Page 12 of Sleigh My Heart

“I saw Jim an hour ago. He mentioned you weren’t happy about seeing the guy who broke your heart.” Steam must have been coming out of her ears, because his hands flew up in a don’t-hurt-me gesture. “Hey, I get it. I had to work with an ex. Well, she was sort of my ex. Anyway, it worked out.”

“That’s because Erica and you were meant to be together. We could all see that from her first day on the task force. This isn’t the same.” Besides, he had Ava. She imagined Nick’s wife as a short blonde. Probably had a damn button nose as well.

“I’m just saying. You got this.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know you mean well, so I won’t throat punch you for gossiping about me with my brother.”

Jim, on the other hand, better be wearing his tactical gear next time she saw him.

She pulled on her gloves and headed to her patrol vehicle. Time to get to work.

Fat flakes landed on the windshield as she replayed Jim’s message through her head. The snow was accumulating, but not at the rate the weatherperson predicted. Traffic slowed just the same.

Stay calm. Be strong. And kick ass. The mantra ran through her head on repeat as she drove to the mall. Ten more minutes. Twenty if she had to pull over one of these newbie winter drivers.

Two stoplights away, her work phone rang. She glanced at the screen. Unknown number. Her throat tickled. Nick?

No. She shook it off and let it go to voicemail. A moment later, a chime dinged.

Don’t look. It’s not him. Probably just a wrong number. Maybe a heavy breather. Yeah, that would be perfect with the way her day was going.

She exhaled and tapped the message.

“Michelle. It’s Nick.”

Her spine stiffened. Of course, it was him. A mouth breather would have meant her day was looking up.

“I found out the sleigh was in for service last week. I’m going to talk to the company now.” He rattled off the address and ended the call.

“Well, crap.” Michelle stared out the windshield. Why was Nick going to interview the repair guys? The last thing she needed was him playing amateur detective.

A van swerved around the corner, barely missing the side of the patrol car.

“What the hell?” Her heart slammed against her ribcage. The roads weren’t that slippery. She flashed her lights, but by the time the car in front of her moved, the van was out of sight.

Ballsy prick. The light changed. Michelle cut the steering wheel and whipped a U-turn. “Where did he go?” The guy was nowhere to be found.

She tightened her grip on the leather. “He got lucky this time.” If she saw him pull that stunt again, he’d be spending some quality time in lockup.

She checked her time. Shit. She debated flipping on the lights to beat Nick across town, before the man messed with her case.

Ten minutes later, Michelle turned into the parking lot of Billie Dee’s Design and Metal Repair Shop. The concrete block structure had an office door to the left and two large bay doors beside it. A cutout steel sign hung from chains above the customer entrance.

She parked behind a late-model Chevy truck with an Army insignia in the corner of the back window. Nick. He always liked trucks, but she didn’t see him as a four-door guy.

He stepped out as she opened her door. “Right on time, as always.”

Long strides closed the distance between them. Part of her brain registered his words while the rest of her mind was focused on his movements. Relaxed. Confident.

Michelle slammed her door a little too hard. She adjusted her duty belt and gave him her best glare. “Why are you here? This is police business.”

He shrugged. “I need the sleigh.”

“And you’ll get it once it’s released.”

He lowered his sunglasses. Intense eyes locked with hers. “You made it clear the case needed to be closed first.”

“We are working on it. Trust us.”