Chapter 4

Bryan

I let out a groan seeing the number pop up on my phone. I was hoping to get through the weekend without getting called in. I need to see Jaime. It's been over a week since I saw her sweet face in person thanks to our work schedules and I'm going through withdrawal it feels like.

It's been a month since we had our first date. If you can call the unexpected dinner at Gilbert's a date that is.

We've talked almost daily through text and the occasional phone call, and I'm dying to claim her, hell even if it's just her lips in a kiss. I'm desperate for a taste of her but something keeps holding me back from it.

When I took her home from seeing Arsenic and Old Lace , I was ready to, until her brother opened the door, looking between us in a mix of shock and distrust. I don't know why he wouldn't trust me. After helping two of his siblings and now Maia, I thought I'd earned at least some respect from the family, but it seemed that wasn't the case, and I pulled back.

Instead of tasting her lips, I brushed a kiss to her cheek, and since then, it's as far as I've dared take things. I'm sure once I've claimed a real taste of her, I won't be able to stop, and she deserves more than some quick fuck in my car.

I've been debating about having her over to my place and just seeing what happens. I've hesitated on that because taking her from her parents' place to mine…it'd be damn clear that we're from vastly different worlds.

I drag in a deep breath, calming my frustrations as I answer, "Hey Chief, what's up?"

"Bryan, I know it's a bit last-minute," he begins, and my jaw tightens. I have plans to go pick up Jaime in thirty minutes. Cancelling now just might kill me. "The department was given a handful of invitations to the Heart Ball next weekend. Apparently the hostess, Grace Elliott, has had some threats lobbed her way and they'd like to have in addition to their normal security, some undercover officers there as well. I hate asking the married men to give up the day since it's Valentines, so what do you say?"

Fuck. This is what I get for not telling anyone I've been seeing Jaime I guess. Hell, I don't know if her parents even know that we're dating. Every time I stop by the house to pick her up they're either out or she's already coming out the door to meet me.

It's another reason why I've hesitated to push ahead with us. I've never felt like she thinks my job is beneath her, but I know she deserves more. More than what I can offer her. Yeah, I have savings in the bank, little by way of every day expenses, but that's a long way off from being able to sweep her away on some spur of the moment trip or give her everything she wants whenever she wants it.

Part of me thinks she knows she deserves to find someone like Jasmine did with Adam who can give her the life she's used to. The rest of me hates the motherfucker that could do it though, so I keep ignoring it.

"Sure," I finally agree, a little less enthusiastically than I normally would because an assignment like this does bring in a little extra money usually.

"You don't sound sure, Bryan," Aaron states and I let out a silent sigh trying to ignore the fact that I won't get to spend the evening with Jaime now, and I'm not sure how she'll take it.

"No, I'm good," I lie, and he must believe it because he gives me the details, including the dress code, before I hang up. On one hand I'm glad I don't have to cancel on Jaime tonight, but on the other, not spending Valentines with my new girlfriend—at least I'm pretty sure she's my girlfriend, after this, she might not be—sucks.

I push it all aside and head out to get Jaime. We don't have any set plans about what we're doing tonight, it was more that I simply see her in person.

When I get there, for once, Jaime doesn't come out the door immediately, although I am about five minutes early. I didn't want to risk getting caught at the house and being asked to come in, not if I won't get to spend next weekend with Jaime.

There are three other cars parked along the driveway and they make me curious as I head to the front door. As I'm about to ring the bell, it opens, but it's not Jaime behind it. Instead, it's a group including Maia, who gives me a smile.

"Hey, Jaime should be right down," she says and the group behind her look like they want to come out, so I step aside letting them head down the front steps. A guy that shares a lot of similarities with Jeffery, who is glaring our way, comes out last with Maia and I take a step inside the house when they're out the door.

"Jeffery," I state, giving him a nod.

"So, you think you're good enough for Jaime?" he returns and I'm second guessing who his glare was meant for now.

"I…"

"Leave him alone. Just because you're a grump doesn't mean everyone else is," Jillian states, rolling her eyes as she shakes her head his way. "Ignore him, he's overprotective of his little sisters on a good day, but since Maia's going out with a group to celebrate our nephew Ashton's eighteenth birthday, he's in a worse mood than normal."

My brow lifts a bit at that, and her grin says I'm not wrong. I can't fault him for not wanting the girl he's into going out with anyone else, even if it's completely platonic, I'm just surprised that he's interested in her. Not because there's anything wrong with Maia, but because I heard plenty from the chief about the girl that tried to accuse him of assault and his resulting hatred of women.

"Hi," Jaime says, hurrying over to us, and I smile seeing the look she shoots at Jillian. Her sister pushes Jeffery towards a room while she moves closer to me.

"Hi, princess," I return, brushing a kiss onto her cheek and her little indrawn breath makes me feel better than I have since hearing Jeffery's question. "Before we go, two things. First, is there anything you wanted to do tonight?" I ask wanting to avoid the thing with next week as long as possible.

"Mmm, not really. Just spend time with you," she answers and shit, that makes my body wake instantly and I force myself to take a deep breath before asking her to come home with me.

"Anything for dinner sound good then?" I ask, studying her face. "Or how about we do Bamboo's? You like them right?"

"Love them," she says and it's so damn hard to stop from stealing that smile off her lips until that word comes out towards me instead of about food. "What else was there you wanted to know before we go?"

"Right…it's not really a question more something that I have to tell you, and I wish I didn't, but I'd rather just get it out of the way now than wait and ruin the night later."

"Okay, what is it?" Jaime asks as I help her with her coat.

"The chief called me earlier about an assignment next weekend," I admit as she turns back towards me, her smile falling a hint. "The department's been asked to send people to help on top of the hired security for the Heart Ball and he asked me to help out instead of bugging any of the married men."

"So you'll be at the dance?" she asks, and I nod, a hint of a grin slipping across her face I wasn't expecting. "We'll be at it too, so maybe on a break we could have a dance?"

"We are supposed to blend in and look even less like security so I don't think that will be a problem," I state, relief hitting that she's not angry about the assignment while also being very aware of the fact that she's a guest and I'll be there on the job still.

"I wasn't sure if you'd want to come with me, deal with the rest of my family," she adds shyly as we head towards me car. "I know they can be a bit much all at once, and since most of them will be there, I didn't think throwing you into the deep end with them would be very nice."

"Whenever you're ready to admit to them that we're dating is fine with me, princess," I state holding open the car door for her. She hesitates before getting in, her eyes wide as she looks up at me in surprise. "What?"

"I…everyone already knows we're dating," she says sending my brow upward a hint. "I didn't want them bothering you, asking you questions, or pressuring you to come around to things, like the ball or Sunday dinners," she adds, and I fight back the urge to ravish her immediately. "If you think Jeffery's glares are bad, you should see my older brothers. The only reason Jesse likely hasn't come down to the station to demand answers regarding your ‘intention' is because they just had Tabitha and as much as he loves his boys, he's a beast when it comes to his daughters and Maddie, so he hasn't left their side since she was born."

"So you're not keeping me from them?" I question and she shakes her head no, a light color in her cheeks that is sweet as hell. "You're trying to keep them from me, from bothering me?"

"Some people might not mind the intrusion, but my family can be intense," she says making me fall deeper and harder for her. "Jackie's husband Ethan didn't but he also already knew Julie from college, and she vouched for him with Dad. Adam already had met most of our brothers and they knew all about him and his company before it came out they were dating because he'd put in a bid to produce the new furniture line Jamison and Serena designed.

"The family already knew Jennie's husband Troy because he works with Ethan, and while you've met some of them, it was in a work capacity, not personal, and I didn't want them bothering you. I wouldn't want random people coming up and demanding answers if spots were reversed. It'd be one thing if it were just one or two of them, but all of them at once…I can't imagine having to deal with that."

"You don't have to shield me from them, princess," I assure her, brushing the hair from her face as the wind blows around us, cold and icy once more. "For now, let's go get something to eat. If it starts to rain, I don't want to cut dinner short to get you safely home."

Her smile hits me right in the heart and I gently guide her into the car then hurry around to get us to the restaurant. It's busy but not so much there's a wait to get a table and I love that she slips into the booth beside me instead of sitting on the other side. Anytime we're somewhere with a booth she does it and it warms a part of me that she wants to be beside me.

With anyone else, even the few women I have dated, I never wanted them in my space. Not even with Danielle really. Jaime's completely different and honestly, if it wouldn't likely embarrass her, I'd pull her onto my lap and kiss her until she couldn't begin to resist what's flowing between us.

The rain starts as we're finishing our dessert and as much as I don't want to, I take her home right after. A soft laugh falls from her lips when we pull up the drive and my attention slips further down it, seeing someone leading Ashton and Maia up the steps of the house.

"That's Ethan, Jackie's husband. Ashton's theirs," Jaime say, and I nod in understanding when Jeffery throws open the door. "Jeffery was almost as much Jackie's baby as Mom's, so she probably sent Ethan out after them when Jeffery called or texted saying they weren't home yet."

"So I should feel proud that they didn't send someone out after you, hmm?" I tease, putting a bit of color into her cheeks that I adore.

"Dad trusts you. If he didn't, Chief Davidson wouldn't have sent you out to the house to help with Maia to begin," she says and it's a relief to hear it. Especially considering how much the man's worth. That was never something that even came to mind when helping Jasmine or Jamison, but now, it could mean the difference in having Jaime as mine or not.

"Then I guess as much as I don't want to let you go just yet, I probably should get you inside where you're safe," I state, pulling up behind the other car to park.

"Versus?"

"Kissing the life out of you when someone could easily interrupt," I admit, watching her eyes darken into a stormy grey rather than the sweet silvery blue they usually are. "I'm doing my best to take this slow, because I don't want to rush you, princess, and I know if I kiss you, it's apt to spiral out of control fast."

"Maybe you should offer to drive me home after the ball then," she says, her tone huskier and shit, it takes everything within me to stop from mauling her now.

"If I don't have to do any follow-up after it, I'd be glad to, princess. For now, let's get you inside while I can be reasonable enough to let you go," I add, cupping her cheek before dropping a kiss to the other one. Her scent drives me wild, and I pull back, doing my best to let the cold air stop the raging hard-on just being near her causes.

I hate this damn weather though. It means I can't linger there with her, and the week drags by with our hours keeping us from seeing one another again. I'll be damn glad when this thing she's working on with this Wyatt guy is finished.

The man's a workaholic apparently but he likes early hours most, while I'm routinely out until late. Her need to get up earlier keeps me from seeing her later in the evening and I'm about ready to go to her office and tell this Wyatt guy to just let her do her thing on her own time so I can see my girl more than once a damn week.

It doesn't help that as Saturday arrives, I can't see her until this stupid ball. I have to go into the station to get the full rundown, then get dressed and arrive before the rest of the guests, keeping me from even calling her.

I grit my teeth when Grace Elliott comes in, giving us all once overs, her face a hoity air as she looks over most of the guys. She gives me a smile then starts to reach towards me and I take a step back, making her brow lift curiously.

"Problems?" a man wearing an earpiece asks stepping up towards us.

"Some men just need a little help to look presentable," Grace says, reaching towards me again, her eyes saying that's not what she's really up to, and I take another step backwards from her.

"The tie is fine, and I'm taken," I warn drawing a brow lift from Tyler next to me. We get along fine at work, but I certainly don't spill my secrets to the man.

"Are you now? We'll have to see about that. I could introduce you to all kinds of people that would get you out of a uniform and into a nice cushy office like Henry here," she says with a nod towards the man behind her.

"I'm a detective and if I wanted on office job, I'd find one on my own. I'm here to work, nothing else." At least not with you , I add silently, and she huffs away letting me go down with the rest of the group to get the layout mapped.

"When did you get a girl?" Tyler asks as guests begin to come into the room. Ms. Elliott, a two-time widow at forty-two—which I have some misgivings about now—is across the room. We might have been asked to attend to keep her safe from the threats she's received but I'll do that from as far away from her as possible.

"We've been dating for about a month," I tell him. "She the complete opposite of that woman."

"I don't know, if you can overlook the fact that two of her husbands have just upped and died, she might be worth it," Tyler says straightening his sleeve. "Well, other than these monkey-suits at least."

"Not my type at all," I state as heat rushes through me and I turn my head towards the doors seeing Jake and Annie coming in with Maia, Jillian, Jeffery and my princess. She looks fucking incredible in a floor-length dark blue dress and thank the gods it's not strapless like Jillian's is. It has lace sleeves as well and it looks amazing on my girl. Maybe too amazing because there are several other men looking her way and I have to force back a growl as some approach them.

The only thing that gets me through most of the evening is seeing that she declines more invitations to dance than she accepts. The ones she accepts are kept at a distance, but also men I know do business with her family. Two of them are married and their wives give Jaime smiles when the dances end. The only ones she relaxes with are her dad and brothers, and I can't stop myself from heading her way when one of the more obnoxious men she refused goes back for a third attempt.

"Excuse me," I tell the man, smiling down at my girl, "I think this is my dance."

"It is," Jaime agrees, settling into my arms with complete ease, and it makes me want to pull her even tighter, which is pure madness. She'd kill me if I made a scene and drew everyone's attention to her most likely.

"You look amazing, princess," I whisper leaning down towards her a bit more.

"You look pretty devastating yourself, Bryan," she replies, her smile and the look in her eyes enough to keep me settled for now.

I have to go make rounds after the dance but come back to cut in three more times throughout the night, just waiting for the damn thing to end. Every time I have to let her go, my heart and body rebel, but I'm here to work first unfortunately.

There's less than thirty minutes before the ball is supposed to end when Grace corners me on my next to last round of the space. I can smell the booze on her, and it just gets worse as she comes closer, her eyes narrowing my way in what seems to be anger.

"So, you'll forget you're ‘taken' for someone younger will you?" she crows, and my jaw tightens in anger. "Don't fool yourself that it'll go anywhere with the little Cartwright heiress. She's a bore. You'd have to choke yourself just to get through a night with her. Not that Jake Cartwright would let someone like you anywhere near her. Oh no, as hired help he'd let you through the doors, but not to get near his daughter. You'd have far more luck with me, sugar."

" That won't ever happen," I counter ready to walk away but the damn woman doesn't let it go and any thoughts I had about taking Jaime home end fast when she drops at my feet, out cold.

It leaves me fuming, especially when I look back to see Jaime laughing with some man I don't know. Jake is talking animatedly with him as well, and it worsens when my girl easily goes into his arms for a dance while I have to deal with the mess at my feet.

It takes hours to confirm that she was merely passed out rather than that someone slipped her anything. By then, I'm in a dark mood seeing Jaime didn't even respond to my message that I couldn't take her home because of work.

It grows worse when I see her reply in the morning that someone named Chase surprised them and she forgot that she didn't reply to my message. The man I saw her with last night had to be around my age, but it was obvious he wasn't there in any work capacity. He fit into her world unlike me, which just pisses me off more on top of Grace's warning about Jake not accepting me as part of Jaime's life.

She's everything to me and I hate that it's most likely true. She needs someone who can navigate those damn events with her, keep other men away from her without causing a scene. Every time I interrupted and stole my dances, it was obvious the others didn't think I had any right to do it, but I hadn't cared. Not until I saw her with that man, looking so at ease with him it made memories return and bite me on the ass.

I send Jaime a response back that it was okay, and my night was long, before adding on that my newest assignment would keep me busy for the next week or so at least. I wasn't thrilled with it when I got the message Friday that I was needed to fill in on the night shift for the traffic division detective.

He was out investigating a crash when his car was hit, leaving him thankfully with no broken bones, but a concussion that had him on medical leave. No one else was available except me, but now, maybe it's for the best. I can get a little time to figure out how to handle all of these feelings I have for Jaime, because the hell if I know what to do right now.