Page 5 of Holding Out For A Holiday Hero

She thought she was looking at a hero.

And there he was, imagining how to get her in his bed at the earliest opportunity.

I am such a bastard.

“I…” Her gaze dropped to his mouth. Red immediately stained her cheeks. She seemed to realize that she was gripping his shoulders, and she let him go as she whipped back. “I am grateful.”

He didn’t move.

“I’ll pay whatever your normal hourly rate is.”

He didn’t have a normal hourly rate. “We’ll figure things out.” He glanced at his watch. “It’s getting close to 8 p.m. Why don’t we plan to start investigating first thing tomorrow?” Tomorrow would be Saturday morning.

“You…you said we.”

He had. Very clearly. Very deliberately.

“You want me to help?”

“Well, it’s always easier if you have a witness at the ready. You can walk me through the scene at the museum. You can take me in your house and show me around. So, yep, it’s a we situation.” Working together would also give him more time to spend with the delectable True.

Once more, she beamed at him.

Sonofa—that smile of hers was downright dangerous. It made a man want to do all kinds of things. Like…pretend to be a hero.

“You are fantastic,” she praised. “I’m so glad I got up the courage to come and see you!”

She’d needed courage to see him?

“Should I plan to be back here tomorrow morning in order to meet with you?” Eagerness spilled from her. “I can be here anytime you want. I’ll…um, I’ll just be staying at the motel down the street, so I can?—”

He held up his hand. “Say again?”

She licked her lips. “I’ll be staying at the motel down the street.” She rattled off the name.

A name he was familiar with because the motel was such a notorious piece of crap. The joint should have been condemned long ago.

“I haven’t checked in yet, but it’s my next stop. I don’t feel safe at my house.” Hushed. “Someone has been inside. I’m sure of it. And I just can’t stay there again tonight.” She straightened her shoulders. Smiled again. Only this smile seemed forced. “I’ll sleep there tonight and be back to meet you at…say seven in the morning?”

“No.” He crossed his arms over his chest.

“Oh. Will eight work?”

“No.”

She blinked. “What time will work?”

“You’re not staying at that no-tell motel, True.”

Her cheeks went rosy again. “But it’s super close to your office.”

“Fuck that.” And then he said something he had not intended but had definitely fantasized about… “You’re coming home with me.”

Her eyes went wide. Her lips parted.

“You’re staying with me.” Hell, yes, she was. “You’re getting the full-service protection plan.” Total bullshit. He had no full-service plan. In fact, he had no protection plan. Jake simply hunted the scum of the earth and tossed them back into cells. Case closed. But he could make up things as he went along. Why not? “You can crash at my place, and I can keep an eye on you until we figure out what’s happening in your life.”

Her long lashes fluttered. “That’s so kind of you.”

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