Free Safe in His Arms by Dana Corbit Page A

there was no way that he would leave this condo without letting Lindsay know one thing: she was not alone.

Chapter Six
    J oe threw his police cruiser into Park and slammed his laptop next to him with such force that he had to open it again to see if he’d caused any damage. He would have a tough time explaining to Lieutenant Dawson that he’d destroyed state property all because he was frustrated.
    He shook his head as he shoved open the car door. Frustrated didn’t begin to describe what he’d been feeling from the moment he’d pulled his patrol car out on Interstate 96 this morning. Okay, he was exhausted from operating on less sleep than even the minuscule amount that had been his norm since a certain redhead had shown up and sent his focus careening off course. Still, even that didn’t account for the sense of foreboding that had settled like a concrete block on his chest.
    â€œWell, look what the cat dragged in.”
    Joe jerked at the sound and turned to give Trooper Celeste Addington a look that could kill. But Celeste and Trooper Brody Davison were standing less than ten feet away from him, and both were grinning like they knew a secret. His secret. How could he have missed their approach, if not in his side-view mirror, then atleast from the thuds of their boots? Were his nerves wound so tightly that his hearing was on the blink, too?
    â€œBoth of you will give me some space today, if you know what’s good for you.”
    He tilted his head, trying to stretch his neck, but he doubted even a masseuse could get the kinks out after an eight-hour shift with his muscles in a constant state of flex.
    Brody, one of the new academy graduates to be assigned to the Brighton Post, bent his massive frame and leaned his head toward the petite brunette. “He’s telling us to back off. I think that’s downright unfriendly.”
    â€œYeah. The cat that dragged him probably wishes she’d left him outside.” Celeste removed her hat and brushed at the few hairs that had escaped from her tight bun.
    Straightening, Brody looked over to Joe again. “I sure hope you weren’t using that nice-guy treatment when you were dealing with the public today.”
    â€œJust part of my charm.”
    â€œYeah, you’re charming the way Oscar the Grouch is charming,” Celeste said. “Especially the last few days.”
    Joe frowned. So much for nobody noticing that his head was out of the game. “I don’t know about you two, but I’ve got work to do.”
    He brushed past them and headed to the building’s back entrance. That laughter followed him all the way inside and only unsettled him more. Usually, he would have been telling the jokes, but there was no “usual” for him since the accident had messed with his confidence.
    He’d just slumped into one of the open office chairs and logged on to the desktop computer when he had the prickly sense that he wasn’t alone. He glanced backover his shoulder to find his best friend, Brett Lancaster, watching him.
    â€œWhat are you looking at, Lancaster? I mean Lieutenant, sir.” He stood up from his seat. For some reason, he just couldn’t remember to call his former partner by his new job title.
    Brett crossed his arms. “Chill out, Rossetti.”
    The two stood in a staring standoff until Brett spoke up again. “I hear you were in rare form all morning. All week, if we’re being honest here.”
    â€œI was unaware my bad moods made headlines.”
    â€œThey do, when even Clara comments on it.”
    It was Joe’s turn to cross his arms. “List a few things that Clara Morrison hasn’t made a comment on in the past two years.”
    Brett’s eyes narrowed, but instead of warning Joe about insubordination the way he had every right to, he smiled. “Guess that would be a short list.”
    â€œSorry,” Joe said, as he dropped back into the chair.