Her Kind Of Hero. Carol Steward
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Название: Her Kind Of Hero
Автор: Carol Steward
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Современные любовные романы
isbn: 9781472064424
isbn:
Luke’s rigid profile exemplified power and control. “Loitering?” Smiling, he leaned over the counter and whispered, as if he was flirting. “You’re lying through your teeth, Calli Giovanni. They have you terrified. Now what’s up?”
She looked at him wide-eyed, stunned at the sparkle in his eyes, despite the seriousness of his words. “That is quite a performance, Sergeant. You should get an Oscar.”
“All in a day’s work. Now are you going to tell me why they are harassing you and none of the other clerks?”
She thought of the kid’s threats and backed away. “I can handle it myself, but thank you anyway.”
Luke paid for his groceries in silence and took them just outside the door. He asked an employee to watch his basket and stepped back inside and behind the pop display. Easing his way closer, he listened as the two remaining gang members grilled Calli about their conversation. After hearing implications that threats had already been made, Luke addressed the suspects, obviously surprising Calli as well as the kids by his return. “Afternoon, boys. I don’t know what this is about, but it’s obvious that you’re not shopping. Why don’t you get on your way?”
“What you talkin’ about, Sarge?”
“Well, Pete, maybe you’d like to tell me what the lady here won’t.”
The two looked at Calli, then back to Luke. She recognized the steely look in Luke’s eyes. A cop’s eyes.
“Nothing. We didn’t do nothing.”
“Then I suggest you leave before I haul you all downtown to get answers.”
The two left the store without any more “encouragement.”
Unable to deny her relief that he’d returned, Calli struggled to maintain her composure. They had shaken her. There was no doubt about that.
Luke touched her shoulder. “You okay?”
She nodded, knowing her scratchy voice would again give her away.
“How long until you’re off?”
She’d walked to work this morning, not concerned with walking home alone midafternoon. Now she couldn’t deny the fear. Calli wanted company, even if it was Luke. “About an hour.”
“I want to make sure you get home okay. Will you wait so I can get these groceries home and let my son know I’ll be out for a while longer? He was still asleep when I called.”
Calli assessed him openly, her doubts softened by the silver cross dangling from the chain around his neck, and the surprising news that Sergeant Luke Northrup was a father. “I’ll wait. I don’t want to walk home alone after this.”
The hard-edged cop again faded, replaced with a caring, gentle man. “I’ll hurry back.”
Surprisingly enough, she wanted him to do just that.
Before she had time to consider leaving without Luke, he appeared in the employees’ locker room. When he gazed at her, she fought to conquer the involuntary nervousness that overcame her.
“The manager told me where I could find you.”
She smiled weakly. “Hi. I really don’t need a police escort.”
“Good, because this isn’t official.” He tilted his head to one side. “To be honest, it wasn’t a coincidence that I came here.”
She’d been unable to take her mind off Luke Northrup since he stepped into her checkout lane. This guilty feeling was due to the joy of his return. “Oh, really? Isn’t it a little unethical to use police records for personal interests?”
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