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When they were in the stairwell, she stopped on the first step and turned to face him. With the help of the riser, she was almost at eye level with the former basketball star of Haleswood High. “Am I under some sort of court house watch?”
He frowned. “Of course not.”
“Good.” She gave him a little finger wave. “Then you can go on about your business. I’m perfectly capable of handling a couple of doors all by myself.”
She turned and headed up the stairs before he could reply, but caught the sound of his boots behind her and paused again. “What part of ‘I’m capable’ wasn’t clear, Deputy?”
“The part where you leave before I can ask you out.”
Slowly, more than a little surprised, she twisted to face him once more, leaning against the handrail. “I beg your pardon?”
A wry grin tipped up the corner of his mouth. “You heard me. And call me Carson.”
“I thought everyone called you J.C. or Deputy.”
“You’re not everyone.”
Well, they agreed on that. She couldn’t recall her last date. There must have been one on her last visit home before she’d joined Ross’s investigation team. Her aunts were always trying to set her up with a ‘nice young man’. The problem was she found nice young men boring.
She didn’t have a bad boy complex. Having met plenty of those types, they didn’t hold much appeal either. She wanted a man who shared a few of her interests and wasn’t intimidated by her career or associates—past or present. She wanted—
“Do you plan to give me an answer?”
“Not before I know what you have in mind,” she shot back.
“How about I tell you on the way to your office?”
“Fine.” She figured he’d invite her to a movie at the one screen theater a couple of blocks away followed by pizza and a beer at O’Malley’s. Not bad, just predictable.
His long legs made quick work of the two steps between them. “There’s a police range down on Highway 521. Have you ever shot a .44 magnum?”
“Please,” she said dismissively. But it had been a long time since she’d held that kind of firepower in her hands. Unfortunately, she knew her shoulder wasn’t ready for it.
“But you’re interested.”
How did he know that? “You’re awfully sure of yourself.”
“Why don’t you tell me what you’d like to fire out there and I’ll see what I can do to make it happen?”
Life in a small town sure hadn’t limited his ability to read women. He’d pegged her in one when most men underestimated her on a variety of levels.
“Fine. A few rounds with an AT-4 rocket launcher would be fun.”
He huffed a short sigh as they reached the landing and he opened the door. “That’s a pretty unique way to say no.”
She looked up at him as she passed. “Who’s saying no?” And when had she decided to start flirting with Deputy Morris?Carson. “I’d enjoy some target practice with whatever you want to shoot.”
His eyebrows arched. “Saturday then? I’ll pick you up at ten.”
“A.M.?”
“If that works.”
BANG! The door slammed behind them, but this time the shock that followed was in front of her.
A massive man barreled out of her office, his hand gun trained on them.
Deputy Morris stepped in front of her and drew his service revolver in a smooth motion she might have admired at a different time.
