Better Not Pout by Annabeth Albert

Author:Annabeth Albert
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2019-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eighteen

Nick was no stranger to adrenaline drop—that post-duty hum in his muscles and brain, a low-level restlessness that he usually dealt with by a punishing workout. He’d dealt with other armed suspects over the years, many a damn sight smarter than a drug-addled kid who didn’t even know to take the safety off or how to hold the thing. But no other confrontation had had Teddy there, and Nick was left with a confusing jumble of emotions—anger and frustration that Teddy hadn’t listened to him mingling with sheer relief that he’d been able to defuse the situation.

And through it all, there was a surreal sense of being in a strange land—this wasn’t some base he was stationed at, but a town, one that kept right on spinning even with word of the near-robbery spreading. These people weren’t going to be deterred from their holiday cheer, and the lights went on, right on schedule. Afterward, people lined up for pictures with Santa and the elf, several people slipping Teddy donations to apply to the giving tree or the food pantry. Although paler than usual, Teddy dutifully took notes and smiled for pictures.

And the whole time, Nick and his adrenaline were counting down until he could get Teddy alone. But whether he was going to shake him or fuck him remained to be seen.

“Man, that was impressive, Saint Nick.” Charlie, Teddy’s brother, came up, his flock of little boys in tow. “Our family sure is lucky to have you around. Not sure how we can repay you.”

“It’s nothing.” Nick waved the praise away. “Just using my training. And no need to thank me. Just tell me my truck’s ready to go.”

Charlie made a pained face. “Part was delayed, and my best alignment guy was out sick today. But we’re on track to have it back tomorrow morning—working some weekend hours to get caught up. Do you need me to run you back to the base tonight? I can drive the truck out tomorrow probably.”

“No.” Teddy finished with the family he’d been talking with and turned toward his brother, answering before Nick could. “I’ve got him covered.”

Charlie’s eyebrows went up, and Nick thought he was for sure going to be on the receiving end of some big brother ire, but apparently some lengthy unspoken brother-to-brother communication was happening because Teddy stared him down until Charlie sighed and rolled his eyes.

“I’ll try to have the truck done by noon. You sure you don’t need me to run it out to the base?”

Nick scratched his itchy fake beard. Now it was his turn to be on the receiving end of a Teddy glare. He should take Charlie up on the offer, extradite himself from the weird pull Teddy had over him. But something had shifted last night and again today, and he knew he wasn’t letting Teddy go before he left the area for good. Big brother disapproval or not, he was tossing his lot in with Teddy.

“Think I’m good,” he said firmly,

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