Page 112 of One Lucky Hero (Men in Uniform 1)

Instead, she gave him a nod. “I’ve got to get going. Good luck, Dean.”

Unable to believe she was just walking away, Dean refused to break in front of her. “Good-bye, Violet.”

And then he watched the love of his life walk up the steps and disappear like they’d never been anything more than a fling.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Two Weeks Later

DEAN HAD JUST finished taping up Casey’s birthday gift when Best walked into the room.

“Hey, we’re all riding over together. You want to join us?”

“No thanks. I’m going to stay.” Placing the finished gift on the edge of his desk, he tapped it twice. “Can you take this with you, though? I’ll call him and take him out later, but I’ve just got a lot of shit to do.”

Best stared at the present in disgust. “Fuck, no, I am not taking that gift and letting you puss out.”

Dean knew what Best meant. He thought that Dean was afraid to see Violet, but he wasn’t. He was over it. He’d made up his mind to stay for him, not her, and if she was willing to let him go, then he could do the same.

He was just really busy.

Dean glared at Best. “Mind your own fucking business.”

“Not when you mope around here like some lovesick ogre, growling and roaring at everyone. You yelled at Dilbert the other day just for being Dilbert!” Pointing his finger at Dean, he continued, “Whatever happened between you and Violet, you need to sack up and deal with it, because this is not healthy. I mean, you were bad before you met her, but at least you were tolerable. You’re so miserable, you’re bringing down everyone else around you.”

“Then you better get out of here before I contaminate you, too.”

“Fine, I guess if you’re not interested in Violet, I’ll have a go—”

Before he knew what he was doing, Dean was around the desk and had Best pinned to the door by his throat. “Finish that sentence and it will be your last.”

Banging on the other side of the door made Dean release Best, who coughed and wheezed.

“I was just . . . trying to get you to admit . . . that you love her.”

Of course he loved her, he would always love her, but love wasn’t always enough. “Like I said, leave it alone.”

Best shook his head. “You know, I never thought you were a coward. At least, not until today.” Dean bristled, but Best stood his ground. “Casey told me that Violet cries all the time, if that helps make up your mind. Maybe whatever you thought was over was just two stupid, stubborn people mucking it up because they have their heads up their asses.”

Clenching his fists, Dean took a menacing step toward his friend. “I swear to God, if you don’t get out of here—”

“I’m gone. Enjoy your own company then.”

Best left, and Dean sat down at his desk, staring at Casey’s gift.

For two weeks, he’d nearly called Violet, holding his thumb over her smiling face on his phone, but every time he’d stopped. Convinced himself that it wouldn’t do any good. That she didn’t feel the same way.

But Casey said she’d been crying.

Grabbing his keys and Casey’s gift, he headed for his truck. He could do this, for Casey’s sake. He could see her. Talk to her.

Tell her he missed her.

No, he wasn’t going to do that. Wasn’t going to put himself out there again just to get his heart stomped on.

But if she’s crying . . .

It’s not because of him. She’d made that clear.