Page 24 of Billionaire Protector

“Of course.” It wasn’t a lie exactly. She had someone she could call. She just couldn’t afford to pay him and thus wouldn’t be using him.

As usual, Cole saw the truth. “I’ll take a look.”

Now the scowl came, with its good friendshands on hipsandtapping foot. “What are you going to do? Give the toilet a good talking to? Command it to work without delay or it’s ten days in the county jail?”

He lifted an eyebrow. “Don’t you think that’s a bit extreme, especially since this is a first offence? I was thinking the toilet could go to some sort of remedial class, maybe do community service.”

Her scowl was trying to turn into a smile. She lifted her chin. “Actually, the toilet is a habitual offender. It hasn’t learned its lesson.”

“Then you definitely need backup.” He stepped closer, all rippling muscles and good-looking charm. “Come on, Sarah. Let me help.” He blinked those emerald eyes, and somehow she was nodding her agreement. He shone with the satisfaction of a man who knew he’d won. “And by the way, the person giving you a lift is me.”

She stopped, blinked. “I’m sorry?”

He smiled.Widely.“Zoe had to take a call. I was on my way to the fair, so I offered to take you instead.”

No, no and, hell to the no. She’d already acquiesced to the toilet. By the time the ride was over, she’d be writing “I’ll never put applesauce in Cole Carter’s shoe” fifty times. It was what he’d made her do the first time, after all. “No, thank you,” she replied politely.

Did he accept it? No, no and, hell to the no. “Are you planning on walking?” he asked just as politely.

Obviously not. The park was miles away. “I’m fine. I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you.” Or fall deeper into whatever spell he was weaving.

“Like I said, I’m headed that way, so it’s no problem.”

Yes, it was a problem, to her good sense. Every time Cole Carter came near, logic and reason hailed a ride to the moon. There had to be excuse,anyexcuse, that could work. She got carsick in expensive cars. She’d suddenly come down with the plague. Oh look, an alien attack! Getting in the car with him was far more dangerous than any of those.

An excuse that didn’t involve aliens or the plague burst into her mind, and she smiled triumphantly. “I’m afraid that won’t work. I have to pick up my patrol car from the station, and that’s on the other end of town. Zoe can take me after her call and–”

“I’m on the night shift, so I’m going to the station after the festival anyways.” Cole plowed neatly through her excuse. Now he smiled triumphantly. “So actually, it’s perfect. Otherwise, Zoe will have to go out of her way, and you’ll miss half the events.”

Alien attack it was. “We can’t arrive together.”

“Why not?” He folded his arms across his chest. “You’re going to have to find a better excuse. Unless…” His expression turned sober, his eyes calculating. “You’re scared to be with me.”

Frustration, anger and the certainty he was one hundred percent correct splashed acid into her stomach. “I am a seasoned officer of the law and your boss. Of course, I’m not scared.” She marched over to the passenger side. “Let’s go.”

Cole looked wholly satisfied. Well, why not? He’d won.Again.“I’m glad you’re ready. We have to hurry to fit in all those annoyed looks you plan on giving me.”

“Don’t forget all the disapproving expressions you scheduled for me,” she retorted.

Cole held out the car door for her, then walked around to the driver’s side and folded his muscular frame into the plush driver’s seat. It caused the car to immediately shrink to half its size. “I don’t disapprove ofeverythingyou do,” he said with a disapproving expression.

“Really?” Sarah adopted her best annoyed look. “You gave me one yesterday just for making coffee.”

“Honestly, who puts five packets of sugar in a single cup? If you weren’t sheriff, I’d arrest you.”

It’s lucky he didn’t know about the dozen she’d added when he distracted her. “I like my coffee sweet. Besides I had toadd something after you adjusted the coffeemaker to the mud setting.”

She expected Cole to respond with a reprimand, but instead he stayed silent. Suddenly, he was chuckling. “Mud? Really?”

Then Sarah couldn’t help it. She started laughing, too. Her chest lightened, and so did the world. What did this man do to her?

Cole quieted as he contemplated her. “Why does every conversation we start end like this?”

Because no matter how much time passed, he was still the boy who frustrated, challenged andintriguedher. And they were acting more like moody teenagers than professional adults. “I don’t know. Habit, I guess.”

“Perhaps it’s time to break old habits.” Cole deftly turned the wheel as he drove through the quiet streets. “Start over as friends and not enemies.”

“You want to be friends?” A seemingly unattainable obstacle, yet something about the offer was inordinately tempting. Just like the man she never could quite define.

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