Total pages in book: 96
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 91622 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 458(@200wpm)___ 366(@250wpm)___ 305(@300wpm)
She glanced at her watch, noting it was time to leave for her three o’clock appointment. She walked out of her office and nudged her bodyguard. “Time to go.”
“Where are we off to?” he asked.
“It’s a long story,” she said as they made their way out of the office and to the elevator.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he reminded her.
She sighed. “I’m doing a favor for Macy’s aunt Lulu. You see, she had an argument with her sister, Macy’s grandmother, over the pies at the restaurant. So Aunt Lulu applied for a job at the new supermarket that just opened in town.”
She glanced at Cole to see if he was really listening and was surprised to see his eyes on her, rapt and attentive. With a shrug, she followed him onto the elevator. Cole hit the ground-floor button, and she continued her story while they took the short ride down.
“So while Aunt Lulu was setting up the cake displays at the supermarket, a portion of the roof collapsed, and she ended up with a concussion and some bruising. She sued, of course, and it should have been settled quickly, but instead, the parent company sent in a high-powered law firm, who immediately slammed Lulu’s attorneys with paperwork and discovery documents in an effort to get her to drop the suit.” Erin frowned, hating how the older woman was being railroaded by a big corporation.
“You’re a criminal prosecutor. What does this have to do with you?” Cole asked, pausing by the security desk in the lobby.
Erin shrugged. “I promised her I’d look into why a small workers’ comp case has become a legal nightmare. Maybe throw my weight around and pull some strings. It makes no sense to hound an older woman.” Erin had already made some phone calls prior to being shot, but nobody at the supermarket’s main office had returned them.
Cole nodded and turned to Edgar, the afternoon security guard stationed in the lobby. “Has it been quiet?”
“Very few folks in and even fewer out,” Edgar said, patting the log-in book in front of him. “How are you feeling, Miss Erin?”
She grinned. An older, grandfatherly type, Edgar had been at his post longer than Erin had been of legal age. “No worries. I’m better every day,” she assured him.
Edgar hadn’t been on duty when she was shot, but he’d been as distraught as Murray, the morning guard. She tried not to think about that day, but as she waved good-bye to Edgar, she paused by the front doors. Those were bulletproof, but Erin had been outside when she’d been shot.
Shaking off the thought before she stepped outdoors, she gripped the handle—and froze, suddenly unable to push open the door, let alone walk through it. Though she’d promised herself not to give in to fear, ever since the shooting, a simple walk through the parking lot was more traumatic than she’d like to admit.
“Erin?”
From a distance, she heard Cole’s deep voice calling her name, but all she could hear was the chirping of birds that fateful morning and the popping sound of the rifle.
Dizziness assaulted her, and dark spots danced before her eyes. Mentally, she was back in the moment, and not even the knowledge that it wasn’t happening now helped her move. Without warning, her knees buckled beneath her.
Strong arms lifted her, and when she finally focused, she was wrapped in warmth, protected by a hard male body and enveloped in a purely masculine scent that triggered memories of a night she couldn’t forget.
“Cole?” She blinked up at him, surprised to find his face so close, his lips near hers. Concern and worry marred his handsome face.
“You okay?” he asked.
He’d obviously caught her before she passed out and had taken her to a private corner of the lobby. “I am now.” She fought off the embarrassment of nearly having fainted, instead appreciating the safety she felt in his arms.
“Panic attack, huh?” His serious gaze never left hers.
She shrugged. “I guess.”
“I know.”
The certainty in his tone intrigued her. How was he so sure this wasn’t pregnancy- or nausea-related?
“Miss Erin?” Edgar’s voice sounded from above her, interrupting before she could ask Cole that question. “Are you okay?” the elderly man asked.
“She’s fine,” Cole said gruffly.
“Can I get you something?” Edgar asked.
Erin nodded. “Water would be great. Thank you.”
“Be right back.”
Cole refocused on her. “Dizziness better?” he asked.
“Yes.” She ran her tongue over her dry lips, noting he hadn’t made a move to shift her out of his lap. And given that once she moved, she’d lose his warmth and security, she wasn’t in any rush.
“The open parking lot scares me,” she said softly.
“Jesus,” Cole muttered at the admission, his arms tightening around her and she accepted the comfort.
* * *
Cole had taken one look at Erin’s pale face, recognized the signs of panic, and grabbed her before her knees buckled. “Nobody’s going to hurt you again.” They’d have to go through him first.