Page 4 of Billionaire Protector

Cole’s grin widened. “He and I got to talking, and he said there was an opening for a deputy position.”

This wasn’t happening.

“I told him I’d come back to town looking for exactly that. A few other members of the council were there, and next thing I knew they were offering me the job.”

What sound did irony make when it laughed at you?

“That’s impossible. They would’ve called the sheriff first. They wouldn’t have just hired someone without consulting the person in charge.”

Cole’s mild shrug belied her denial. “Some of the other council members suggested it, but John didn’t want to disturb the sheriff so late at night. He said no way would the sheriff oppose my hiring, not with my experience.”

Compared to this, a zombie apocalypse was looking pretty good.

John loved to disturb her. And he loved to go above her authority. And he really loved to manipulate things so she’d have no choice but to go along with his directives.

Cole’s smile stretched all the way to the Atlantic Ocean. “The others agreed. He said we could share the news when everything was finalized. Now it is. I figured I’d get started right away.”

With no sign of an impending zombie apocalypse, Sarah clung to the ever-narrowing possibility he was lying. “In the middle of the night?”

He gave her the smile that had scored him those thousand girlfriends. “Like you said, I’ve always been an overachiever.”

Yeah, he was. And at that moment, the impossible changed to the improbable, the improbable to the possible, and the possible to the more than likely. John Townsend would absolutely hire someone behind her back. Heck, he’d hired a trained gorilla if it meant getting one over on her. He’d been trying to usurp her power for years – hiring a deputy without her approval or even knowledge was just like him. They did need a new deputy, but it was supposed to be her responsibility, her choice.

Of course, Cole was no monkey. Nor had he ever been a liar. Why would he make up a story she could easily fact check? Plus, there was the badge. They didn’t sell those on eBay.

So more than likely, it was true. She breathed deeply, tried it on for size, as feelings swirled, twirled and crashed. The same emotions Cole Carter instigated since first grade came rushing back at her: frustration, annoyance, concern and… excitement, anticipation and exhilaration. And suddenly, one truth madeeverything all better. Until Cole Carter took off again, which would undoubtedly be soon, she was…

His boss.

It was the perfect moment. She grinned, and his eyes turned immediately wary. Oh, he should be worried. “Then let me be the first to welcome you back. I’m sure you’ll enjoy working for…” She flashed her biggest, brightest smile, finally allowing her joy to show. “Me.” As he glared, she extended her arm. “I’m the sheriff.”

The word he uttered was not appropriate to repeat.

Oh yeah, this was way better than a zombie apocalypse.

CHAPTER 2

Cole Carter’s Review

Sarah Sloan:1 star

Criminal tendencies, impossible personality, far-too-clever opponent. Favorite hobbies include making trouble, creating mischief and infuriating me.

Will take great measures to control the situation.

Cole was many things – a soldier, a police officer, a gentleman (most of the time) but most of all, a man who controlled his world. He calculated every action, forging his own path, and yet somehow Sarah tested his limits, made him want to assert his power. Then destiny handed him a fate he could never imagine:

Sarah as his boss.

It wasn’t possible.

Nope. Not a chance.

There wasn’t the slightest, remotest chance this feisty warrioress was his boss. Not because she was a woman. Not because she had sleek black hair, lovely features and eyes thecolor of the perfect twilight. Not because she was still the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen, even wet as a drowned cat. No, it wasn’t any of those things.

It was because she was and had always been a criminal.

Sarah Tanning had been a juvenile delinquent back then, and clearly a hardened criminal now. How else had she almost extricated herself from one of the military’s most skilled former operatives? She’d almost overcome his grasp, but, of course, she hadn’t. He wouldn’t let her escape.

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