Page 28 of Protect My Heart

She cast a gaze around the house. Memories flooded her. Once she moved out on her own, it would be different. She was an adult. She’d set boundaries, and they dang well better follow them, or she would be running for the nearest sunny state to hide away.

Rolling her shoulders, the pops and creaks reminded her she needed to get a workout in before she starting researching what it would take license-wise in order to practice clinical psychology in Minnesota. She changed into her yoga pants and a sports bra before heading to the basement gym.

The doorbell rang. Liz froze mid-step, one foot in the air. Her eyes pivoted to the door. No one should be here. Her head swiveled, and she grabbed a porcelain dog statue. She tiptoed to the door. As she reached the entry, she stepped to the side of the door and with one finger, slowly pulled the sidelight curtain back.

Dog raised high, she peeped out. A man dressed in a parka and stocking cap stood on the stoop, facing the lake. A sliver of his face showed. Liz swallowed hard, lowered the dog statue, and yanked open the door. “Jim Swenson, what the hell are you doing here?”

“Is that any way to greet your neighbor?” He stepped around her and entered the house.

Fury coursed through her veins. She lifted the statue and tightened her grip.

“Nice dog.” He gestured to the statue in her hand and raised a mug which had a picture of handcuffs on it and read: You can’t fix stupid but you can cuff it. “Got any coffee?”

“What?” She blinked. His words finally registered. “Did you say neighbor?”

“Yup.” He moseyed off towards the back of the house. “Wow, nice view. It’s not as good from the driveway.”

Liz glanced out the door and froze. “What the hell is that?”

“My ice fishing house. It’s a deluxe model.”

“Why is there a...” She read the name on the side of the trailer. “Ice Castle Little Jigger in my driveway?”

“Well, it was that or on the lake. I can run an extension cord to your house this way and save on the gas for the generator.”

Words came out of his mouth, but they weren’t making any sense to Liz. “Isn’t it hard to ice fish from land?”

Jim moved closer. His coat brushed her chest as he leaned in nose to nose. “I’m not fishing. I’m here to protect you. It was the ice house or move into this mansion.”

“I don’t need protecting.” Liar. Her heart slammed against her ribcage every time she got a whiff of his woodsy scent.

He leaned back and smiled. “Well then, let’s just say I’m visiting.”

His long strides carried him to the sliding doors in the back. She couldn’t quite get her head wrapped around the idea of Jim being here, much less camping in her parents’ driveway. She should demand he leave––he was trespassing––but she couldn’t. Because no matter what her brain told her, she couldn’t lie to herself. Having him here comforted her. Knowing the huge scary house wouldn’t seem so scary with a big, stubborn cop within shouting range.

The cold air pulled her from her thoughts. He had opened the door and whistled. A moment later a large brown and white dog came through the door, right past Jim and dropped to sit at her feet.

“I see how it’s going to be. A beautiful woman’s in the room and I’m chump change.”

Liz’s gaze shot to Jim. Beautiful? Her mouth opened but a cold wet nose nuzzled her hand.

“Tig, leave her alone.” Jim started to pull the dog back but her hand flipped over and caressed the dog’s head.

“He has soft ears. What did you call him?” She bent down and gave the handsome boy all her attention.

“Tig, short for Tigger.”

Her eyes flew to Jim’s face. “As in Winnie the Pooh? That Tigger?”

“Yup. You should see him jump. He can bounce with the best of them.”

Resting her head on top of Tig’s she scratched his long ears. “You and I will be fast friends, Tig. Just like Pooh and his Tigger.”

Liz’s gaze moved to the dog’s owner. He watched her with a strange look. “What?”

“Nothing.” He cleared his throat and raised his mug. “So, coffee?”

“I suppose I could spare a cup.” She rose and slipped by him, heading for the kitchen, Tigger on her heels. “Would you like something to eat, too?”