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He was just there in my head, all the damn time.

I’m not sure at what point that it became something more than just an attraction to me, but somewhere along the way it had.

Needless to say, it bothered me to see that another woman—who was way better qualified to be at Black’s side than I was—had the hots for a man that would never be mine.

Even worse, she hated my guts.

I’m not sure if she could tell that I felt something for Black or not—I hid it really well—but she hadn’t liked me at all from the moment that she met me. And she’d met me the first time at a grocery store, and I hadn’t been in trouble at the time.

I’d just run into Black and had spoken to him, and the anger against me had been palpable.

Especially the longer I spoke to Black.

By the time that they’d had to leave because of a call that’d come through, I’d gotten the feeling that I would never be anything but a threat to her.

At this point, I knew that she liked running calls on me.

She got a sick thrill at knowing that I was the problem.

Something that Black would never go for…ever.

Gentry walked in and looked around.

Dempsey came right over to me.

“You need to leave,” she stated.

I blinked. “Why?”

“Because you were asked to leave,” she said.

“By you,” I pointed out. “And I wasn’t doing anything that warrants being asked to leave. We’re enjoying a hot coffee. When we’re done, we’ll leave.”

“We were called because you were causing a disturbance.”

I blinked.

“We most certainly have not,” Zee said. “We just ordered and sat down. There’s been no disturbance. Let me guess, that woman over there called.”

Zee pointed toward Louellen.

Who had a shit-eating grin on her face.

“The owner…”

“Did not call,” Zee said. “She’s been sitting right there, talking on her phone with her boyfriend, the entire time. She hasn’t gotten off that phone call with him.”

That was true.

Brianna had been talking about an upcoming wedding that they were expected to go to.

Not once had she called to let anyone know that I was ‘causing a disturbance.’

“I’m not leaving.” I settled into the seat.

Gentry wandered up to the counter and Brianna placed her phone against her chest.

“Can I help you, Officer?” Brianna smiled.