Page 152 of My Favorite Hero

My breath caught. Rope that lights up. As in Christmas lights.

As in the Christmas lights Casey got so excited over and ordered.

Burglar, my ass.

“Thanks, Lila. I’ll take care of it.”

Chief Fleming came out of his office. “Casey at it again?”

I rolled my eyes. She was a legend here. Breaking in the first day, the tree incident, the time she decided she could hang another set of wind chimes outside the window by stretching really far and almost falling out of the window. I’d barely caught her, grabbing her pant leg as she began to go over the ledge. I would never forget the sight of my wife disappearing through the open window.

I thought she’d learned her lesson.

“I have to go help.”

Chief grinned. “Let’s take the truck. I can get you there faster, and since it’s electric, she won’t hear you coming. I want to see the Jesse and Casey show.”

I tried not to laugh. What a show it was.

“Done.”

We pulled up to the house, Casey not even looking since the truck was almost silent. She was climbing onto the porch roof, a string of lights clutched in her hand. The porch was fully lit up, telling me she’d been busy.

Chief chuckled. “Determined.”

“Fucking stubborn.”

He clapped my shoulder. “That’s what you get for falling for an independent woman.”

We got out of the truck and walked across the street. Chief waited as I climbed the ladder.

I reached the top, meeting Casey’s guilt-filled expression and wide eyes. She didn’t reply to my question.

“Casey?” I demanded. “Tell me you’re not up on the roof hanging lights when there is a threat of freezing rain, you’re alone, and you are strictly forbidden to climb ladders.”

“I’m not up on the roof hanging lights or any of the other things you said.”

Below me, Chief chuckled. I glared at her.

“I, ah, I didn’t hear you,” she said. “I’m almost done.”

“No. You are done. Give me the lights.”

“I only have the gable…” She trailed off. “I wanted to surprise you.”

“The kind of surprise I like from you is a pot roast with extra gravy.” I leaned closer, lowering my voice. “Or finding you naked in our bed. Not on a roof.”

“At least I’m not naked,” she quipped.

Once again, Chief started to chuckle.

“Who is that?” she asked, obviously too afraid to peer down.

“My boss.”

“Oh shit,” she whispered, handing me the lights.

I dropped them down and held out my hands. “I got you. Come to me.”