Free Local Hero by Nora Roberts Page B

your characters?”
    “It might be.” He told himself to calm down. He didn’t have much of a temper as a rule, but when it started to perk, it could come to a boil in seconds. “Look, Hester, did you have your life savings in your bag?”
    “Of course not.”
    “Family heirlooms?”
    “No.”
    “Any microchips vital to national security?”
    She let out an exasperated sigh and dropped onto the arm of a chair. “I left them at the office.” She pouted as she looked up at him. “Don’t give me that disgusting smile now.”
    “Sorry.” He changed it to a grin.
    “I just had such a rotten day.” Without realizing it, she slipped off her shoe and began to massage her instep. “The first thing this morning Mr. Rosen went on an efficiency campaign. Then there was the staff meeting, then the idiot settlement clerk who made a pass at me.”
    “What idiot settlement clerk?”
    “Never mind.” Tired, she rubbed her temple. “Just take it that things went from bad to worse until I was ready to bite someone’s head off. Then that jerk grabbed my purse, and I just exploded. At least I have the satisfaction of knowing he’ll be walking with a limp for a few days.”
    “Got in a few licks, did you?”
    Hester continued to pout as she gingerly touched her eye with her fingertips. “Yeah.”
    Mitch walked over, then bent down to her level. With a look more of curiosity than sympathy, he examined the damage. “You’re going to have a hell of a shiner.”
    “Really?” Hester touched the bruise again. “I was hoping this was as bad as it would get.”
    “Not a chance. It’s going to be a beaut.”
    She thought of the stares and the explanations that would be necessary the following week. “Terrific.”
    “Hurt?”
    “Yes.”
    Mitch touched his lips to the bruise before she could evade him. “Try some ice.”
    “I’ve already thought of that.”
    “I put my things away.” Radley stood in the hallway looking down at his shoes. “I had homework, but I already did it.”
    “That’s good. Come here.” Radley continued to look at his shoes as he walked to her. Hester put her arms around his neck and squeezed. “Sorry.”
    “’S okay. I didn’t mean to make you mad.”
    “You didn’t make me mad. Mr. Rosen made me mad. That man who wanted my purse made me mad, but not you, baby.”
    “I could get you a wet cloth the way you do when my head hurts.”
    “Thanks, but I think I need a hot bath and an ice pack.” She gave him another squeeze, then remembered. “Oh, we had a date didn’t we? Cheeseburgers and a movie.”
    “We can watch TV instead.”
    “Well, why don’t we see how I feel in a little while?”
    “I got an A on my spelling test.”
    “My hero,” Hester said, laughing.
    “You know, that hot bath’s a good idea. Ice, too.” Mitch was already making plans. “Why don’t you get started on that while I borrow Rad for a little while.”
    “But he just got home.”
    “It’ll only take a little while.” Mitch took her arm and started to lead her toward the hall. “Put some bubbles in the tub. They’re great for the morale. We’ll be back in half an hour.”
    “But where are you going?”
    “Just an errand I need to run. Rad can keep me company, can’t you, Rad?”
    “Sure.”
    The idea of a thirty-minute soak was too tempting. “No candy, it’s too close to dinner.”
    “Okay, I won’t eat any,” Mitch promised, and scooted her into the bath. Putting a hand on Radley’s shoulder, he marched back into the living room. “Ready to go out on a mission, Corporal?”
    Radley’s eyes twinkled as he saluted. “Ready and willing, sir.”
    ***
    The combination of ice pack, hot bath and aspirin proved successful. By the time the water had cooled in the tub, Hester’s headache was down to dull and manageable. She supposed she owed Mitch for giving her a few minutes to herself, Hester admitted as she pulled on jeans. Along with most of the pain, the shakiness had drained away in