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Hopefully, also giving her more shirtless construction days, too.
They arrived at the event tent. A sandwich board outside the flap announced a bachelor action to benefit a local charity. Stepping inside, metal bleachers surrounded a temporary stage on three sides. The plastic walls of the tent were lowered, creating a cozy feel.
“Where do you want to sit?” Nicole had to raise her voice to be heard over the din of conversation while the audience waited for the auction to start. There weren’t two empty spots next to each other, and Nicole was unwilling to be separated from Damon. Squeezing his hand, she drew his attention to her. “I’m sure this auction is fun, but it’s loud in here. Want to skip it and go back to walking the festival?”
Damon’s exhale of relief told her she made the right call. They left the tent, and Nicole pulled him toward the vendor booths. They lined the widest street closed for the festival. The space and fresh air was good for him.
They silently perused a stall with jewelry, then one with pottery. Next was hand-knit scarves, gloves, and hats. She tried one on. “I need a new toboggan. My last one shrunk when I accidentally threw it into the wash.”
“Looks good on you, but then again everything looks good on you.” Damon held the small mirror for her to check the fit. “Especially me.”
Her gaze snapped from her reflection to his face. “You decide to start talking and man if you don’t know how to sweet talk the pants right off me.”
Another shopper snorted, and Damon smirked. Smug bastard.
She bought two hats and a coordinating scarf. He wanted to pay, but she insisted she could buy her own winter gear. They were more expensive than a big box store version, but supporting local business owners and makers was important to her. Plus, the designs and fine weave were sumptuous. She wrapped the scarf around her neck, even though it was only a little chilly that night.
He took the two ends from her hands and tied the knot for her. His fingers brushed her jawline in the process, and goosebumps erupted for an entirely different type of chill.
No date she’d ever had with her ex could compare to this evening. Is this what people mean when they talk about falling in love at first sight? Love at first grump, she chuckled to herself.
Damon seemed less interested in shopping and more interested in her. He shadowed her every move, keeping himself between her and the crowd. When they finished their ciders, he took their trash to the nearest bin before she even spotted where it was. That’s how relaxed she was in his company.
A scream cut through the night. This one had the edge of terror to it. It was unlike any other sound from the crowd, and Damon went on high alert immediately. He lunged for her, making it back from the trash can in half the time to push her behind him.
Moments later, there was a gathering crowd further down the street.
Chapter Nine
Blood coursed through Damon’s veins. His heart went from zero to sixty the moment he heard that scream.
Nicole’s hands gripped his sides from behind, and he scanned the environment for the danger. The gathering crowd could be a diversion, so he made sure to look everywhere.
A woman sobbed from the epicenter of the crowd, and first responders surrounded her. He watched their reactions carefully, searching for any sign that there was an external threat. A young officer jogging past him radioed for backup to assist with a child abduction.
“Can you see what’s going on?” Nicole peeked around his side, worry etched into her face.
“I think a child’s been kidnapped. I want to help, but—”
“Go. I’m fine. See if you can help them.” His angel stepped away from him and pointed to the crowd gathering around a distraught mother.
He nodded when he saw the resolve on her face. He approached the scene with Nicole close on his heels. Two officers were clearing the area of onlookers while an EMT attended a woman wailing on the ground. “He has her! He has her! You have to get her back!”
Damon approached a pair of older officers discussing the situation and radioing the details to dispatch. “I’m a Green Beret. Just out of the Army. How can I help?”
The officers assessed him for a moment, eyeing him and Nicole at his side. She must have sensed they didn’t want to involve a civilian, because Nicole held up her hands. “It’s all right, I’ll step back.”
She nodded at him as she returned to the other side of the makeshift barricade the officers formed around the woman. Could she be any more perfect? His angel could read situations—could read him—with intelligence few possessed.
“I can help. Tell me what you need.”
Damon learned that the woman’s estranged, abusive ex had found them at the festival and grabbed their toddler. The woman was able to provide a description, and the restraining order against him provided the details of his vehicle.
The police launched a search by foot at the festival and troopers were putting up roadblocks beyond. Search and rescue K-9s had been called, but the nearest one was an hour away. Damon didn’t need a bloodhound to search the forest behind the small downtown.
He knew how to find any enemy in any terrain.
Nicole was busy talking with a middle-aged woman. It looked as if they were organizing something. Damon’s instincts told him the ex had escaped to the woods and was heading towards a getaway vehicle stashed somewhere. Nicole would be safe here in the crowd, surrounded by first responders.
