Delicately, he lifted her from his lap and placed her back on the bench seat, then started the truck and swung it around to the front of the resort. He rolled down his window and called the waiting valet over.
The young man was more than eager to oblige and was back in seconds with both their coats. Brock thanked the kid with a tip and handed Krista not only her own jacket but Brock’s as well. Then he rolled up the window, cranked the heat and peeled out of the resort.
They were silent for the rest of the ride home, both of them exhausted from the altercation but also digging deep into their own souls. Myles had hit all kindsof nerves and stirred all kinds of feelings. And one of those feelings had certainly been fear.
It didn’t matter that Slade was no longer Krista’s coach; this monster worked with her. Worked with the mother of Brock’s child. At any point in the day, she could be cornered by him, alone with him, assaulted by him—again. And although Brock knew she was a ballsy little thing and could hold her own, Slade had proven tonight that he had no respect for the law … or women. And Krista had poked the rapey bear, letting him know they were on to him. Slade was a problem.
He pulled into the driveway a short while later, but neither of them moved to get out. They just sat there, eyes focused on the front of the stark white garage door.
“I wanted to kill him,” Brock said finally.
“I know,” she whispered.
“You can’t keep doing this, Krista. You can’t keep doing this tome.”
Slowly, dramatically, she swiveled her head until she was staring at him. “What do you mean, I can’t keep doing this? I went on light duty just like you asked. But I’m not going to stop being a cop. This is my job.”
“I know, but Slade is dangerous.”
“You don’t think I know that?”
An exasperated sigh escaped him, and he finally let the heavy weight he’d been carrying on his shoulders all night slip off. His body crumpled in his seat. “I don’t think you realize how close I came to putting my fist in his face tonight. To making it so the guy would never walk again. And I would have … for you. I would have … for our baby. Consequences be damned.” He shook his head. “The fact that you work with … so close with a guy like that, who has no qualms about abusing the law, hurting you, drugging women … ” He trailed off. He pivoted to face her. “You’re killing me here.”
“What do you want me to do? Quit?” she asked, a mite of fear in her tone.
He blinked but slowly shook his head. No, she’d hate him if he made her dothat. Resent him, possibly resent the baby. “Start thinking about more than just your job. Start thinking about you, aboutourbaby … about me. You’re being reckless. Irresponsible. You never should have threatened him like that. Now he knows we’re on to him. Now he knows we’re coming for him. What’s to stop him from going on the offensive and coming after you first?” His chest expanded as he took in a deep and grounding breath. “I don’t want anything to happen to you because you went all vigilante and tried to nail this guy to the wall. You have bigger things to consider now. Other people counting on you. I can’t be the only responsible person raising this child. I can’t be the onlypersonraising this child because you took matters into your own hands.”
Her bottom lip wobbled again. But instead of breaking down, she clenched her jaw and turned to face him, conviction in her eyes. “Will you help me?”
Slowly, he nodded. “I’ll get my brothers on it.”
“What do you want me to do?” She pulled her gloves on. Now that the truck had been shut off, the seat warmers were no longer working their magic, and even Brock was starting to feel the winter chill seeping into his bones. He’d toss the furnace on as soon as they got into the house.
He unbuckled his belt. “Stay away from him.”
Chapter 11
They made their way up the steps to the front door. It was a frosty December night with plenty of stars and a biting wind. They’d most likely wake up to frost on the ground and their windshield frozen. Krista hugged both her and Brock’s coats tightly around her body, thankful for the added layer of leather, which cut the wind nicely. Her boot hit the last step when suddenly she felt herself slipping.
There was a black ice patch on the top step, and her foot came out from under her. Immediately, all thoughts flew to the baby, and tossing off the coats, she windmilled her arms and did an awkward cha-cha dance to try to regain her footing. She couldn’t fall, she just couldn’t.
But then big, strong arms wrapped around her waist, and she found herself plastered against hard, warm brick. Brock’s brick chest.
“Easy … ” he hummed, his breath hot on her neck. “You wouldn’t be nearly as beautiful with black and blue bruises everywhere.”
She blinked up at him, having to flutter her lashes like a flirty little tween. And as if they were the stars of some Christmas romantic comedy made-for-television movie, flurries began to flutter down around them. Like cherry blossoms in May, gathering like clumps of dandruff in their hair and on their clothes. His eyes found hers. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Then, just to finish the scene before it faded to black, he lowered his head and took her mouth.
“Holy Jesus, it’s freezing in here!” Krista shivered as she moved out of the way so that Brock could enter the foyer behind her. She was about to hang their coats up but suddenly thought better of it and instead put them back, toed off her boots and stuffed her feet into her slippers.
Without bothering to take his shoes or coat off, let alone muttering a word, Brock took the steps two at a time and headed to the control panel for the furnace down the hall.
“Shit!” he exclaimed. “Furnace is broken.”
“Seriously?” Krista hugged her body and came up behind him. “Can you fix it? Or do I have to sleep in my clothes and coat?”
He shook his head. “I’ll have a look at it in the morning. Might just need more oil. But for now, I think we might have to light a fire in the fireplace and maybe sleep out in the living room.”
She nodded. “Okay. I’ll go get some blankets.”
