Page 55 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

“My computer is in a thousand pieces,” True said.

Yep, he was aware. He’d helped pick up those thousand pieces and put them in a box.

“I get that you think your tech buddy is good, but it would take a miracle to fix this.”

He reversed the vehicle. Robert was still watching. “Oh, sweets, there is no fixing your computer.”

“Uh, then why did we box it up? And shouldn’t we have called the cops to report the damage?”

“I’ll inform Harris.” At the top of his to-do list. He’d make that call in moments. “Not like there are gonna be any prints, though. There haven’t been prints left behind at any of the attacks.”

“Robert was wearing gloves.” Soft.

“You noticed that, too, huh? Gloves, while on duty inside the museum. Fun fashion choice.” His grip tightened around the steering wheel. “I know that the computer can’t be repaired. You know it can’t be repaired. But our friend Robert? If he’s the perp we’re after, then he now needs to worry that we’re going to uncover the truth. That means he may panic. In my experience, panic always leads to mistakes.” He’d be informing Harris of exactly what had gone down in the museum. Either Harris would haul Robert in for questioning or the detective would put a tail on the guard.

We need a tail on him. If Harris doesn’t do it, then I’ll get Perry to track Robert.

“If this is about the museum, about someone stealing from the museum, then why is Richard in town?” True wondered. “I don’t get it.”

His grip could not get tighter on the wheel. “Maybe that bastard just wants you back. I’ve heard holidays make people nostalgic as hell. They start thinking about what they’ve lost. What they don’t have. What they want.” He waited a beat. “You want that old life of yours back?” Was he holding his breath? Yes, he was.

“I want to go forward. Not back. Richard is not the man I want.”

Who do you want? Come on, sweets, say it. Say…

My name.

“He isn’t you,” she finished softly.

Fuck. “That is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me.” He gave her the same words she’d given to him not too long ago.

“That wasn’t nice. It was the truth. If you want to hear something nice…then how about this? You’re the kindest, bravest man I’ve ever met. You stood up for me when no one else did, and I won’t ever forget that.”

What could have been guilt twisted inside of him. I took the case because I wanted you. Not because I was kind. He braked at the light and turned his head. He needed to tell her the truth.

But when he looked in her eyes and saw the way that she stared back at him…

People in school used to think I was trash.

She wasn’t looking at him like he was trash.

“You’re the man I want,” True said again.

No, he was not some nice sonofabitch. Because a nice guy would not haul her close and kiss her as if his very life depended on the act.

But he did haul her close. He did kiss her with wild need, ferocious hunger, and a desire that could not be quenched.

Screw nice.

He’d stay on the naughty list.

Permanently.

Chapter Twelve

“Be merry, bright, and make love to a hot bounty hunter tonight. I get that isn’t a real saying, but…maybe it should be?”

– True Blakely (who intends to make love to a certain hot bounty hunter at the first opportunity)

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