Lawman's Perfect Surrender. Jennifer Morey

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СКАЧАТЬ the night had cloaked him. Where was he? When would he show up next? Where would she be? Was he waiting outside? She’d have to watch over her shoulder constantly. And locking her house wouldn’t be enough. What was she going to do?

      She looked through the darkened window. In daytime she could see her house from here. Now she only saw her porch light. She didn’t want to go home. What if he was out there now? Watching the police. Waiting …

      “Don’t worry, Gemma,” Ford said, bringing her gaze up to his gorgeous blue eyes. “I’ll find him.”

      Movement at the front door made her turn with Ford. Bo Fargo entered. Big and tall, walking with an air of steamrolling intensity. He was older, in his fifties, with thinning brown hair. As he drew nearer, his bleary blue eyes drilled her with what she suspected was annoyance and forced concern.

      “I heard what happened.” He came to a stop next to Ford and asked Gemma, “Are you all right?”

      “Yes.” She was getting tired of being asked. “Fine.”

      “You were lucky to get away from him.” No mincing of words there. He definitely was a man who demanded respect. But there was something darker there, too.

      Averting her gaze, she spotted Hallie handing her grandmother a cup of hot tea. Then she noticed the firemen had gone, and the other officers were beginning to do the same. It left her empty and full of dread. Soon she’d have to face her house alone. The glass in her back door was broken.

      “You can stay here for the night.”

      Gemma turned to see Hallie.

      “Right, Grandma?” Hallie asked Martha.

      “Of course, dear.” Martha looked at Gemma. “We have plenty of room.”

      “Thank you.” The two had no idea what that meant to her. Or maybe they did. But then the way Hallie watched Bo caught her suspicion. She all but glared at the man. The boy she’d entered the house with moved to her side, watching along with her. What was that all about?

      “This is the second time Jed Johnson has gotten away, Ford,” Bo said. “I thought you were going to assign a patrol to Gemma’s house.”

      Ford’s reaction was full of resentment. “I did.”

      There hadn’t been enough time.

      “Well, apparently it isn’t enough.”

      “According to whom?”

      Gemma did a double take at Ford’s retort. Clearly he wasn’t afraid of his boss.

      The Chief of Police didn’t appear offended; challenged, maybe, but not offended or angry. He knew he was in charge. Or thought he was. “We can’t have this kind of crime happening here in Cold Plains. It ruins our stellar reputation. Our peace-loving culture. Something like this threatens the morale.” He turned to Gemma. “Isn’t that right?”

      He was asking her? “W-well … I suppose so.” She didn’t like feeling afraid to go home. Her house was her sanctuary. Was her sanctuary. That had been stolen from her. By that worthless wife-beater of an ex-husband she so stupidly married in the first place!

      Ooh … she was going to find something really frivolous to blow a sizable chunk of his money on.

      Noticing Ford’s brooding presence, she wondered what made him dislike Bo.

      “A patrol obviously isn’t enough,” Bo reiterated. “Samuel suggested that it might be a good idea if you stayed with Ms. Johnson until our perpetrator is captured. I happen to agree.”

      Gemma covered her surprise and saw Ford doing the same.

      “Samuel wants Ford to stay with me?” To protect her?

      Bo smiled, cunning and sureness abounding. Indomitable cunning. “Yes, he does, Ms. Johnson. He was not at all happy to hear that you were attacked again. He cares a great deal about your well-being. He cares even more about the well-being of this town. He would care about any woman who’s been brutalized. He wants you to feel safe, and I intend to make sure that you do.”

      While that sentiment eased a lot of her anxiety in a giant rush, she also hesitated. Samuel seemed to be going overboard for her. Or was Bo accurate when he said he cared about any woman who’d been brutalized? Yes. Samuel was out for the good of the town as a whole.

      “Of course, it’s ultimately up to you, but I do agree with Samuel that it’s in your best interest to have an officer at your house when you’re there. You shouldn’t be alone until we capture Jed.”

      “I …” She looked at Ford, whose hard eyes met hers.

      “If not Ford, then someone else,” Bo looked at Ford expectantly.

      “I’ll do it,” Ford snapped, and then softly to her, “But only if you agree.”

      Torn, Gemma looked from Ford to Bo and then through the front window. Though her house was still well-lit, it may as well be in Amityville.

      Slowly, she met Ford’s eyes again. “I would hate to impose on your time …”

      “It would be no trouble.” Ford’s voice was calm and every bit as sure as Bo had been. “I’d rather not risk another attack, either.”

      She smiled up at him and he looked at her mouth.

      “Then it’s settled,” Bo interrupted. “You’ll stay with Gemma until Jed is caught.”

      “Only if you’re sure,” Ford said, never moving his gaze from her.

      “I have a guest room on the first level. You’ll be very comfortable.”

      “Don’t worry about accommodating me, Ms. Johnson. I’ll just be doing my job.”

      Protecting her. Making her feel safe. “Gemma.”

      “Gemma,” he said in his deep voice.

      A flutter of excitement warned her to be careful. So did the softening of his blue eyes. The blink that followed cleared it too soon and she felt him withdraw into the role of protector.

      “You’ll be a lot more comfortable at Gemma’s house than that apartment you rent,” Bo said. “She’s fixed it up into a model of what we like to see here in town.”

      “It did need a little work when I moved here.”

      “It’s a beautiful place. Cold Plains wouldn’t be what it is without good people like you. Rest assured, we’ll keep Jed away from you from here on out.”

      A surge of warm gratitude filled her even while she wondered why he and Samuel were being so kind to her. What was it about this town? Everyone seemed that way. It was almost too good to be true. But too good to be true was her medicine right now.

      “I can’t tell you what that means to me,” she said. “I’m so happy to have found a place to live like this. It’s … it’s just … what home should be.”

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