Page 47 of Hot to Trot

"Excuse me, Mr. Primm," Adam said, grabbing his hat and holster.

"But-"

“This can wait. Get proof if you want to file something official.” He rounded the desk and exited his office. "Call all units, Roz, and escort Mr. Primm out."

Roz saluted and picked up the dispatch radio. Adam pulled the keys from his pocket and pushed through the front door, glad to be away from Harvey. Glad to be doing something more useful than ticketing people for not picking up dog poop. He never wished for anyone to be in harm's way, but damned if it didn't feel good to be useful. He missed this. The adrenaline. The urgency. The knowledge he could make a difference in a life-or-death situation.

Everything he'd been worrying about-Harvey, his ex-wife, his date with Sophie, the damning footage of him kissing Scarlet, and the crazy desire he felt for the redhead-disappeared.

This was what he was made to do.

And he wouldn't let anyone get in his way of fulfilling his purpose.

CHAPTER TWELVE

SCARLET GLANCED DOWN the hallway of the Longview hospital, wondering which way the emergency room was. Rayne had called her about an accident that had occurred earlier that afternoon-a car had been hit broadside by a logging truck and the people inside the vehicle had been gravely injured. The mother and her friend had been flown to Shreveport, but the two teenage daughters had been sent to Longview Regional. The two thirteen-year-old girls had non-life-threatening injuries and were stable. A state trooper had called the inn after noticing theDeep Shadowsshirt one of the girls had been wearing.

Scarlet had been going over notes for teaching the acting class when Rayne had popped her head into the room.

"Scarlet, I have something you need to do," she'd said.

Scarlet glanced up. "What? I'm kinda busy working on a few scenes usingThe Magpie Thief.”

"There was an accident outside town. Two girls were taken to the hospital. One of them was wearing a shirt from your show, so a state trooper called to ask if you would be willing to visit. They're not sure if the girl's mother is going to make it."

Scarlet tossed aside her pen and notebook and searched for the flip-flops she'd kicked off earlier. "Wanna come with me?"

"Can't. Henry has football."

Scarlet found her keys and purse, then grabbed a cereal bar before making her way to Longview. Now that she was here, she had no idea where the emergency room was. She'd followed the signs, but she was lost.

A lady stood beside a sliding-glass window indicating Scarlet was in Radiology. "Excuse me, could you point me toward the emergency room?"

The woman, clad in mauve scrubs, turned her head and droned, "Down the hall, take the second right."

"Thanks," Scarlet said, stepping around her.

"Oh, my gosh!" the woman said. "You're an actress. I've seen you onGhost Whisperer.No. What was it?"

Whoever the woman had been talking to in side the office poked her head out the window. "Veronica! Holy sh-"

She caught herself, obviously remembering she was in the workplace.

Scarlet smiled. "Hey.”

The woman leaned farther out. "I love your show. Never miss it, and I can't wait for next season. Oh, gosh, you've got to tell me. Is Gina really pregnant with a werewolf?"

Scarlet bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing. "I honestly can't tell you. It's, like, in my contract. But let's just say she won't need a winter coat for that baby."

The woman shrieked. "I knew it! I knew Romero had attacked her in the woods and she'd be forced to bear the shame of a werewolf's child. Oh, my gosh, I can't wait to tell Sally."

Scarlet shook her head.

"Not Romero? You're joking. Who's the father?"

Scarlet made the lock-and-key motion over her lips, throwing the imaginary key over her shoulder. "Sorry, you'll have to watch."

The woman in scrubs, who hadn't stopped staring at her for the entire conversation, finally spoke up."I can't believe you have kissed Karakas. Your lips have touched his lips. That's so sexy."

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