Page 58 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

“He wanted Perry to suffer. So I made him suffer instead. The guy knows to never, ever come close to Perry or his mom again.”

She searched his gaze. “You’re not a bounty hunter because you like chasing down prey.”

Don’t be too sure. I live for the adrenaline rush. I enjoy the hunt. I’m good at hunting. I’m?—

“You do it to make sure the bad guys don’t get away. You’re a protector at your core.” Her hand was still over his heart. “You’re Perry’s hero, and you’re mine, too.” She pushed onto her toes.

He bent toward her.

His mouth skimmed over hers. Just a tease. A light taste.

“Thank you, Jake,” she murmured.

He didn’t want her gratitude.

He unlocked the door. Perry had a key of his own—he’d given it to the guy long ago. Jake shoved open the door and waved for True to enter first. She did, hurrying inside, only to draw up short with a gasp.

Jake followed her and froze, too. He got why she’d gasped. The top of the Christmas tree scraped his ceiling.

“That is the biggest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen in my life,” True declared as her eyes widened.

He could smell the scent of the Christmas tree filling the room.

“How did he even get it inside?” she wondered.

Yeah, that would be an excellent question. Jake had no clue.

She slowly walked closer to the tree. One hand extended as she touched a branch. “You asked him to get a tree, for me?”

Well, it sure as shit hadn’t been because Jake wanted it for himself. “You love Christmas.”

She slanted a glance back at him. “But you don’t.”

Jake rolled his shoulders as if the tree didn’t matter. What matters is making True happy. “Maybe Christmas is growing on me. You lost your tree, so I asked Perry to bring in another one. Simple. No big deal.”

“You…wanted to surprise me.”

He looked at the giant tree. The slightly lop-sided, giant tree. “Perry has a real good heart on him.” Jake cleared his throat. “He’s like you. You have a good heart, too.”

“So do you.”

He’d almost forgotten he had a heart, until his Ghost of Christmas Past had slipped into his office. Now he seemed to feel far too much. With her. Because of her. “We can decorate the tree.” A box of lights sat to the side, as promised by Perry. “We’ll go buy ornaments and anything else you think we need.”

“I think I have what I need.”

His gaze flew to her face. She was staring right at him.

Sweets, do not look at me that way. You do, and I’ll have you naked in five seconds. Then I’ll be inside you in the next breath.

He backed up a step.

Her brows rose in confusion. “Jake?”

“We put the bait in our trap at the museum. If Robert is guilty, if he’s the one who smashed the computer and who trapped you in that sarcophagus, he will come after the computer because he’ll want to stop us before we can recover anything. He will be coming here.” Robert’s possible trip to Jake’s place was the reason why—when he’d been talking to Harris on the ride over—the detective had agreed to have undercover units patrol the area. “We need to catch him in the act.” Jake took another step back. Green needles were scattered on the hardwood floor and on the rug in front of the fireplace.

I had True on that rug last night. She screamed for me.

“There’s something I need to give you,” he said. Jake motioned for her to come closer.

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