Page 97 of Last Chance Christmas
Kianna sat in the waiting vestibule by herself while Cole talked with Jack and got paperwork filed for the accident.
She held a steaming cup of coffee in her hands that the receptionist, Jules, had been nice enough to get her. Even Titan had been attended to and was lapping up food and water near Allen Frees and Victoria Drake, the town liaisons, who stood next to one of the cubicles, talking with Ramble.
Kianna blew on her drink and took a sip.
Picture frames lined the wall in front of her, giving accolades to different officers who’d helped save the day over the years.
Phones and pagers rang every few minutes while officers popped in and out of different rooms.
She’d pulled out her phone to check the weather forecast when footsteps and panting stole her attention.
Cole and Titan made their way over. Cole sat down in the chair next to her, a frown on his face, while Titan remained on guard in front of him.
“You okay?” Kianna scrunched her brow. Through the window, the snow seemed to be letting up a bit, and Kianna could make out the brick building and the faux green shrubbery of the Italian restaurant across the street.
“It’s been a long day. I think you should go home and get some rest. I’ll get the officers up to speed and take care of things.”
Kianna bit down on her lip. Just like that, he was going to dismiss her? After all they’d already been through—her literally saving him after his fall down the embankment, then surviving a car crash. “I thought we were working together on this.” She stared at him. Her mouth hung open, but she didn’t care.
“It’s too dangerous. You could have been hurt. Even killed. I can’t put your life in jeopardy again.” Cole’s jaw twitched.
“It wasn’t your fault.” Kianna rubbed the base of her neck. The knot there sent more pain radiating through her head. She had been injured thanks to whiplash, but she wouldn’t tell him that. It would only prove his point. “You could have gotten hurt too.”
“That’s different.” Cole crossed his arms. “I won’t be responsible for something happening to you.”
“You aren’t. I am.” Kianna folded her arms too. “I can help you.” She didn’t want to lose her chance at helping put Mackey away. Never mind she wasn’t an officer. This case was personal to her, and she wanted to see it through. “You said it yourself. I think like an officer. I thought we made a good team.”
A flash of regret filled Cole’s eyes. He dropped his right arm and pointed to Titan. “You were wrong. I already have a partner.”
A pit grew in her abdomen. She blinked a few times. Tears threatened to brim along her lash line, but she refused to welcome them.
She wanted justice as much as he did. For Jaxon and every other person Mackey had victimized.
“I thought you had my back.” She narrowed her gaze. At least she’d had his.
“I do.” He propped his arms on his knees and leaned forward. His biceps protruded, and Kianna shifted her focus. His eyes softened, the creases disappearing. The way he tilted his head drew Kianna in. All that remained was…compassion? Pity?
How had she been so naive? She’d started this search with Cole to stop Mackey. And along the way, she’d let her heart do the one thing that was off-limits.
Any feelings she’d let herself grow for this man began to melt faster than the snow squall letting up outside.
“Your determination makes you good at your job. That’s what you need to focus on. Leave Mackey to me and my team.” Cole stood and tugged on Titan’s leash.
Kianna refused to let him look down on her. She stretched to her full height. “So I’m just a civilian. Whose life also happens to be at stake with a convict on the loose.”
Cole opened his mouth, then clamped it shut. A muscle in his neck bulged. “The more time I spend here, the less time I have to make sure Mackey doesn’t stay out there for good.”
Kianna sighed. The inflection in his tone said it all. The way he’d enunciated I. She and Cole were merely two individuals whose paths had crossed because of their fields of work. And she’d built up false expectations for what that meant—both professionally and personally.
“What about the Tiny Paws shelter?” she asked, knowing it was a vain attempt. Still, she had to try. Like she didn’t want to believe he’d been completely honest the first time he’d said no.
“The adopt-a-pet event is canceled.” A woman’s voice came from behind Kianna, and she jumped. “They just announced the change.”
Kianna turned.
Victoria. She wore a dark-blue sweater dress with a white scarf draped around her neck. Her brown hair was curled, and her red lipstick sealed the outfit.
Warmth snaked its way up Kianna’s neck. How long had the woman been standing there? Had she heard their whole conversation?
