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Powell’s parents weren’t letting Powell get away now. Especially considering that she’d almost been abducted. Haldyn could join them—Powell’s parents always made her feel welcome—but tonight…
She really felt like she didn’t belong in this world tonight.
She wasn’t Dr. Haldyn Harris, a woman used to moving around with powerful people in Finley Creek tonight. She was just Hallie Harris, daughter of a cop and a waitress, trying not to anger her father again.
She thought she had put Hallie behind her long ago.
Apparently not.
She took the first chance she could to sneak away. Her suite awaited. She’d get out of her pantsuit and into comfy clothes, and go over files she’d brought back with her from the office. She’d probably have nightmares tonight. It was almost inevitable.
“Maybe I should call you my little mouse instead? Sneaking away?”
She yelped when the male voice sounded right behind her while she was pushing open the door to her suite on the fourth floor. She turned.
She knew who had followed her. Haldyn was half convinced she had radar where that man was concerned.
He still wore the suit and tie he’d worn to work that day. The gray of the tie made his eyes look brighter. His hair was that warm caramel color that made a woman’s fingers want to touch. The jacket made those shoulders look even broader.
She wasn’t certain, but she thought he had even broader shoulders than Daniel. Daniel had that whole wild beautiful cowboy appeal, just under a sheen of sophistication. He just looked like he belonged on a menswear magazine cover or something.
Jarrod was different. He had that ruggedly handsome warrior thing going on that some men just had. And melted a woman to her toes.
All of the men in Major Crimes were majorly hot. Charlotte and Madison had declared it truth. Haldyn had privately agreed. Even if this one had always found a way to push her buttons. Every chance he had. It was just in a different way now.
But he did rather eclipse the other men of Major Crimes. It was probably about time she admitted that to herself.
“What are you doing here? Aren’t the rest of your buddies downstairs? Surely, I don’t need a bodyguard in my own suite?”
“I saw you sneaking away with a funny little look on that gorgeous queenly face when I came out of the parlor. I spoke with Elliot and Daniel. Gun was there, too. About Wilson. Daniel—well, it took us a while to calm him down.”
“He likes Heather a great deal.” She thought it was more than that actually. Daniel hadn’t said anything to her about Heather. He probably wouldn’t either. Daniel was reluctant when it came to relationships with women now.
He definitely didn’t share that information with her. Ever.
“Well, Wilson won’t be a problem in Finley Creek any longer. Elliot promised he’d block the transfer no matter what. It’s his house—he always gets final call. But he had been leaning toward allowing it, so I talked to him just in time.”
“Why?”
“The transfer’s a plant, we think. From Wichita Falls. Sent to report back on what we do. But Daniel told Elliot that if Wilson showed up at our house again—Daniel was walking.” Jarrod stepped closer. Gave her a look. “And I told El I would, too. Gunnar took it a step further—he promised Elliot if Wilson shows up in Major Crimes, Gunnar was inciting all of Major Crimes to walk out. Permanently. He could probably do it, too. And Elliot listens to him more than he does the rest of us. That whole being besties for fifteen years thing they have going on.”
They would do it, too. To protect Heather. It overwhelmed Haldyn, just imagining it. They understood loyalty in Major Crimes. She had no doubt about that now.
“Heather’s ours. We’re going to do what we have to do to protect her, babe. No matter what. No bastard like Wilson is going to be allowed to hurt her again.”
Jarrod shot out an arm and hooked her around her waist. Haldyn found herself snuggled up against his chest again. Her head was just under his chin. Like she almost fit right there. The clean, woodsy scent of him surrounded her. Made her feel safe.
Even if she knew that was just an illusion.
“You looked like you need a hug, too. So here I am. Hug away.”
“Why on earth would I want to hug the man who has treated me like a piranha for years?” She did, though. She wanted him to hold her. His arms were hard around her. Haldyn wasn’t going to escape him. Not until he was ready to let her go.
That thought made her want to shiver, really. It had been a long time since any man had made her feel like this. Even Daniel.
Haldyn just blinked up at Jarrod. He reached his other hand behind her, and pulled her door closed. Somehow, Haldyn found herself backed up against it, caught between the hand-carved oak and the hard chest of the man holding her. Outside her suite.
Why were they still in the hallway again?
