“Thank you, ma’am.”
“Please, call me Amaryllis.”
They arrived at his squad car where he opened the passenger
door. “All right. That’s an unusual name too. Very pretty. Like you.”
She offered him a warm smile as she sat upon the seat. He
closed the door and came around to slide behind the wheel. As he started the car
and began the journey to Brett’s house, she turned in her seat to give the
officer her full attention. From the corner of his eye, his gaze slipped down
to the generous amount of cleavage she sported. His hands tightened on the
wheel before he snapped his focus back to the windshield and swallowed hard.
Never let it be said that she was opposed to using any means
necessary to obtain what she wanted.
“So, Rhett,” she began, “what happened back there? Who was
that man in that crazy suit?”
“Oh that.” His shoulders relaxed as if talking about a
masked crusader was more preferable than being the object of her attention. “We
all call him the Chameleon, because of the way his suit blends in with the
surroundings. Whenever someone is in need, he appears out of nowhere, saves the
day then disappears just as quick as he arrived.”
“He’s a vigilante?”
“Used to be, but Sheriff Briggs put an end to that right
quick. You could say that he’s more of a good Samaritan.”
“And he’s always in the suit?”
“Yep.”
“And no one knows who he is?”
“That’s right.”
Seriously? How many men were crawling around Cedar who were
six-and-a-half-feet tall with broad shoulders, a tapered waist and a mouth that
begged to be softened with slow kisses? If there was more than one, she’d have
to pack her bags and move out here permanently.
“How come I’ve never heard of this Chameleon? Why hasn’t he
been in the news?”
“The local paper ran a few stories on him, but I guess the
idea is so crazy the bigger papers didn’t pick up on it. Plus folks around here
like the idea that the Chameleon belongs to the people of Cedar and want to
keep it that way. Especially the ladies.”
It was soft, but the bite of jealousy at the end of his
sentence plucked at her awareness. “Popular, is he?”
“If it’s not the Kilsgaard brothers they’re panting after,
then it’s the Chameleon.”
Yes, that would be quite a tough act to follow. “I don’t
know, Rhett. I’m sure some of them think rather dirty thoughts about you too.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed again. “I—I don’t know about that.”
“Why not? You’re a handsome man with a strong jawline and
deep, dark eyes. And women love a man in uniform. But do you know what the
Chameleon has that you could have as well?”
“What?” He might have been playing it cool a moment ago, but
once she dangled the carrot in front of him, his hunger for knowledge blew that
façade to smithereens.
“Confidence. He strode right up to that fire without a
moment’s hesitation. Displays of courage are highly arousing.”
He uttered a shaky laugh and readjusted his grip on the
steering wheel.
“I saw that same confidence in you earlier when that fire
was burning. You knew exactly how to control that crowd. The shy man I see
before me now was not who you were then.”
“That’s different. In my job I know exactly what to do and
say. It’s different with women.”
“Yet you’re speaking to me just fine.”
“That’s because I know who your family is and that they’ll
hand me my ass on a platter if I act on any of the thoughts I’ve been having
about you.”
She laughed and relaxed back in her seat. “Then show that
side to another woman. Be the man you are inside the uniform when you’re out of
uniform. Trust me, a smart woman will be honored to be on your arm.”
“I’ll try.”
“No, Rhett. Do.”
He flashed her a rueful grin. “Right. I will.”
Satisfied that the message was received, she jerked in her
seat with a gasp. “Oh, my phone.” She withdrew her cellphone from her skirt
pocket and looked at
“Please, call me Amaryllis.”
They arrived at his squad car where he opened the passenger
door. “All right. That’s an unusual name too. Very pretty. Like you.”
She offered him a warm smile as she sat upon the seat. He
closed the door and came around to slide behind the wheel. As he started the car
and began the journey to Brett’s house, she turned in her seat to give the
officer her full attention. From the corner of his eye, his gaze slipped down
to the generous amount of cleavage she sported. His hands tightened on the
wheel before he snapped his focus back to the windshield and swallowed hard.
Never let it be said that she was opposed to using any means
necessary to obtain what she wanted.
“So, Rhett,” she began, “what happened back there? Who was
that man in that crazy suit?”
“Oh that.” His shoulders relaxed as if talking about a
masked crusader was more preferable than being the object of her attention. “We
all call him the Chameleon, because of the way his suit blends in with the
surroundings. Whenever someone is in need, he appears out of nowhere, saves the
day then disappears just as quick as he arrived.”
“He’s a vigilante?”
“Used to be, but Sheriff Briggs put an end to that right
quick. You could say that he’s more of a good Samaritan.”
“And he’s always in the suit?”
“Yep.”
“And no one knows who he is?”
“That’s right.”
Seriously? How many men were crawling around Cedar who were
six-and-a-half-feet tall with broad shoulders, a tapered waist and a mouth that
begged to be softened with slow kisses? If there was more than one, she’d have
to pack her bags and move out here permanently.
“How come I’ve never heard of this Chameleon? Why hasn’t he
been in the news?”
“The local paper ran a few stories on him, but I guess the
idea is so crazy the bigger papers didn’t pick up on it. Plus folks around here
like the idea that the Chameleon belongs to the people of Cedar and want to
keep it that way. Especially the ladies.”
It was soft, but the bite of jealousy at the end of his
sentence plucked at her awareness. “Popular, is he?”
“If it’s not the Kilsgaard brothers they’re panting after,
then it’s the Chameleon.”
Yes, that would be quite a tough act to follow. “I don’t
know, Rhett. I’m sure some of them think rather dirty thoughts about you too.”
His Adam’s apple bobbed again. “I—I don’t know about that.”
“Why not? You’re a handsome man with a strong jawline and
deep, dark eyes. And women love a man in uniform. But do you know what the
Chameleon has that you could have as well?”
“What?” He might have been playing it cool a moment ago, but
once she dangled the carrot in front of him, his hunger for knowledge blew that
façade to smithereens.
“Confidence. He strode right up to that fire without a
moment’s hesitation. Displays of courage are highly arousing.”
He uttered a shaky laugh and readjusted his grip on the
steering wheel.
“I saw that same confidence in you earlier when that fire
was burning. You knew exactly how to control that crowd. The shy man I see
before me now was not who you were then.”
“That’s different. In my job I know exactly what to do and
say. It’s different with women.”
“Yet you’re speaking to me just fine.”
“That’s because I know who your family is and that they’ll
hand me my ass on a platter if I act on any of the thoughts I’ve been having
about you.”
She laughed and relaxed back in her seat. “Then show that
side to another woman. Be the man you are inside the uniform when you’re out of
uniform. Trust me, a smart woman will be honored to be on your arm.”
“I’ll try.”
“No, Rhett. Do.”
He flashed her a rueful grin. “Right. I will.”
Satisfied that the message was received, she jerked in her
seat with a gasp. “Oh, my phone.” She withdrew her cellphone from her skirt
pocket and looked at
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