Total pages in book: 97
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 92636 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 463(@200wpm)___ 371(@250wpm)___ 309(@300wpm)
When Cara had agreed to their one night, she’d been okay with that. She knew that while he didn’t stick around, she was a small-town girl at heart, with small-town aspirations. She’d happily remain in Serendipity long after the big-city detective left his temporary job as chief of police behind. She had no doubt if she got involved with Mike again, she’d end up with a broken heart. But he wasn’t asking her for anything.
Yet if he pressed, she’d be tempted. And what did that say about her? She shook her head to dislodge thoughts of a man who clearly wasn’t interested. Cara wouldn’t chase after a man any more than she’d let one take advantage of her. Her mother and father’s unbalanced, unhealthy relationship set an example Cara refused to follow.
With that reality firmly in mind, she went for coffee.
* * *
Mike had faced down drug dealers and embezzlers with enough at stake to warrant killing him in order to keep their activities secret, and he hadn’t been afraid. He’d be damned if he’d let one pint-sized police officer with ocean-blue eyes get under his skin. His brother would be okay, and that was what he needed to focus on, not the way Cara, the always-in-control cop, had nearly broken down, reminding him she was also soft and female. He already knew that all too well.
After seeing Cara at the hospital yesterday, Mike had promised himself that, except for work, he’d steer clear. He’d even thought his self-imposed directive would be simple. But when he came to visit his brother the next morning, Cara was already there, having stopped by on her way to work. He heard her laughter from the hallway as he approached Sam’s room.
Though he wanted to come back later, Mike wasn’t a coward. He gripped the handle and let himself inside.
“Nice way to get some attention,” Mike said to Sam, who was laid up in the bed.
“I’m not stupid.” His messy light-brown hair stuck up at odd angles, and his face was pale, yet he managed a grin.
“No, you’re not. The nurses are lining up to take care of him,” Cara said, catching Mike’s gaze.
She rose to her feet. In her blue uniform, she looked every inch the professional.
“I was just leaving for work. I’ll let you two visit.” She gestured for Mike to take the chair she’d vacated by the side of the bed.
“Don’t let me run you off,” Mike said. “I’m sure your boss won’t mind if you’re a few minutes late for your shift.”
Cara pursed her lips. “Oh, I don’t know about that. He’s quite the hard-ass sometimes.”
Sam burst out laughing, then groaned and shut his eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Cara leaned over and pressed her hand to his cheek. “Are you okay?”
He nodded. “Maybe you should go. I may bust my stitches if you stick around while he’s here.” Sam inclined his head toward Mike.
He frowned, not liking that Cara hadn’t yet removed her hand from his brother’s cheek. “I’m her boss,” Mike reminded them. “Doesn’t that warrant at least some respect?”
“Only when you’re on duty, big brother.” Sam swallowed what was sure to be another laugh.
Cara shook her head, her smile coming through as she finally pulled her hand away.
Apparently, she’d taken his sister’s words to heart and decided she could give him a hard time off duty. Her sassy mouth was one of the things he’d enjoyed about her when he’d visited a few months ago, and it could definitely get him in trouble again now.
“I’m going, I’m going,” Cara muttered. “But I’ll be back after my shift. You,” she said, wagging a finger at Sam. “Behave and listen to your nurses.”
“Bring me a burger from The Family Restaurant?” he asked.
Cara shook her head. “Not until the doctors say it’s okay.” She glanced at Mike, meeting his gaze with a wry smile, showing off two dimples in her cheeks.
Damn. How could she be professional, cute, and sexy all at the same time? He’d worked with many women over the years, and he’d never been affected like this. Never mixed business and pleasure on the job because that made a situation harder to walk away from.
“Who’s her partner while I’m stuck here?” Sam asked.
One of the changes Mike intended to make within the department was eliminating partners. The way he viewed it, the force was small, as was the town. There was no need to tie up two officers who could cover more areas separately. He’d planned to schedule a meeting with his officers next week, but now he’d wait a little while longer until Sam was up to speed.
“I paired her with Dare,” Mike said, giving her a heads-up.
“Dare and I work well together, so thanks,” she said, sounding surprised.
Did she really think he’d deliberately put her with someone more difficult after the day she’d had yesterday?