His phone signaled an incoming text.

Remi: Do you really think I can’t bust out of Brick Jail when you leave Spencer in charge?

He’d charged Spencer with keeping an eye on her while he went back into the station.

It made him anxious to be away from Remi. Especially after seeing how upset she was over her own desecrated painting. She’d covered it up. But he could still see the hurt. That alone made him want to break the asshole’s jaw.

Brick: I know exactly what you’re capable of. I’m just hoping you’ll choose to behave yourself until I get home.

Remi: Me? Spence is the one who just challenged Phil Coolidge to a pull-up challenge.

Brick felt the ghost of a smile on his lips. Phil Coolidge was an 82-year-old, retired triathlete who’d called Mackinac home since the late ’90s. His husband was in a rehab hospital on the mainland recovering from bypass surgery, and Phil was lonely without him.

Brick: Don’t let either one of them break anything.

She responded with a short video of Spencer and Phil running wind sprints on the street.

His phone rang and he answered.

“Remi.”

“You can’t keep me under guard forever, you know,” she warned.

He closed his eyes. “I realize that. This is a temporary solution until I can find a way to keep eyes on Vorhees.”

She blew out a breath. “This doesn’t need to be your fight, Brick.”

“I thought I made myself clear this morning.”

“Your testosterone was in the stratosphere after fucking my brains out. You weren’t thinking clearly.”

He glanced around, making sure none of the other officers were within earshot. “You need to accept that this is the way it is. I know you’re scared. But you’re not alone anymore, and if you think I’m going to let you face this alone, then I really must have fucked that brain right out of your beautiful head.”

“Dirty dirty dirty,” she purred.

His cock stirred in his pants, and he pressed the heel of his hand against it. “Behave yourself.”

“Do you have plans tonight?” she asked, all innocence now.

“Yes.”

“Oh.” She sounded disappointed.

“They involve you. Naked. In my bed.”

“What about Spence?” she asked, sounding a little breathless.

“He’s not invited.”

Remi laughed. Then sighed. “By the way, the show you put on for Mira this morning seems to be the equivalent of pissing in a circle around me. Phil congratulated me on our ‘new romance’ when I got here.”

“Good.”

“Brick,” she groaned.

“Remi.”

“You can growl my name as sexy as you want, but we’re still going to discuss this. There’s no reason for you to sign up to be my friend with benefits and my bodyguard.”

If she thought the two were mutually exclusive, he had a lot of educating to do tonight. But he had to walk that line with care. Too much pressure, too many rules, and she’d spook.

“Looking forward to it,” he said as Carlos Turk strolled over and leaned against his desk.