Page 26 of Lay Down the Law

Being attracted to her boss was a mistake she had no intention of making. Especially when he was the kind of man who couldn’t handle the idea of a woman with a dangerous career—like police work.

Warren Prentice had taught her all she ever needed to know about the overprotective-male syndrome. After the way Nick had reacted to her taking down those two suspects, it appeared he had a terminal case. She refused to give up her career for the likes of a man or the fallacy of happily ever after. Erin McNeal simply knew better.

“Here you go.”

She jumped at the sound of Nick’s voice and turned to find him standing behind her with two aspirin in one hand, a glass of water in the other. She drew a breath, caught the scent of his aftershave and felt an instant of vertigo she knew had nothing to do with the bump on her head. Good heavens, standing next to this man was like riding a tidal wave.

Shaking off the sensation, she reached for the aspirin and tossed them back. His fingers brushed hers when she took the glass of water. “Thanks.”

“Why don’t you sit down?”

“Actually, I was thinking of taking a nap as soon as you take off.”

Amusement played in his eyes. “Trying to get rid of me?”

“Letting you off the hook, actually.”

One side of his mouth curved. “I appreciate that. But to be perfectly honest with you, I’d like to ask you a few more questions before I make my big escape. If you’re feeling up to it, that is.”

Something in the way he said it caught her cop’s attention, reminding her that a serious crime had been committed, and she was right in the center of it. Common ground at last. No longer feeling quite as awkward, she sank down on the sofa. “Shoot.”

Nick took the chair across from her. “Felony assault with a motor vehicle isn’t the kind of crime typical to Logan Falls.” Leaning forward, he put his elbows on his knees and gave her a canny look. “What’s your take on this?”

“An impatient driver. Road rage.” She shrugged. “Maybe he was drunk.”

“He? The driver was male?”

“I think so. I only saw a silhouette, but it didn’t look female.”

“You mentioned a passenger earlier. Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I’m sure.”

“We don’t get much road rage here in Logan Falls.” Nick grimaced. “I talked to several witnesses at the scene. Every one of them said it seemed deliberate. Do you agree?”

“Maybe. I don’t know. It happened pretty fast.”

“Is there any reason why someone might want to hurt you?”

The question made the hairs at her nape stand on end. “What are you getting at?”

Leaning back in the chair, he gazed steadily at her. “You were a cop for nine years. Cops make enemies. Some criminals have long memories.”

Erin knew the possibility was there—she’d busted plenty of thugs over the years, and made plenty of enemies back in Chicago. She couldn’t rule out the possibility, but she didn’t believe it, either. “The thought of some thug bent on revenge following me all the way to Logan Falls just to run me down at a school crosswalk—and miss—seems unlikely, Nick.”

“Probably. Still, it’s something we have to consider. From now on I want you to be aware of what’s going on around you at all times—”

“I’m always aware of my surroundings,” she interrupted. “I’m a cop, remember?”

“You’re not invincible. You know better than to not take this seriously.”

“I’ll take it seriously. But I still think you’re overreacting.”

“Just covering all my bases.”

“Contrary to what you might think of me, I know how to take care of myself.”

“That’s why you’ve got a knot the size of Texas on your head.”