Page 16 of Billionaire Protector

Breathe. Focus. Do not ask for an encore.“It was a mistake. A big, big, big mistake. So I’m going to go, and I’ll even take that.” She reached for the uniform, but he moved at the same time. She lost her balance and fell…

Right into his naked chest.

She looked up into the brightest, greenest eyes she’d even seen. “Oh hell.”

She pressed her lips to his.

She may have started it, but he immediately stole control. They parried back and forth, fueling a passion that had boiled for a decade and beyond. It was outrageous, impossible and nonsensical, for Cole was and would always be more foe than friend. Yet the electric connection usurped her control and vanquished her discipline, the power he held over her. He snaked his arms around her as memories flooded her senses, remembrances of the one night she surrendered all. Then she remembered what happened after.

She broke away.

“This can’t happen.” She stepped back, away from the commanding man, away from the painful past, the illogical present, the impossible future. “Not now, not ever. Please don’t mention this to anyone, especially not me.” This time, she didn’t give him a chance to leave her. Instead, she dashed to her car, racing the sunlight and the wind. She jumped into the regulation vehicle, revved the engine far louder than necessary and then she was off, cutting a path through the sleepy streets of the town she grew up in, the town she now protected. Yet a stark truth belied her escape.

She couldn’t outrun Cole Carter.

CHAPTER 4

Cole Carter’s Review

Monkey peeing on you:-3462397 stars

Extremely disappointing. Disgusting, horrible and extremely yuck. Would not recommend.

So this was how a pretzel felt.

Cole hunched over his cramped desk, so close to the next cubicle his long legs bent in a sharply acute angle. He shifted for the hundredth time in a futile attempt to find a modicum of comfort, made it far worse. It was Whac-A-Mole with sore limbs, and he was losing all his quarters.

At least the rest of the office was comfortable and almost cheery. Sarah’s feminine touch was evident in the homey décor, the soft features that lightened the small space. A flowering gardenia plant was stationed near his desk, sweetening the air and reminding him of her.Everythingreminded him of her.

He grunted, turned his attention back to the photographs of the arson perpetrated that morning at a small warehouse, apparently the sixth such incidence in as many weeks. Like the others, it occurred while the building was empty, in a place thatwouldn’t cause major damage. Still, even if the arsonist was more mischievous prankster than hardened criminal, it was only a matter of time before it got out of control, and then someone could get hurt.

It was almost hard to believe. The postcard-perfect town of Harmony Creek, which had seen little more than speeding tickets and the occasional drunken brawl, had its very own serial arsonist. If he had his way, it wouldn’t be for long.

Of course, there was the other great town mystery: What the hell was the matter with him?

Common sense and any grasp of logic seemed to take a vacation the moment Sarah entered the room. He still couldn’t believe he’d kissed her. Then she’d kissed him back. She’d said to forget it, but he was no fool. He hadn’t been able to forget their first encounter; he certainly wouldn’t forget their last.

It would be a mistake to let anything happen between them. He’d known that ten years ago, and he knew it now. Yet his mind didn’t care, and his body cared even less, eschewing reason for inexplicable desire. Yet it was more than physical attraction. With Sarah, it hadalwaysbeen more.

Was a relationship truly impossible? If she’d changed, left behind her criminal past, perhaps it wasn’t so farfetched after all. Sarah Sloan was no longer Sarah Tanning, in a hundred important ways. His feelings toward her had always been complicated, and far stronger than he would ever admit.

Perhaps it was time to get to know the woman his childhood nemesis had become.

“Hey, Captain.”

Cole nodded at Donovan and Scott, as they sauntered to his desk. He’d been close to them during high school but hadn’t corresponded much while he’d been away. He missed the camaraderie, especially after…

He tightened, vanquished the past. “How’s it going?”

“Great.” Donovan leaned casually against the desk. He tipped his hat. “Feel like joining us for a beer after work?”

“Sounds good.” He could use an uncomplicated evening free of frustrating banter and witty parries. And yet why did the thought leave him unsatisfied, as if he’d miss the frustrating banter and the person who wielded it? “It’ll be like old times.”

“Good afternoon, everyone.”

And just like that, the atmosphere changed. Everyone turned as Sarah strode into the station, confident, poised and beautiful. Cole hadn’t seen her sincemonkeygate, as he’d dubbed the unfortunate encounter, but she seemed different somehow. She nodded to the other deputies but ignored him as she marched into her office and shut the door with a resounding click.

He wouldn’t allow her to ignore him for long.

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