But she looks ready to come apart at the seams, and not in a good way. I don’t like the way whoever she’s talking to keeps shifting closer, effectively corralling Chloe into a space boarded on two sides by railing.
“I want to make things right between us,” the guy is saying. “I knew you wouldn’t agree to talk things out unless you had incentive—”
“You mean leverage.”
“—and the conference gives us all the time we’ll need to clear things up. We can meditate and pray over our reconciliation and come together even stronger…”
Reconcili-what? This could only be Bodhi. The fucker who hurt her so badly, she won’t even consider taking a chance on someone else—namely me. He’s about five eleven and one hundred sixty or seventy pounds. He’s got what I’d call a runner’s body, lean and compact, and at first glance, I’d say he’s way too old for Chloe.
“We are not getting back together.” Chloe’s words might be strong, but her voice and her body language are weak, as if it’s taking everything she’s got to turn this guy down.
“I miss you,” he says. “I still love you, and I want you back. We were so good together—”
“Not good enough to keep you from sleeping with other women.”
“I was weak, but I’ve changed
, I swear. Give me a chance to prove it to you.”
I glance at the people around us, and a fair number of them are watching the exchange. Chloe is keeping her voice down, but her body language screams self-preservation.
“Go away.” The pain in her voice feels like a knife in my gut. “Go away and stay away.”
If either of them turned their heads, they’d see I am well within earshot and listening, but they’re laser focused on each other.
“I know this is a surprise,” Bodhi says. “I know I hurt you, but you and I are meant to be together. We’re twin flames. We need each other to thrive.”
Twin what?
In my peripheral vision, I see KT take a step toward them. I barely lift my hand to signal her to stop, and she does. I don’t doubt KT would deck this guy for upsetting Chloe, and as much as I’d enjoy watching KT unleash her kickboxing skills on this fucker, I really don’t want to take anyone in tonight. Especially not a friend.
“I don’t need you.” Chloe drops her arms and shifts on her feet, about to walk away. “That’s just one of the many things I’ve learned over the last year. I don’t care about your new company or what you hope to prove, but booking this retreat under a different name was a shitty thing to do. If you think you’ve trapped me, you’re wrong. I’ll cancel this retreat in a heartbeat if you pull any bullshit.”
My instinct is to jump in, even if there’s no legit reason. I want to stand up for her, alleviate her stress, but I don’t have a clear reason to interfere.
Then the guy wraps his hand around Chloe’s and holds on when she tries to pull away. “Chloe, please—”
“Let. Go,” she demands through clenched teeth.
“I love you so much—”
“When a lady says ‘let go,’” I say, approaching them, “you let go.”
My voice draws two surprised gazes. Bodhi takes a look at my uniform and lets go of Chloe’s hand. “There’s no problem here, Officer.”
My hackles rise at the dismissive tone. One thing I see here more than I saw in San Francisco are snobs. These hills are filled with mansions and money, and for most, that comes with a certain amount of attitude.
“Looks like you’re coming on to my girl. That qualifies as a problem in my world.” I step up next to Chloe, sling my arm around her shoulders, and playfully drag her close to kiss her head. When she reaches for my hand hanging across her shoulder, I curl my fingers around hers, keeping her from pushing me away. “And I’m a cop, so I’m pretty much an expert on problems. Isn’t that right, baby?”
This is her chance to call me out and tell Bodhi I’m a liar. To brush me off like a bullshitter. Instead, she presses her lips into a thin line, her expression both frustrated and relieved. The fact she didn’t dismiss me zings a thrill along my spine, I can’t lie.
I return my gaze to Bodhi and find stark surprise on his face, as if he never imagined Chloe would move on.
“You must be the ex.” I say, full of she’s-all-mine-now goodwill.
His expression is suddenly disappointed, pained, but he manages a smile and offers his hand. “I’m Bodhi.”
Instead of shaking his hand, I thread my fingers through Chloe’s, much the way she did earlier in the day during my massage, and rest the other hand on the butt of my weapon. “Where did you come up with that name?”