Malcolm raised his brow as a slow smile split his lips. “She’s going to make you work for it, son. I hope you’re up to the challenge, because I really like this one.”
“Nothing to work for.” I smiled, letting my gaze pass from one to the other. “I’m not rebound material.”
“That’s good.” Malcolm tipped his cowboy hat and grinned. “You’ll keep him in his place.”
“His place is the total opposite of mine. We aren’t even friends,” I added, feeling the need to drive home my point.
“We were more than that once.” Ben raised his brow in challenge, daring me to contradict him. “And we will be again. You can count on it. Gramps, do you have what I asked for?”
Malcolm nodded back inside the house. “Yeah, it’s in my room. Why don’t you run in and grab it while I get to know my future granddaughter-in-law.”
Oh for the love of God.The sheriff was just as delusional as his grandson. Old age must have done a number on him. Was this day ever going to end?
Malcolm waited for Ben to leave before the attack began.
“He’s grown up into a good man.”
“I’m sure he has.” Maybe.
“He’ll be good to you.”
“Not interested.” Not happening. “I have two loves in my life: my family and my career. I don’t want a boyfriend. You of all people should understand I’m aiming for brass.”
“Ambitious.”
“Determined.”
“I see.”
“Do you?”
“Hold your ground, but let me ask you this. Is your job going to be enough at the end of the day?”
I didn’t reply. I was beginning to question my choice.
“It’s a lonely place to be. Let’s look at the facts. Your job won’t keep you warm at night. Won’t dry your tears, and won’t ever have shoulders for you to lean on.”
“I’m not going to date Ben because I’m lonely. Sure, it sucks, but so does having my heart broken. He’s done it once, and he’ll do it again. I’m certain of that.”
“Now we’re getting somewhere. You have a broken heart that never mended. Is that why you’re a cop?”
“I don’t understand the question.”
“You arrest people who break the law. You’re the one in control of the outcome.”
I leaned forward and rested my hand over Malcolm's. “I’m a cop because I believe in justice and doing the right thing. I’m a cop because I want to protect innocent people from the evil in this world. I’m a cop because I will always chose right over wrong.”
“And he wronged you?”
I sat back in my chair. I wasn’t having this conversation with one of my heroes. A man that I’d aspired to be in my future.
“You know how I became brass?”
“How?”
“I asked the hard questions and didn’t stop until I uncovered the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it was. What’s your truth, Elizabeth? Are you willing to dig deep enough to find the answers? Because you’ll never make brass until you do. Life is meant to be experienced; life is full of choices and lessons to learn. Sitting on the sidelines isn’t really living at all. You want to know why Ben and Helen went after what they wanted?”
I could hardly wait. “Sure.”
