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She lifted a shoulder briefly. “Only for one reason.”
She walked to the door, and he opened it for her but still stood between her and the exit.
“What’s that?”
Her smile was resigned. “Let’s go, Mr. Rhodes, I have a long day. Why? That’s easy. You’re fucking hot, and I would have loved to fuck. But I don’t do military men.”
All the blood rushed to his cock, and it took him a moment to register what she’d just said to him and digest it completely.
He tracked her movement as she strode to the door, confidence in every step. Trailing her until he too exited the office, he reached her as she spoke to Paul, who had been somewhere else, and when she gestured over her shoulder for Hastings to follow, he did so. Willingly.
All he needed to do now was change her mind.
Chapter Two
My luck is shit. Here I am in a new town, again. Doing another job, again. And this Norse Viking practically falls into my lap, and I can’t touch him.
For so many reasons.
She didn’t hear him move. Not even as they got out of the rain and walked across the hospital floor. Her shoes? Bastards squeaked with each step. His? Hell, if she weren’t so disturbed on a physical level by his presence, she wouldn’t have known anyone was at her side.
Violet knew what room Evan was in, and so she’d just headed there directly. The man with her didn’t speak. Even in the elevator he’d remained stoic and silent.
Then again, for all I know, he’s scared of small spaces.
Not her business, or her concern. Everyone had ghosts. Her own were such that she could no longer enjoy the hunk of man flesh close to her. He gestured for her to leave first and she did, flicking her gaze over the sign adhered to the wall about which way to go for the room she sought.
As they neared, he stepped ahead of her slightly and settled a hand on her arm. She slowed without asking. There were people in the room. Cops.
Two men, and one looked at the door when they arrived, his tan face expressionless as he ran his gaze over them.
“Can we help you?” His question wasn’t cold, but it wasn’t welcoming either. Juarez, his name plate read. The other’s said Miller.
Now it was her turn to step up, but Hastings didn’t let her move by him. She found she could get even, but not past. She didn’t struggle, just allowed him to hold on to her arm, liking his touch more than she cared to think about.
“My name is Violet Wentz. I manage the facility Mr. Winter is staying at.”
The other cop, taller and broader than the first, faced her, flicked his pale green eyes over her to Hastings, where he held her arm, and back to her gaze.
“The shelter,” he nearly spat, “for the homeless.”
Fury arced through her, and she struggled to stay put and not get arrested for assaulting an officer. “Welcome Home is there for our veterans who served this country, Officer. These men and women were willing to sacrifice their lives to keep you and me safe.”
“A waste if you ask me,” the man continued. “If you want to help them, show them how to get a job. I can bet that whoever is funding this, or rather, most likely it’s my tax dollars, isn’t near here. They’re probably living safely behind their gated walls.”
A low growl formed in her throat, cruising up to be released. Violet struggled to hold it back. “There’s much more to it than just getting a job, Officer. You don’t know what they went through when they were serving or what they suffered.” Her words tumbled short and sharp from her mouth.
“Lady, I don’t care. I just think filling a place full of homeless is asking for trouble.”
She nearly bared her teeth and snapped at him. “Luckily, then, we didn’t ask you. I want to know how my friend is doing and what happened?”
“Drugs.” The shorter officer stepped back so they could enter the room. “We think this is about drugs.”
“Isn’t it always?” the green-eyed officer sneered.
“Enough, Miller. Why don’t you take five while I give them what we can about this.”
Thin lips tight in a line, the man moved toward them. Before she could even blink, Hastings had maneuvered her out of the way and put himself between her and the officer. The move was so swift she almost didn’t notice it happen, but when she found herself plastered right against his broad, strong back she realized, yep, it had.
And damn this man for smelling even better like this, up close and personal. Seriously, how is this possible? We were both outside in the rain, but he smells all lush and masculinely sexy. Is that even a thing? Shit, I have got to get myself together. Not only is he my brother-in-law, he’s military. Ergo…off limits.
