Angel Nicholas - Sweet Deception - HarperImpulse Romantic Suspense

“No.”

“Why not?”

He was yelling at her now? Her blood began a slow boil. He could take his offer and… Deep breath, Ally . “I’m not your concern.” She rolled her eyes. “Stop pretending you care.”

“I’m not pretending.” He stepped closer, invading her space. Again. “It’s my job to make sure you get home safe. Are you always such a pain in the ass?”

His words bit into her miniscule self-confidence and she blanched. This day sucked. Who was she kidding? Her life sucked.

She sighed. “Fine, have Officer What’s-His-Name escort me home. But I drove, so he’ll have to follow me. Is that fine with you?”

So she sounded snippy. So what?

His hand firm on her elbow, he practically frog-marched her over to a massive black man leaning against the stairway access. Warm midnight eyes watched their approach. How they’d even found a uniform large enough to fit him boggled the mind.

“Freddy, Ally. Ally, Officer Freddy Smith.” The curt introduction showed his irritation, but she refused to care. “Freddy, follow Ally in your cruiser. I want to make sure she gets home safe. Although, I’m starting to wonder why,” he added, just loud enough for her to hear.

She glared at him. Like she’d asked to witness a murder and almost have a bullet lodged in her brain. Yep, good times.

“Sure thing, Detective Marsing.” Officer Smith grinned.

Before she could do more than turn away, Detective Marsing spoke again. “One more thing….”

Ally glanced back. He stood in the glaring sun wearing an inscrutable expression. Gone was the good ol’ surfer boy and easy sparkling charm.

“Stop by the EMTs on the way out and have them take a look at her cheek.”

Unconsciously, her hand headed for her cheek. Detective Marsing intercepted it. His big hand wrapped around hers, making her feel small and petite for the space of several heartbeats. Until her common sense kicked in.

A flicker of humor returned to his eyes. “Let’s not go there again, Sugar Lips.”

Swallowing a pang of bittersweet longing, regret and any number of other useless feelings, she turned away and followed Officer Smith into the shadowy depths of the building. Memories assailed her and she hesitated before forcing herself to put one foot after the other down the stairs. As if sensing her unease, Officer Smith glanced back.

“How’d a pretty little thing like you get mixed up in today’s ugliness?”

“Just going for a ride, Officer Smith. Against my better judgment, I might add.”

“Don’t like roller coasters?”

“Yeah, you could say that. What happened, anyway?”

“Well, I don’t know that I oughta say. Seeing as how you’re friends with ol’ Marsing, though, I guess it’s okay.”

Ally debated setting him straight, but she wanted to know what had happened. Besides, she’d been shot at! Her fingers itched to inspect her little wound and she made a fist, her short, sensible fingernails biting into her palm.

“As you saw, the lowlife shoved some poor SOB outta the coaster. Of course, I doubt he counted on us being here when he did it. Pretty stupid to not take into consideration all the witnesses.”

“Who was the, uh.” Ally’s belly flipped. She’d tried really hard not to think about the man who’d fallen. “Victim?”

“I’m not allowed to say.”

Ally shut her mouth and followed him out of the building. The silent amusement park sent a shiver racing over her skin.

The EMTs were more than happy to patch up her little boo-boo. She sat inside the ambulance, a first for her, while they did their thing. Some antiseptic and a couple of butterfly bandages later, she climbed into her shiny pale-green Prius.

Officer Smith tailed her all the way to her semi-attached house in the suburbs. She had never been more excited to see her unexciting, drab little home. A tidal wave of relief swamped her as she pulled into her garage.

The black and white cruiser parked directly behind her. In her rearview mirror, the big officer talked on a cell phone. She swung open her door and scrambled out when he disconnected.

The officer’s massive body blocked the fading sunlight as he strolled inside her garage. “You gonna be okay, Miss?”

“Yes. Thank you. I’ll be fine. Thank you for seeing me home. I hope it didn’t put you too far out of your way.”

“Nah. I always enjoy a pleasant ride through the ’burbs. Nice change from the busy city streets.”

“Yes, it is.”

She shifted uneasily, glancing from him to the door into her house.

“So…” he planted a hand on top of her car. “You live here all alone?”

“Uhm, yes.” Ally swallowed, feeling hemmed in. “Were you talking to your wife? On your cell phone?”

“Not exactly.”

Where had the charming, talkative man gone? She liked that guy. She wanted him back. “Well,” she forced a smile, “thanks again.”

He didn’t move. Something shifted. The air thickened and she struggled to draw a full breath. His dark, unwavering eyes sent a shiver of ice down her spine. She sidled a few steps away. He no longer seemed friendly and easy-going.

“The boss doesn’t like untidy jobs.”

“Uhm…boss? As in, the police chief?”

Of course, he was talking about the police chief. She wanted to laugh at her absurdity, but the sound strangled in her throat.

He shook his head. “Not exactly. I do a little work on the side for this other guy.”

Her stomach bottomed out.

Beyond him, the garage door stood open, but there wasn’t a single person to be seen. The quiet neighborhood where everyone stayed in their houses and bothered no one didn’t seem like such a fabulous thing about now. She backed up a few more steps.

“He gave me a call on the way over. Wants you taken care of.” He herded her backward toward the door into her house.

No way he was referring to massaging her feet or barbecuing a nice steak for her. She tried to swallow, but her mouth had taken on a keen resemblance to the Sahara. “Uh, why me?”

“That’s a need-to-know sorta thing. And you don’t.”

No, no, no. This can’t be happening. This is really bad. I don’t do really bad.

The back of her feet hit the step below the door, forcing her up and inside, with Officer Smith’s massive bulk following. Ally fought back a whimper. This guy was so huge. She didn’t stand a chance.

“Nice place.”

This stranger, police officer gone rogue, who planned to do…something not good, was admiring her home. She had the ridiculous urge to giggle. Giggling involved breathing and she was pretty sure that function had seized up. Shaking her head, disbelief warred with flat-out terror.

How had a simple outing, an attempt to get a bit of a life, turned into this?

Officer Smith shoved her into a chair in her living room. Detective Marsing had insisted on sending her home with an armed escort. Her soon-to-be killer pawed through her belongings and Ally gritted her teeth. This was all Marsing’s fault

Smith picked up a romance novel she’d been reading, snorted and tossed the book over his shoulder. Crossing her trembling arms, she narrowed her eyes. Like it wasn’t bad enough he planned to kill…Her thoughts fractured. Panic beat at her. Dragging in a deep breath, she used sheer force of will to bring her emotions under control.

A porcelain figurine shattered on the floor and she snapped her gaze back to the behemoth pawing through her drawers. Clarifying outrage flowed through her.

He turned his back completely, and Ally had a lightbulb moment. Toeing off her sandals, she eased to her feet. He grunted and shifted his impressive weight. She froze, lightheaded with fear. The temptation of escape whispered in her ear. So very close.