Page 21 of Sleigh My Heart

The businesses were industrial, with a few shops between. The buildings were concrete, and the yards were fenced—six-foot chain link. The auto repair shop had open bay doors, but no cameras on the outside.

“I got one. The plumbing supply on the corner.” Nick sat up.

Fingers crossed, this would give them answers. She pulled into the lot and parked.

As they walked to the door, Nick held it open for her.

“Thank you.” She slipped by him. The brush of her arm against his chest shouldn’t have sent sparks zipping up her arm. They were wearing coats, for goodness’ sake.

Nick placed his hand on her lower back and ushered them to the front desk.

Michelle shot him a stern look over her shoulder. A listen-buddy look to remind him she was a cop and she could handle herself, as if the uniform wasn’t enough of a hint. The reminder might have been for her as well. Her insides swooned like they did when she was seventeen.

He just smiled. The bastard.

Enough. She shook off his hand and stepped to the desk.

A woman around the age of her mother sat behind the counter, short red curls and green glasses. “May I help you?”

“I hope so. I see you have a surveillance camera on the outside of your building. How far back does it record?” Michelle pointed to the front door.

“You’d have to ask Gary. Hang on.” She glanced from Michelle to Nick, then back as she picked up the phone. “Hey, have Gary come up front… Yeah, now.” She set the receiver down. “He’ll be here in a minute.”

The door to her left opened and a tall, broad man with a bushy beard and bald head stepped into the room. The name on his overalls said Smalls.

“Can I help you, Officer?”

“I’m Officer Swenson. I see you have a camera out front. Do you have the recordings from last week?”

“That thing? It hasn’t worked in ten years. I just keep it up there to deter thieves.”

This was a common practice. Michelle had seen more than one business with cameras that didn’t record. Sadly, it didn’t help her case. “Did you by chance notice a white van leaving Billie Dee’s last Friday?”

“Can’t say that I did.” He shook his head.

The likelihood of a witness was slim. People didn’t have the doors open or hang around outside in the winter. “Thank you for your time.”

Her anticipation nosedived. She hoped Jim had something new. She’d check with him when she got done with Silver. In the car, she turned to Nick. “That’s the only camera on the street.”

“Let’s go back to the office. I will check on this Margarita and you can talk to maintenance.”

She nodded and pulled out into traffic. It was better than being incapsulated in this vehicle with his pheromones.

Michelle cracked the window.

Nick smirked. The bastard knew what he was doing to her.

Chapter 5

Michelle had the worst poker face of anyone Nick knew. Being in close proximity to him was getting to her. Him too, only he hid his attraction better.

As he did a walk of the mall, a chant filled his head—She’s in the past, she’s in the past. He had Ava to think about, and strolling down memory lane with Michelle Swenson was not in his plan. Not now or ever.

She had her chance. He cringed at the memory of how he begged her to come with him. Even when he was home on break after basic, he tried. She had the heart of a cop, even back then, and it belonged to Ashwood… not him.

They both had moved on. No sense revisiting the past. Even if the past still had the sexiest eyes he’d ever seen. Not to mention perfect curvy hips. He flexed his fingers just thinking about all the times he slid his hands over those sweet, sleek curves and around to scoop a cheek. Her ass still called to him. He caught himself more than once reaching for her. He played it off as escorting her. The one time, he didn’t realize he was touching her until she glared at him. She was a damn magnet, and his body got as hard as steel just thinking about it.

He pulled his coat tighter around himself as he moved through the corridor. No. The last thing Nick needed was Michelle Swenson occupying his thoughts. He had a killer to find so he could get that fucking sleigh back.