Page 5 of New Home for the Holidays

Hopefully soon if the way Officer Montgomery was looking at you means anything.

I shake off the thought because there is danger down that rabbit hole. It’s possible I was making up the fire and desire in his eyes when I met him yesterday. My dream was just a dream, and I shouldn’t be lulled into believing it’ll become anything more than that.

I’m dragging my feet while getting ready and then making my way to Trudy’s, a diner where all the locals end up at least once a week. It’s a Wintervale staple which, thankfully, has the most delicious pancakes in the state. At least, I’m convinced they are without needing to go any farther than a booth at Trudy’s to know I’m right.

I don’t see Jared when I step inside, but I’m not surprised. He’s punctual when it comes to his shifts at the station, but everything else? It’s a toss-up as to whether he’ll be only a little late or so late you start to worry about his wellbeing.

There’s no doubt I should probably be offended by that, but I also know how much pride he takes in being a cop. It’s his priority. He’s a good guy who means well, but he can have a single-minded focus which borders on obsession. It’s probably one of the qualities which made him a great soldier while he was serving in the military, since his only focus was his duty. Since coming back, he’s thrown himself into being a police officer.

I do feel safer knowing he’s out there protecting and serving.

As I nurse the cup of coffee dropped at my table without needing to ask for it, my eyes slide closed and I try to ignore the lingering feel of Officer Montgomery’s touch, phantom as it is. I have to squeeze my thighs together to try and quell the feeling of desperate need remembering my dream brings out in me.

A chime from the door has my eyes snapping open and my cheeks getting hot. If anyone knew what I was just thinking about I would want to slide under the table and disappear without a trace. But, thankfully, no one in town is a mind reader.

I grin at Jared when he spots me and starts coming my way. My smile freezes and starts to feel brittle when I notice who else has walked into Trudy’s behind my brother. Holy shit.

Officer Montgomery.

Here.

In Trudy’s.

All red-blooded man.

And looking right at me.

The hunger in his dark brown eyes has my heart fluttering in my chest. It takes a lot of effort, but I manage to tear my eyes away from him and his lean, muscular body. Fuck, my gaze could eat him up, but it would be highly inappropriate in front of Jared.

I might be a grown woman now, but my brother has always been very protective of me and Cove. I’m pretty sure Langston wouldn’t have stood a chance with our sister had she not been holed up in a mountain mansion cabin to write songs with the rock star who needed a second lease on his career all the way in Colorado.

“Morgan,” Jared greets me and kisses my cheek before he slumps down into the booth across from me. “Good to see you, sis.” His eyes dart over toward Officer Montgomery, and something flutters inside my chest at the thought of getting to, finally, know his first name.

As sexy as it might be to call him Officer Montgomery in my head, it would probably get old saying it out loud all the time. I wonder if the smile I give the man is as shy as it feels; the way his eyes dilate tells me he likes whatever he sees. When his gaze locks on my lips, I have to hold my body stiff to stop myself from shivering.

“Good to see you,” I force out as I make myself look at my brother instead of the looming figure of his fellow officer.

Fucking awkward.

“Morgan, this is Walker,” there’s a warning in Jared’s voice and I’m not sure whether it’s directed toward me or not. “He’s new to the force and town.” My brother’s eyes flash with something dangerous when he looks at Walker and nods in mydirection. “Walker, this is my sister,” he emphasizes the word as if our relationship weren’t as obvious and unavoidable as a damn neon sign, “Morgan.”

“Morgan,” Walker says my name like a prayer and his dark eyes sparkle. “Thank you for letting me join you for breakfast.”

My mouth hangs open for a moment before I snap it closed. He’s joining us? For breakfast? I mean, sure, I guess that’s obvious, but my brain hadn’t really caught up with what is right in front of me. Apparently.

The air sizzles as Walker sits down next to Jared and pushes him deeper into the booth. Jared glances between us, his eyes intense and focused. Can he see the tension which is mounting and filling Trudy’s? I hope not.

He’ll say something to embarrass me. I just know it.

And he’ll probably scare Walker away. It wouldn’t be the first time he’s done it.

Why does my heart sink at the thought?

CHAPTER 3

WALKER

Jared can stare holes in my head as much as he wants. It’s not going to bother me and it sure as fuck isn’t going to warn me away from his sister. Guys may have been intimidated by him in the past, but we’re on the same force.

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