Her Unlikely Protector

by Regan Black

  “Am I interrupting?”

  Leo looked up to see Aubrey standing by the table. “No. No.” He shoved to his feet. How had he missed her walking in? “You look...” She wore a black dress that might have looked simple on the rack. The fabric skimmed her body, highlighting every curve to stunning effect. Would it be rude to ask her to go back and start over so he could enjoy her approach?

  There was a sparkle at her ears, glittering in the soft waves of her hair. “Your hair is down.” He pulled back her chair, breathing in the sunny fragrance of her shampoo as she took her seat.

  “Did you expect me to show up in my uniform?”

  “No.” He wasn’t sure he expected her to show up at all. “Of course not.” He laughed, resuming his seat across from her. “I’m an idiot.”

  “Why?”

  The amusement on her glossy lips sent a sizzle straight through his bloodstream. “Did you want that chronologically and how many years back should I go?”

  She cocked an eyebrow. “You’re not the first guy who’s into the uniform. If that’s what the shock and awe routine is.”

  Not the first? Well, he’d be the last. Wait. What was he thinking? “You’re teasing me.”

  “A little bit, yes.” She reached for her water glass, but only traced the stem with her fingertip.

  Her hands, unadorned, suddenly seemed small and almost fragile. Mere hours ago, those hands had stopped a robbery. “I never gave much thought to uniforms,” he said.

  “What do you mean?”

  “At the risk of sounding completely sexist, it’s hard to imagine you taking down that criminal right now.”

  She laughed. “I should hope so.” Her gaze cruised around the restaurant. “The concierge told me ‘elegant and upscale,’” she said. “This is far more than I expected for an apology dinner.”

  “We both know I owe you far more than a cheesesteak or burger.”

  Her lips twitched at the corner. “You clean up nicely. I should have said that right off.”

  He smoothed a hand down the length of his tie, willing himself to stay calm when he wanted to taste the pale column of her throat. “Suits are a hazard in my line of work. I can’t seem to travel without one.”

  The waiter arrived with a wine selection and they chose half a carafe of Merlot to share. Hearing the appetizers and specials, Leo’s stomach rumbled at the mouthwatering suggestions. Once the decisions were made and they were alone, Leo realized he wasn’t restless anymore and he’d gone nearly fifteen minutes without obsessing over Lara.

  He chose to take it as a good sign. Stressing about her, worrying and willing her to call, hadn’t worked. Doing something nice for Aubrey steadied him.

  “I know you’re employed by an airport in Cincinnati, but what is it you do that requires a suit?”

  “I’m an operations manager. There’s a uniform of sorts for the day-to-day, but meetings can crop up at the strangest times. It’s best to be prepared.”

  She sat back as the waiter placed a small platter of stuffed mushrooms between them. “You brought a suit in case you needed to attend a meeting while searching for your sister?”

  “I packed a suit because it’s habit.” The worry that had grown out of control didn’t help. “And because I was afraid I’d have to deal with police, medical professionals, or even a morgue. A suit gets a smidge more respect in those situations. Assuming the man in said suit isn’t a jerk.”

  “Leo.” She murmured his name with such compassion, he thought he’d dissolve. Compassion and zero pity. He’d seen enough pity to know the difference.

  He tried and failed to shrug it off. Aubrey made him want to lean in, to take a chance on being accepted. “Do you get this, ah, invested in all your cases?”

  Her jaw firmed and her shoulders straightened as she pressed back in the chair. “We’re trained that some cases or incidents will hit us harder than others.” She reached for her wine, held the glass in both hands. “You know, I still haven’t heard that apology.”

  He wished she’d left a hand within his reach so she might feel his sincerity. “I apologize for insisting on going to see Grant. It was rude, not even trying to comprehend your resistance to the idea.”

  “Thank you,” she said, relaxing a fraction.

  “I do find it commendable how involved you are with your neighborhood. I meant no offense about the way you invest your time.”

  Her chin dipped in a silent acknowledgment. “Thanks for that, too. I’ve taken some heat at the precinct for wearing rose-colored glasses when I look at the city.”

  “Why shouldn’t you? I’d think it would be beneficial to see the best in your community and work toward that outcome.”

  “Is that what you do?” she asked.

  “You could sum it up that way.” He noticed the way she kept nudging the conversation away from herself. The last thing he wanted was for her to feel uncomfortable or on the spot. He’d pulled out all the stops tonight with the sole purpose of spoiling her to make up for his gaffes and the trouble he’d brought into her city. “Anything can throw off a normal day at an airport. Local weather trouble, weather in connecting towns, equipment, the list goes on. Although each airline has a policy and system for crises, the airport itself has policies and systems to maintain safety for all.”

  “It sounds like a normal day for you is hard to define.”

  “Not unlike police work,” he replied. “For your sake, I hope strangers raising hell in soup kitchens isn’t a daily occurrence.”

  “No. Not the way you did it.” A lovely blush colored her cheeks. What was she thinking?

  “Did you want to talk about Lara at all tonight?” she asked.

  He appreciated her thoughtfulness. “Only if you have news you’d like to share.”

  Her blue eyes widened in earnest. “If I did, I’d have told you already.”

  “I know.” Having this kind of confidence in another person was rare for him, thanks to the tragic loss that had changed his relationship with everyone but Lara. “I’m not implying otherwise. Although I haven’t truly put her out of my mind, I’ve accepted there’s little I can do tonight, and I’d like us both to enjoy a nice dinner.”

  “You believe Grant’s people are out there searching?”

  “That helps,” he confessed. “I know the flyers are getting views, too. I do have faith in you and the PPD.”

  She watched him over the rim of her wineglass, her expression inscrutable. “If you say so.”

  He’d been such an ass about this mess from day one, he couldn’t fault her for doubting. Leo glanced up when a well-dressed couple stopped beside their table.

  “Pardon the interruption,” the man began. “Aren’t you the man who saved all those people during a robbery today?”

  “I escorted a few people to safety,” he replied. “Officer Rawlins here did the hard part.”

  The man turned to the woman at his side. “I knew it was him.”

  She smiled back at him. “And we’re interrupting their meal, honey. Forgive us, please.”

  “I needed to say thanks.” He stuck out his hand to Leo, then to Aubrey, as well. “To both of you. Tina, the cashier at that shop, is our daughter-in-law. Without you two I shudder at what might have happened.”

  “We weren’t exactly thrilled with her decision to work in that area,” the wife added quietly. “But she’s determined to do something on her own. She swears it’s safe over there.”

  “Tina is great,” Aubrey said. “We’ve made it a priority to improve communication with businesses in the area and dial down the crime rate,” she assured them.

  “I’m sure it’s working,” the older woman replied. “Tina’s mentioned you often. Officer Aubrey this and that. All good.”

  “Yes, all good,” her husband agreed. “Thank you for your service. We’ll leave you to enjoy
your dinner.”

  The gracious couple stepped out of the way as the waiter delivered their meals. For a few minutes Leo and Aubrey ate in appreciative silence. He hadn’t realized he was famished until that moment.

  “Good?” he queried as Aubrey twirled a length of pasta around her fork.

  “Incredible.” She angled her chin toward his plate. “Yours?”

  “Delicious.” In truth, the food was phenomenal, but his attention was all for Aubrey.

  Hero-worship or fixation, distraction or outright desire, he couldn’t separate one emotion from the other. Wasn’t sure he cared. All he could think about was how those lips might feel under his and how on earth he could get her to agree to another date.

  “How often do you deal with incidents like the one at the smoothie shop?” he asked when it seemed they’d both had their fill.

  “Crime happens.” She didn’t meet his gaze. “You’d have to access public records for the actual number.”

  “Is it the restaurant or me in particular?”

  She glanced up. “What do you mean?”

  “You keep dodging questions about your work. Why?”

  Her blue eyes blazed. “Why are you pushing?” she countered.

  He was wrecking a pleasant evening by pushing, but he wanted to know, to get to know her. “I’m interested. In the job, but mostly in you.” Might as well lay his cards on the table. He wasn’t good at games and she’d seen too much of his desperation to pretend he had life lined up perfectly. “I admit this dinner wasn’t just about an apology or to keep tabs on your search for Lara.”

  “What if I only agreed to join you to keep tabs on you?” she said.

  “I deserved that.” He grinned. “Care to give me the odds on getting you to agree to another date?”

  “You’ll just have to take your chances.” She propped her folded arms on the edge of the table. “The food is excellent, the company pleasant. To follow your candid example, I enjoy you, too, Leo, when you’re not causing trouble in my town.”

  He pointed at himself. “I’m a hero, didn’t you hear?”

  “You’re a meddling menace.” Her lips curled into an indulgent smile.

  “Thank you.”

  “That wasn’t a compliment.” She shook her head. “Going out again isn’t wise. At least not until we find your sister.”

  Was it really the active case that bothered her? He moved as if he would bolt from the restaurant. “Then I’d better get back out there.”

  “Stop it. Tonight has been wonderful. Don’t wreck it by making a scene and forcing me to take you down.”

  He cocked his head. “You have your cuffs with you?”

  Her golden eyebrows arched. “I’m a PPD officer and I am always prepared.”

  The I-dare-you spark in her eyes set off a firestorm in his blood. He cleared his throat. “Are you interested in dessert?” he managed to ask.

  “No, thank you. The sugar rush might dull my reflexes. With you I need to be at the top of my game.”

  He laughed, hoping it sounded more natural than strained. “Then I guess we’re done for tonight.”

  He asked for the check, only to be told their dinner had been covered by another patron.

  “Tina’s in-laws,” Aubrey said. “That was sweet of them.”

  And generous, considering the average dinner tab here. “Change your mind about dessert or a coffee?” He wasn’t ready for the evening to end.

  She waved him off. “No, thank you,” she repeated. “I should get home. I’m back on shift first thing in the morning.”

  He called for the car he’d arranged with the hotel, pleased when she didn’t balk at his suggestion that he ride along with her back to her place. He didn’t expect an invitation to come inside; he just wanted to see where she lived. It would give him something else to think about, something new to keep his mind off his sister’s plight.

  He held the door for her when the car arrived and then slid in next to her. The hem of her dress crept above her knees, giving him a tantalizing glimpse of her toned legs.

  She’d pressed her hands together between her knees.

  “Cold?” He was already shrugging off his suit coat, draping it over her lap. He hadn’t thought to pack his wool overcoat. He’d been too focused on just getting here.

  Thanks.” Her lips tilted up in a shy smile. “That wind has a bite.”

  He asked the driver to turn up the heat. A smarter move than drawing Aubrey’s body up against his. Wanting the woman and making a move on her were two different things.

  The driver had the radio volume on low, but the station played an introduction that had Aubrey sitting forward.

  “What—”

  She held up a finger to shush him.

  He listened as intently as she did to the weather warning about a cold front moving in that would dump heavy snow and ice on the city. People were being asked to prepare for power outages and record low temperatures.

  When the report finished, she sat back and tucked his coat tightly around her legs. “We’ll be busy tomorrow,” she said as they passed the famous Boathouse Row on their way back to her neighborhood.

  The lights outlined the rooftop of each building, and the reflections on the river sparkled in the night. The beauty of the scene couldn’t compare to the woman beside him. “Meaning?”

  “To most people storm prep is stocking up on candles, bread and whatever gets them through an emergency. For the urban precincts we roll out in force and nudge people toward the shelters.”

  That gave him a better chance of finding Lara. Between the note and her bringing Grant a couple of workers, it seemed like a safe bet that his sister was out here somewhere, helping the homeless community. “Nudge?”

  “Well, unless a curfew is issued, we can’t arrest anyone who refuses, so we strongly encourage.”

  It continued to surprise him how committed she was to her city. Sure, it was in the job description, but he’d always thought police departments were so overwhelmed by crime and bad news that they didn’t have enough time or manpower for purely humanitarian efforts. Officer Aubrey made him reevaluate at every turn.

  “If you nudge the homeless toward open shelters, I should be able to find Lara, right?”

  “Only if she is on the streets and she chooses to come in.”

  “She wouldn’t risk freezing to death,” he said. “Not for any cause.” He had to believe that much. The other options were unbearable.

  Aubrey opened her mouth, closed it again, as the car pulled to a stop. “Just say it.” He braced himself for another brutal truth he wasn’t ready to hear.

  “We don’t know if or why she’s out there,” Aubrey began, “or where she’s staying if she is out there. You have my word that everyone in my precinct will be looking for her as we bring people in.”

  “Thank you.” The warm air in the car suddenly felt stifling with its absolute security and safety. He’d taken so many things for granted. Not Lara, not really, though her inexplicable disconnect made him second-guess that, too.

  Maybe she had grown tired of him. Maybe his attempts to stay involved and connected had smothered her, pushed her to a drastic act of independence. As everyone kept pointing out, she was a grown, mentally sound adult, capable of making life-altering decisions on her own.

  If he trusted her judgment as much as he claimed, would he be turning over every rock to find her?

  Yes.

  Because he couldn’t accept a world without the unconditional love of his sister. And he couldn’t accept that she would willingly put him through this particular brand of hell. She alone knew his darkest secrets and his raw weaknesses. He couldn’t believe that she’d deliberately chosen to pour salt into those wounds.

  Aubrey touched his arm as she returned his coat. “Leo? Are you all right?”

 
“Yes.” If not right this second, he would be soon. He looked past her to the building. Which window was hers? Who took care of Officer Aubrey’s storm prep?

  “I assume the hotel knows how to prep for a winter storm,” he mused.

  “Of course,” she replied. “They have generators and—”

  “You’re probably all stocked up, too?”

  Her head tipped to the side as she studied him. “I’ll pick up whatever I need after shift tomorrow.” She reached for the door handle. “Thanks for—”

  He cut her off. “Change of plans,” he said to the driver. He draped the coat over her legs again. “Would you please take us to the nearest convenience store?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Aubrey gawked at him as the door locks clicked automatically when the driver put the car into gear. “I don’t understand. What are you doing?”

  “If public reactions to storm warnings here go anything like they do in Cincinnati, store shelves will be picked bare by noon. You can stock up tonight and then I don’t have to worry about you being hungry or cold after your shift.”

  She sputtered a protest.

  “Please, Aubrey. Let someone do something nice for you. Something helpful.”

  * * *

  Aubrey stared at the bags on her kitchen counter. Slowly, she shifted her gaze to the man sucking all the air out of her kitchen. Some trick of Leo’s nature that left her breathless. It was the only explanation for why she couldn’t utter a simple and polite thank you.

  He’d not only insisted she stock up on storm supplies; he’d also paid the tab. That annoyed her, she remembered. Opening the app on her phone, she offered to pay him back.

  He shook his head. “We can settle up after the storm. You need to get to bed before your shift.”