porch."

"You'd better fix this, Mr. Pretty, or I promise I will make you as miserable as I'll be. Tell her the truth!” Drew hesitated to leave them alone, and was glad of it when Joseph started talking.

Joseph threw Allison a look of disgust. “In less than two weeks, you agree to marry a complete stranger? Two years, Ali—two years and three proposals, and still you turned me down. What makes him so damned special?"

"He thinks I'm beautiful, doesn't constantly tell me I'm fat, and has never tried to intimidate me into having sex."

"Clearly he didn't have to, now, did he?"

Drew heard the slap ring across the room and cringed; that could very well have been him on the receiving end. No wonder his girl was so skittish; with men like Joseph in her life she'd never had someone love her unconditionally the way Jimmy, Jeremy, or he did.

"I think you should leave my precinct and my town now, Mr. Pretty. You've more than outstayed your welcome. As I informed you earlier, I will be abiding by the agreement I made with Allison concerning her audit."

Joseph sneered at him, revenge written all over his face. “Your final paycheck will be sent—"

"Don't even think about firing her over this Mr. Pretty, because she will fight you and win the unlawful dismissal charges. I'm here as her witness that you insulted her because she hurt your ego."

Allison barely acknowledged Drew's words before she marched out of the room and veered straight into the bedroom, closing the door behind her so he wouldn't follow. Whoever was at the back door had severely upset her, and it was time to find out who his surprise visitor was.

Turning the corner, he groaned. “What are you doing here, Bonnie?"

"I want my job back."

"You should have saved yourself the trip. The answer is no."

"Drew, you will give me back my job, or I will make things very difficult for you and that pretty little thing who let me in."

Drew snorted and crossed his arms. “If I give you your job back, that same pretty little thing will end our relationship, so the answer is still no."

"Relationship. That's rich. You don't even know the meaning of the word."

"I'm learning it, and the answer miraculously remains no."

Bonnie frowned angrily. “I hear Sam's back in town, and that you're still married. Maybe I should tell the new toy about that."

"Bonnie, Bonnie, Bonnie. Allison already knows all about Samantha. You're not very good at this negotiating thing, are you?"

"Then maybe I'll tell Sam about the little one."

He really hated desperate women. “Sam already knows, and you're quickly getting on my last nerve today.” That explained his needy attraction to Allison. She could and would leave him and never look back, given half the chance, yet he knew she needed him as much as, if not more than, he needed her.

"And the little one is still here? Why?"

Walking over to the door, he held it open for her. “The little one, as you seem so fond of calling her, is my fiancee. I proposed to her last night, and she accepted. Allison isn't going anywhere."

Her superior smirk entertained him. Bonnie was anything but superior to anyone. “Did you forget that you're already married?"

"Perhaps, but if I have anything to say about it, I won't be for much longer. Now you need to go; I've left Allison alone too long and need to get back to her."

"Aren't you the obedient little puppy?” Bonnie taunted. “You should have told me you enjoyed being dominated. I would have had loads of fun tying you up."

His pants tightened at the image of his Allison straddling him naked while he was tied beneath her to the bed posts. “Goodbye, Bonnie."

"This isn't over, Drew."

"Yes, Bonnie, it is."

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Poking his head into the county court office, Drew was relieved to find the judge still at his desk this close to session. “Excuse me, Judge. Could I have a word?"

Taking his glasses off, Eric rubbed the bridge of his nose and waved him in. “Sheriff, please come in, how can I be of...Allison?"