Colton's Christmas Cop Read online

  “Nothing.” The chief’s glum tone matched his expression. “That’s why we really need a win. Finally catching the Groom Killer would really help. Not only for our officers’ morale, but to help rebuild the town’s confidence in us.”

  Hunter nodded. “I get that. But if we arrest the wrong person, that means the real killer will still be out there.”

  “I’m aware of that.” Dragging his hands through his short hair, Chief Colton grimaced. “Just keep digging, all right? As long as Demi is on the run, we can’t arrest her. However, if the actual murderer thinks we’ve stopped looking, he’ll get careless.”

  “We can only hope.” Excusing himself, Hunter went back to his desk. His stomach growled, reminding him it was nearly dinnertime.

  After collecting Goose, Hunter took her home. She went out into the backyard to take care of business, and he filled her food bowl with her usual dry kibble. With a grateful sigh, she dug in.

  “I’ll be back to let you out again before I go back to work,” he told her. Like most of the other K9 officers, he’d gotten into the habit of talking to Goose as if she was a person rather than a dog. Sometimes he even felt quite certain she understood every word he said.

  Knowing she’d climb up on the couch for an after-meal nap, he locked up and got back into his squad car. Usually on his dinner break, he ate either a sandwich or a TV dinner at home. Occasionally, he picked up fast food. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d sat down in a restaurant.

  Everyone in town loved Pizza Heaven. Even on weeknights, the place was usually packed. He couldn’t wait. Ever since that phone conversation with Layla, he’d been alternating thinking about pizza fresh from the oven and Layla’s clear blue eyes.

  A problem, considering she was engaged to another man.

  When he pulled up to the restaurant, the parking lot was already nearly full. He lucked out and nabbed a spot close to the front, since another car had just backed out.

  Trying to contain his eagerness, he strolled inside, dodging various small children, looking for Layla’s shining cap of blond hair.

  He didn’t see her. As he surveyed the crowded, chaotic pizza parlor, he realized maybe Layla Colton would feel out of place here. He couldn’t actually picture her, in one of her tailored suits and heels, moving between the kids chasing each other and their frazzled parents trying to corral them.

  Again, she managed to surprise him. When she walked through the front doors, he saw she’d changed to a pair of jeans and boots, along with a button-down cotton shirt and a fuzzy vest.

  The sight of her like this nearly brought him to his knees. Beautiful didn’t even begin to describe her. Sexy and self-assured and gorgeous and sweet, all rolled into one. Lust mingled with awe as he watched her saunter toward him.

  “Hey,” she said, smiling. “Have you been waiting long?”

  It took him a second or two to force the words from his throat. “Nope, not at all. Let’s see if we can find a table.”

  They lucked out and got one in the back, as far from the arcade area as it could be.

  Once they were seated, he couldn’t keep from staring.

  “Why do you keep looking at me like I’ve grown a second head?” she asked, her smile making her blue eyes sparkle.

  He started to shrug, but then decided what the hell. “Because you look totally different.”

  Her smile widened. “I don’t wear business clothes all the time, you know.”

  And of course, that comment had him flashing back to the pic he’d seen of her in lingerie, reclining on a bed with a come-hither look on her beautiful face. Since now would be the absolute worst possible time to bring that up, he didn’t. But he resolved to ask her later who had taken that picture and how Mark Hatton might have gotten a hold of it.

  The waitress came over, asking if they were ready. Though the menus were kept on the table, they hadn’t looked at them.

  “Are you good with Canadian bacon and pineapple?” he asked. When she nodded, he grinned. “Just making sure you didn’t have a change of heart. One large,” he told the waitress. They also both wanted iced tea to drink.

  “You two sure are simpatico,” the waitress commented, giving the thumbs-up sign. “I can’t tell you how many couples fight over what kind of pizza to get.”

  Couples. Neither he nor Layla corrected her, which Hunter found amusing for whatever reason. It had been a long time since he’d been part of a couple.

  Layla grimaced. “Sorry, but I refuse to explain myself any more. It’s been a long, long day.”

  The waitress returned bearing two tall glasses of iced tea, both with lemon wedges stuck on the edge of the glass. Layla put one packet of artificial sweetener in hers, stirred and then took a small sip. “Perfect,” she said with a sigh. “Though I really do deserve a glass of wine. Too bad they don’t sell alcohol here.”

  Curious, he decided to go ahead and ask what had happened. Not only was he genuinely interested, but he figured she might need someone to talk to.

  Turned out, she did. He listened, resisting the urge to comment, while she told him about the meeting with her father and her fiancé. But when she reached the part where Hamlin had said he didn’t care if she had the hots for a twenty-two-year-old underling, he nearly choked on his iced tea. “He really said that?”

  Slowly, she nodded. “I confess to being a bit shocked myself.”

  He waited for her to say more, maybe something along the lines of how she now realized she couldn’t possibly marry a man like that. But when she didn’t, he figured it might be safer to change the subject.

  Luckily, the waitress arrived with their pizza and two plates. “Here you go,” she said, setting it down. “Hot from the oven. Enjoy.”

  Hunter couldn’t contain his glee. “It’s been a long time since I’ve had this,” he said, rubbing his hands together.

  Eyeing the pizza, Layla helped herself to a slice, which meant he could, too. He inhaled the fragrant scent before taking a bite, chewing slowly so he could savor his mouthful. Once he’d swallowed, he made a sound of pleasure low in his throat. “That’s so good,” he exclaimed.

  When he looked up, he realized she hadn’t touched hers. Instead, she watched him, wide-eyed. “You really enjoy your food,” she commented.

  About to take another bite, he grinned. “It’s amazing. Go ahead and taste it. I promise, you’ll see what I mean.”

  Without taking her eyes from him, she lifted up her pizza and took a slow bite, the way she did making it clear she intended to savor the taste.

  Sensual as all get-out. Damn. Layla Colton. Who would have thought it? Arousal thrummed in his blood, though he tried to ignore it. This wasn’t a date, and he definitely shouldn’t be fantasizing about how he’d like to taste those lips of hers.

  Instead, he focused on devouring his slice of pizza. He went back for a second and ate that, too, all before she’d finished her first one.

  “Do you not like it?” he asked.

  “Oh, I do. But I have to be careful eating stuff like this,” she replied, unable to keep from eyeing the rest of the pizza with a wistful expression.

  “Go for it. You deserve it.”

  Though she shook her head, she took another slice.

  Once they’d demolished the pizza—well, once mostly he’d demolished the pizza—they sat back and sipped on their iced tea. The waitress returned to ask if they wanted dessert, and when they said no, she left the check.

  Both Layla and Hunter reached for it at the same time.

  “My treat,” she insisted. “After all, I’m the one who invited you.”

  “For coffee. Not pizza. This was my idea.”

  When she still hesitated, he gently slid the check out from under her hand. “How about I get it this time and you can get it the next?”

  One perfectly arched brow rose. “Oh, is t
here going to be a next time?”

  His answer came easily. “Of course. How can there not? You’re the only other person I know who likes this pizza.”

  “You’re really into food,” she observed. “You must have a fast metabolism.”

  “I am and I do. In fact, I’m looking forward to Thanksgiving,” Hunter said. “It’s my favorite holiday. So much food. I can’t wait.”

  Instead of replying, she only smiled and shook her head.

  After he left a generous tip on the table, they headed to the cashier so he could pay.

  “Where’d you park?” he asked. Darkness had already fallen, and the breeze carried a hint of the winter yet to come.

  She pointed. “I’m in the overflow lot across the street. There weren’t any spots left close up.”

  Glancing across the street, he saw one of the tall streetlights had gone out. But the rest of the lot appeared well lit. And this was a safe part of town.

  But still...

  “I’ll walk you to your car.”

  “You don’t have to,” she started to say, but she stopped when he shook his head.

  “I know,” he told her. “But I’m going to anyway.”

  Though she shrugged, he could tell by the slight curve of her lips that she was pleased.

  He wanted to take her hand. Instead, he settled on taking her arm. She flashed a startled look his way but didn’t comment.

  Looking both ways, they started to cross the street.

  The sound of an engine gunning and tires squealing alerted him seconds before the car came roaring around the corner. Layla froze. Hunter’s survival instincts kicked in and he shoved her hard, sending them both flying out of harm’s way.

  Adrenaline pumping, he pushed to his feet, rounding to try to see the car. He fully intended to chew the driver out for his or her careless behavior.

  The car had reached the end of the short street. To Hunter’s disbelief, it swung around, pulling a U-turn and once again heading straight for them.

  “Run,” he shouted, snagging Layla’s arm and hauling her along with him. They leaped for the curb, over the sidewalk and into the relative safety of the crowded parking lot just as the car raced past.

  “Die, bitch,” someone—a man—shouted as the car went by. Hunter tried to make out the license plate but couldn’t.

  With a flash of brake lights, the vehicle disappeared around the corner.

  Breathing fast, Layla swayed. “That was deliberate,” she said, closing her eyes. “Someone just tried to kill me.”

  Chapter 5

  Once she’d voiced the truth out loud, Layla started trembling. She tried, oh, how she tried, to get that under control, but once the shakes began, she couldn’t make them stop. She folded her arms around herself and clenched, trying. She was strong, she was tough, so why couldn’t she seem to handle this?

  At first, Hunter didn’t appear to notice. From his fighting stance, she honestly thought he might go chasing after the car on foot.

  Jaw tight, when he finally turned to face her, she realized he wasn’t frightened, he was furious. “I’m calling that in,” he began. The anger in his eyes disappeared when he got a good look at her.

  “You’re in shock,” he said an instant later. “Come here.” Without waiting for her to respond, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “It’s going to be all right.”

  The sound of his deep voice rumbling from his chest reassured her. So did the warmth and strength of his muscular body. Though Layla had never been the type to rely on anyone but herself, maybe just this once it wouldn’t hurt. Especially since she still couldn’t stop the trembling.

  “I’m not letting you go home,” he announced. “You’re coming with me.”

  Again, under usual circumstances a declaration like that would have had her digging in her heels and outright refusing. But these weren’t ordinary circumstances.

  “Okay,” she said, in a very small—completely unlike her—voice.

  “One step at a time.” He kept his arm around her shoulders, turning her back toward Pizza Heaven. “This way. My car is in their lot.”

  As they approached, she realized he was in a marked police car. Of course, that made sense, as he wore his uniform. “Are we going to the police station?” she asked, hoping against hope that he’d say no.

  He unlocked the car and opened the passenger-side door for her before going around to the driver’s side. Once she’d buckled in, he started the engine. “I thought you might like to make a report,” he said.

  “Is that necessary? You were there, too. Can’t you make the report?” She sighed. “To be honest, my last experience at the police station wasn’t that great. I’d prefer to avoid going there again anytime soon.”

  Backing out of the parking spot, he shifted into Drive. “I didn’t think of that. I’ll take you to my house and drop you off.”

  “Your house?” She eyed him, realizing he’d so shocked her that she’d finally stopped shaking. “What do you mean?”

  “It’s either there or the police station. I do have to go back to work and I can’t let you go home. Not now. It’s not safe.”

  Again, once upon a very recent time, had anyone told her they couldn’t let her do something, she would have argued about her right to do exactly as she wished. But deep down inside, she suspected Hunter might be right. Alone in her townhome might not be the safest place for her.

  “Unless you have somewhere else you’d like to stay,” he offered helpfully. “Your fiancé’s place? Or your father’s?”

  “I’d rather go home than go to my father’s or Hamlin’s.” She didn’t tell Hunter, but she knew if she showed up at her father’s house, Fenwick would most likely send her away.

  “Okay.” He shrugged. “Then it looks like you can stay at my place. I have a guest bedroom. Plus Goose will definitely enjoy the company while I finish my shift.”

  The thought of getting to play with his dog made her feel better.

  They pulled up in front of a small ranch-style house. The property appeared neatly kept and gave off a homey vibe.

  “Here we are,” he said cheerfully. “I know this might not be the kind of accommodations you’re used to, but it’s all mine.”

  “It looks lovely.” She meant it, too. While she might live in a high-end town house, it had always felt sterile and cold to her. “I can’t wait to see the inside.”

  His grin brought those sexy crinkles back to the corners of his eyes. “You’re about to. Come on.”

  The second Hunter opened the door, Goose launched herself on him, spinning and wiggling in a frenzy of joy. He dropped down to his knees, gathering the dog close, crooning to her with such unabashed love that Layla’s chest felt tight.

  “She always greets me like this,” he told her over Goose’s head. “Even if I’m only gone a few minutes, she’s over the moon to see me again.”

  A flash of longing hit her. “You’re making me seriously consider getting a dog.” A large one, who’d be able to protect her and keep her safe, as well as love her.

  “You should.” He didn’t even hesitate. “They’re the greatest.”

  Goose, who’d finally noticed Layla once she’d spoken, bounced on over, putting all her energy into another equally enthusiastic greeting.

  Touched and gratified, Layla mimicked Hunter’s movements, dropping to the floor and making a fuss over the adorable dog.

  “She’s so sweet,” she told him. “I remember being so amazed when I learned about her particular skill set.”

  Her words brought out another grin. Briefly, she thought she could get used to seeing that smile every day.

  “Thanks. No one believed me when I said I could train her to locate electronics. I’d been doing some reading on a facility that did that. When I contacted them, they were gracious enough to
let me visit so I could soak up some tips. Goose is an expert at it. And, since she doesn’t look anything like what most people consider a police dog, no one ever suspects her.” He reached down and ruffled Goose’s head. “She’s a smart girl. I’m proud of her. Goose, do you need to go outside?”

  To Layla’s surprise, Goose jumped up at his question and ran to the back door. He let her out, standing at the door to watch her. Once she’d come back inside, he locked the door and checked his watch.

  “I’ve got to get back to the station,” he said. “Help yourself to the fridge. I have lots to drink and snack on.” He pointed to the television remote on the coffee table. “I’ve got cable, so watch whatever you want.”

  Suddenly tongue-tied, she nodded. “Will you be taking me home once you finish your shift?”

  “Nope. I think it’s best if you spend the night. I keep the guest bed made up with clean sheets and blankets. Follow me and I’ll show you where it is.”

  He led her down a short hallway, past a bedroom he’d made into a combination exercise room and office. “Here you go.”

  To her surprise, she liked the decorating. A thick quilt that looked handmade brought a warmth to the room. Framed photographs of the South Dakota grasslands decorated the walls.

  “Did you take those?” she asked.

  A shadow crossed his face. “I did. Once upon a time, I was into photography.”

  “They’re really good. You’re talented.” She walked over to study one closer. “These are magazine quality.”

  “Thanks. I don’t take pictures anymore.”