Wyatt didn’t have it within his power to fix the world. He wished he did—for her sake. “What are you going to do?”

She straightened away from the vehicle. “What I should have done in Washington before I ever came here. I’ve had it clear up to my eyebrows. Nobody who has thoughts like I did tonight should be wearing a badge.”

She gave Wyatt no opportunity to say anything more. She pushed off into that brisk, surefooted stride of hers and retraced her path back into the department. He had a horrible feeling she was about to turn in her badge. He couldn’t say that would be the wrong choice for her. In fact, he believed it was the right one. But that didn’t negate the fact that she was going to be a basket case afterward.

He didn’t know what to do. He’d never watched someone throw her life away. He only knew he couldn’t leave and let her face the consequences of what she’d done alone.

Chapter Ten

Wyatt waited beside his truck with his gaze fixed on the rear door of the county building. He knew Erin would return to the parking lot sooner or later. As far as he knew, she was still driving a county vehicle while her Honda was being repaired. When Wyatt had dropped by the Timing Light to pay the bill, Buck Hannity told him he’d had to order most of the parts and it was taking longer than expected to get them in. If Erin actually quit her job tonight, would she even have a vehicle to drive? He guessed she wasn’t thinking about everyday stuff right now. Not that he blamed her. A lot of worry had to be circling in her mind.

In only a few minutes, Erin emerged from the building. She paused on the back steps to search for him, making him feel glad that he’d stayed. Blue eyes sparkling with tears, she struck off toward him, her arms straightened and stiff at her sides. As she drew closer, Wyatt saw no badge gleaming on the front of her uniform shirt.

As she drew up about three feet away from him, she said, “For better or worse, I’m finished.”

Wyatt’s heart felt as if it had dropped to somewhere around his ankles. He’d been hoping that someone inside the building might have been able to talk her down. But, no, she’d made a snap decision that would affect the rest of her life. What if she woke up in the morning with a change of heart? He decided that maybe a big glass of wine was just what she needed, after all. It would help to calm her down, and talking things over might clear her head. He’d stop by Flagg’s Market for a bottle of vino and meet her on her porch in twenty minutes.

“Can you still use the county truck?” he asked.

She nodded. “Sheriff Adams says I can keep it until I get my car back. Guess he’s not too mad at me for quitting.”