Protecting the Single Mom by Catherine Lanigan

Protecting the Single Mom

EXCERPT #3

Walking toward her car, Cate whipped the fluorescent cap from her head, shook out her short hair and caught sight of him. An apprehensive smile crept onto her face.

“Hi,” he said, though he didn’t move. “You were magnificent.”

“How did you know I’d be here?”

“Checking on you is my job. Remember?”

“Uh, right.” She frowned and continued to stare at him.

He shrugged. “Luke told me about the sculling. Sarah said you were rowing with them today.”

“Oh,” she replied, looking down at the sand and then up at him. “I forgot you know them pretty well.”

“I do.” He paused. “Listen, I’ll be honest. Yes, I was on my way to check on something—police business. I apologize if I’m intruding. But I was curious.”

“About what?” She took a small step toward him. Could anyone be this beautiful? No makeup, her hair rumpled from the cap.

Trent felt as if he’d walked into a dream.

“The rowing. You were beautiful. I mean, er, it was beautiful to watch you…all…out there.”

She chuckled lightly—a tinkling sound carried on the wind.

“We practice whenever we can.”

“Apparently. It’s gotta be freezing out there.”

“I hardly notice. I’m in another world on the lake.”

“And what is that world?” he asked, moving even closer. He had to be nearer. He was getting the feeling that was the only way to be with Cate. Close.

“Freedom. Utter, boundless freedom.”

“You deserve that, Cate,” he said sincerely.

Her eyes delved into his. “You really mean that, don’t you?”

“I do. I’d like to make sure that happens for you.”

“Well then, Detective Davis—”she smiled and rocked back on her heels as if ready to walk away “—I’ll hold you to that,” she said with more wariness in her voice than he would have liked.

“Good.”

It was all Trent could do to resist touching her. He was on duty, and she was like a shot of hot bourbon to an addict. Enticing. Forbidden. “I’d better go.”

“Yeah,” she said. “Don’t let me hold you up.”

He lifted his hand to touch hers. Kiss her palm. But that was crossing the line. Breaking the rules. Again.

He dropped his hand. He didn’t want to frighten her. She had enough in her life to deal with. He didn’t need to add to it. “Call me if you need me,” he said.

She nodded. “I have your number in my cell phone.”

“Promise. If anything—”

“I promise, Trent,” she replied, then went toward her car.

Trent watched her, unable to move from the spot. He had to see…

Just as she opened the car door, she stopped, looked at him and waved.

“Yes,” he whispered to himself. It wasn’t much, her looking. But it was a sign that maybe, just maybe, he’d made some kind of a favorable impression.

He knew he shouldn’t be feeling this attraction to her. He had serious baggage, and after being with her, holding her, he realized she was a not only a good person, but kind and sweet, as well. She deserved the best life could offer—not a guy who was half-whacked with PTSD.

Sure, he’d vowed to himself never to get involved with a woman. And he hadn’t. For years. But that was before—Cate.

He waited until she drove away. He believed that when she’d looked back at him, she was looking at Trent and not simply Detective Davis.

Trent had always been a man of few illusions, but for today, he wanted to hold on to this one.