Page 38 of Last Chance Christmas
“I always have time to help out our friendly neighborhood firefighters. And in the name of gender equality and all, you can hold the ladder for me.”
Zoe chuckled from the other side of the lobby. “Why don’t you sweet-talk Alice into some more thumbtacks, and we’ll see if she thinks you qualify. She’s pretty strict with the office supplies.”
“Alice? Of course she’s careful about who she trusts with office supplies.” Anthony moved over to the reception desk and leaned in toward the woman behind it. She had a no-nonsense vibe with her salt-and-pepper hair pulled back in a low bun. “But you can trust me. I am a police officer after all.”
Alice narrowed her eyes. “So I hand over the thumbtacks, and what will I get out of this arrangement, Officer Thomas?” A little twinkle in her eye gave her away. She was enjoying this.
“I was hoping?—”
“Alice, I’m waiting for a police—” Della Nixon walked into the room and froze at the sight of Anthony.
He stood tall. “Hi, uh, hey.” He cleared his throat and tried again. “I believe I’m the one you’re waiting for.” He put on his full-watt grin.
Her lips dropped into a frown. “Guess they aren’t taking me seriously after all.”
Two
Della had finally reached out for help, and this was what she got. She marched out of the room before she said something else she’d regret. They’d sent Anthony Thomas to protect her? The man spent more time flirting than doing his actual job! Well, flirting with everyone except her.
Not that it mattered at all what he thought about her.
But if the department had sent the officer who looked more like a cover model of a men’s fashion magazine than a bodyguard, were they really taking her seriously?
Her conscience pricked. And why should they? She was a liar, after all.
The notes showing up in her mailbox, and even in her locker, said so. Which gave more credence to the threats they contained than she could ignore. Because only one other person alive knew about her lie. And if he found her?
No. She couldn’t go there.
Della walked into the break room and grabbed a sponge. She scrubbed a spot of dried coffee off the counter.
With the first few anonymous letters, she’d been able to hold it together. Jason Vaynes had been safely locked away in prison, where he couldn’t hurt her anymore.
Then he’d escaped.
So she’d swallowed her pride and called on the police. She was scared, and she was big enough to admit it. She would not be his victim again.
And here she’d laid it all out to the nice officer on the phone, only to be mocked now with the arrival of Officer Thomas.
The same Officer Thomas now standing in the doorway.
“Ms. Nixon, I don’t think we’ve officially met before, and yet I get the distinct impression that I’ve offended you somehow. I assure you, I’m here to help.”
Oh, he was handsome and suave all right. He filled out the dark-blue uniform to perfection. Capable, strong shoulders and a trim but solid figure. The dark hair he kept neatly styled contrasted with the most startling shade of blue eyes. Eyes that seemed to laugh and shine too bright to take life seriously. She’d heard more than her fair share of his serial dating escapades from some of the others. She refused to fall for his flattery.
She dropped the sponge and looked at him. “You’re right. We haven’t met before, but I’ve heard about you.”
A tic in his jaw and the slight tightening of his smiling lips were the only hints that her implied barb had hit its intended target. She wasn’t usually this forthright, like ever, but she was barely holding on here. She didn’t have time to tiptoe around anyone’s ego. Not when her life was on the line.
“I don’t know what you heard, but I take my job incredibly seriously. I’m here to help keep you safe.” He stepped into the room.
“Hmph. The precinct’s poster boy?” She focused on another spot on the counter and attacked it with her sponge. “I have a serious threat on my hands.”
“Who said a person can’t be attractive and capable at the same time?” He gave a nonchalant shrug, but the challenging spark in his gaze tripped her up a second. “You pull it off. Heard you rescued an octogenarian from a house fire last week.”
He was good. She’d give him that. But that blue-eyed gaze bored right into her, setting off a warm swirling she felt all the way down to her toes.
She struggled for words. Sheesh! A few pretty compliments and she was falling apart.
