Page 13 of Declan (Men of Clifton, Montana #53)

The late afternoon sun glinted off his SUV cruiser as Declan drove back toward the department.

Tank lay on the back seat. Up ahead, a dark sedan barreled through a stop sign without so much as slowing.

Declan clenched his jaw as he flipped on his turn signal, wheeled the cruiser around, its heavy tires crunching on gravel, and turned on the lights.

Tank immediately stood up and began whining.

When the sedan ignored the flashing lights, Declan activated the siren.

The wailing pitch cut through the sleepy hush of the neighborhood, and the car finally drifted to a halt along the curb.

He eased the cruiser within a few feet, killed the engine, then tugged on his hat, the brim casting a shadow across his eyes.

He slipped from his vehicle, boots pounding on asphalt, and strode toward the other car.

The window hissed down, revealing the familiar cold gaze of Stephen Johnston behind the wheel.

“License, registration, and proof of insurance,” Declan said, voice calm but firm.

Johnston snorted, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel. “Hell, Cavanaugh, don’t you have anything better to do?”

“License, registration, and proof of insurance,” Declan repeated. “Now.”

A gust of hot air blew from the open window as Johnston exhaled heavily, then fished through the glove compartment. He handed the documents to him. The late sun glinted off Declan’s badge clipped to his shirt.

“Just what did you pull me over for?” Johnston asked, voice edged with irritation.

“You blew through that stop sign,” Declan said, thumb pointing toward the intersection.

“The hell I did.”

“You know you did. I saw you—”

Johnston’s face tightened. “You’re full of it.”

Declan raised an eyebrow. “The dashcam doesn’t lie. You do, but it doesn’t.”

“Yeah, fuck you.”

“Have you been drinking?”

“No. Give me a breathalyzer if you think I was.”

Declan smirked. “It wouldn’t be the first time.”

“As I said, fuck you.”

“Fine,” Declan said. “I was going to give you a verbal warning, but since you’re being uncooperative, I’ll be right back after I call this in.”

The sedan door opened, and Johnston stepped out, folding his arms as he leaned against the side of the car. He stared at Declan with a challenge in his eyes. “You know damned well I don’t have any warrants,” he yelled.

Declan held his ground. “I don’t know anything till dispatch clears it. Get back inside your car.”

They stood locked in a standoff until Johnston exhaled and climbed back inside. Declan returned to his cruiser, eased behind the wheel, and typed the information into the computer, then called dispatch to double check.

As he sat there waiting to hear back from the dispatcher, he kept his eyes on Johnston, just wishing he’d make a move so Declan could flatten him out.

The radio crackled: “It’s clean, Deputy.”

“Thanks,” he muttered, shaking his head. He flipped open his ticket book, stepped back to Johnston’s door, and handed over the documents, then he filled out the ticket and handed the booklet to Johnston to sign.

“I’m not signing that.”

“Stop being difficult, Johnston. You know it’s just a formality. Not an admission of guilt, though we both know you should’ve been found guilty before,” Declan snapped.

Reluctantly, Johnston scrawled his signature and passed the book back. Declan tore out the ticket and pressed it into his palm.

“Happy now, Deputy?”

“If you think I’m wrong, contest it in court. I’ll be there, with the video.”

“You’re just pissed that I got to Elise before you did,” Johnston sneered.

Declan raised his eyebrow. “ Got to Elise? What a way to put it. Tell me, how long did that last?”

“Though it’s none of your business, I plan to see her again. We just had a little disagreement. She likes me, so it shouldn’t be a problem.”

Declan snorted. “You’re delusional. Drive safely now.” He touched the brim of his hat.

Johnston slid the window up, pulled away, and the sedan’s tires whispered against the pavement as he drove off.

Declan watched it disappear around the corner, tightening his jaw.

There was no way Elise would go out with that prick again.

Would she? He didn’t like that man and the distilled tension still buzzed through him as he climbed back into his cruiser.

Tank’s whine had quietened now; the dog’s ears perked, sensing the charged air.

Declan eased back onto the road, made a U-turn and headed toward the office, the late sun dipping beneath the rooftops.

****

The following Saturday, Elise chuckled warmly at the lively group of women in the dancercise class as they moved through the motions of a line dance to Man!

I Feel Like a Woman , a Shania Twain song, their laughter echoing off the studio walls as they sang along.

Positioned confidently at the front of the room, she mirrored their energetic moves, a big smile lighting up her face.

Each one of these women held a special place in her heart, and together they shared a camaraderie that felt like a close-knit group of friends.

She remembered meeting them all during the first class, a memory that now seemed like a cherished beginning.

Every Saturday morning, they gathered without fail, creating a vibrant, bustling atmosphere that was only occasionally disrupted by a rare absence.

The class was consistently packed with at least twenty eager participants, and Elise relished every second of their shared joy and enthusiasm.

As she danced along with the lively group, her eyes shifted toward the doorway. There stood Declan and Sheriff Sam Garrett, their faces showing amused grins as they observed the scene.

Sam’s wife, Tessa, was among the dancers, her laughter mingling with the music.

The badges pinned to the men’s khaki shirts glinted under the warm light, and their cowboy hats were perched low, shading their eyes with an air of rugged charm.

A surge of excitement fluttered through her, and she felt an overwhelming urge to run to Declan and kiss him like crazy.

When he caught her gaze, he gave her a playful wink, prompting her to laugh while she continued to twirl and sway in rhythm with the music.

The room was alive with the loudness of vibrant music and infectious laughter.

The two men maintained their focus on the women, mesmerized by their spirited movements.

As the song ended, the women erupted in cheers, exchanging triumphant high-fives, their faces flushed with joy and exhilaration.

Elise’s heart warmed as she watched Tess dash toward Sam, leaping into his waiting arms with unrestrained joy.

Sam enveloped her in a tight embrace, their lips meeting in a tender kiss that spoke volumes of their love.

Elise noticed Declan’s gaze fixed on her.

He pushed away from the doorframe, making his way toward her.

His unexpected kiss took her by surprise, igniting a spark of delight that spread across her face, leaving an undeniable smile in its wake.

“I have to say, that was enjoyable,” he said with a grin, his eyes filled with amusement.

“It certainly looked like you enjoyed watching it,” she teased.

He leaned down, his breath warm against her ear as he whispered, “I enjoyed watching you .” His gaze swept across the lively room. “What a group.”

“I absolutely adore this bunch. We always have so much fun together,” she replied, her voice filled with genuine affection.

“Hi, Declan,” Olivia Stone greeted warmly as she approached them, her smile bright and welcoming.

“Hey, Liv. How are you and Wyatt doing?” Declan inquired, his tone friendly and sincere.

“Just wonderful,” Olivia replied, her face glowing with contentment. “It was great seeing you. I really need to head home and take a shower.” She turned to Elise with a warm smile. “I’ll see you next week.”

“Okay, Liv. Have a fantastic weekend,” Elise responded, waving as Olivia departed with her sisters-in-law, Becca and Emma Stone.

As each woman exited, they bid farewell to her, Declan, Tess, and Sam with cheerful waves and warm smiles.

Elise felt a wave of appreciation for the close-knit community of Clifton, the camaraderie and connection wrapping around her like a comforting blanket.

While she held a deep-seated love for the vibrant hustle of New York, this tightly woven town was where her heart truly belonged, especially with Declan by her side.

“Can I come by tonight?” Declan inquired.

“Of course. I can fix dinner if you’d like,” Elise replied.

“Can you cook?” he asked, raising an eyebrow with playful skepticism.

“I can,” she assured him with a confident grin. “I make a mean lasagna.”

Declan groaned appreciatively. “I love lasagna. What time?”

“Six?” she suggested.

“Sounds perfect, darlin’. I’ll see you then. I have to get back to work.” He leaned in, pressing a soft, lingering kiss on her lips. “I’ll see you later.”

“Can’t wait,” she responded, a smile spreading across her face as he touched the brim of his hat and strode out, trailing behind Sam.

“I’ll see you next week, Elise. I need to head home and grab a shower. Great class today,” Tess remarked, making her way over to where her jacket hung on a polished wooden peg.

“See you then, Tess. Have a good weekend,” Elise replied.

“Oh, I will. Sam’s parents have the kids,” Tess said with a wink, prompting a burst of laughter from Elise. With a playful wave, Tess turned and left, her footsteps echoing softly down the hallway.

****

As Declan and Sam strolled back toward the Sheriff’s Department, the cool air nipping at their skin, Declan couldn’t suppress the grin that spread across his face as thoughts of Elise danced in his mind.

“So, when did you and Elise start seeing each other?” Sam asked, his eyes glinting with curiosity under the brim of his hat.