The Lawman's Christmas Wish by Linda Goodnight Page A

because her children were going to put up a tree. And Mr. Cranky was going to help. He might even like it.
    â€œAmy?”
    Amy yanked her focus to the voice coming through the phone. “Yes. This is Amy. Who is this?”
    â€œEthan.”
    â€œOh, hi, Ethan. How are you?”
    Reed, who had started out of the living room, pivoted to glare in her direction. She cocked her head to one side and raised an eyebrow. He narrowed his dark eyes, watching her like a cougar watches a deer. Feeling ornery, Amy made the angled shape of a tree with an index finger and pointed toward the window.
    Reed shook his head. “No.”
    She made a face at him. They were getting a tree.
    â€œSorry, Ethan,” she said, holding Reed’s stubborn stare with one of her own. “What were you saying?”
    â€œHeard you moved out to Reed Truscott’s ranch.” Ethan’s tone was casual, but she detected a note of disapproval.
    â€œUntil after Christmas.”
    â€œWhy? Is something wrong?”
    She told him about the threat. He hissed through his teeth.
    â€œI don’t like the sound of that.”
    â€œMe, either. That’s why I’m here.”
    â€œNo other reason?”
    The question caught Amy off guard. Her gaze faltered, falling away from Reed’s ruggedly handsome face. She turned her back, suddenly uncomfortable, though she couldn’t pinpoint the reason.
    She moved toward the fireplace, its heat rising up like warm fingers to caress her skin. She could feel Reed standing behind her, but he hadn’t moved.
    This evening they’d read together and his arm had pressedagainst hers, his breath warm, his woodsy outdoor scent filling her nostrils. But a Christmas tree had been too much to ask.
    â€œReed is the police chief. Protecting threatened citizens is his duty.”
    A truth that chaffed like a week in wet boots. She didn’t want him to feel responsible, she wanted… Amy wasn’t sure what she wanted, but it certainly wasn’t duty.
    â€œOkay.” Ethan didn’t sound as if he quite believed her.
    Was he jealous of Reed? It had been so long since any man had showed her that kind of authentic personal attention, she was flustered.
    â€œThe pageant is coming together,” she said, more for something to say than anything else.
    â€œYou’re safe with me, Amy.”
    â€œI know that.”
    â€œThen let me take you out Saturday.”
    Amy’s pulse jumped. “Take me out? Out where?”
    â€œWherever you say. We could have dinner at Martelli’s or we could take a snowmobile up the mountain.”
    She hadn’t done that in a while. Once, she’d guided tours alongside Ben and the other guides, but since the children had come along, she’d kept to the office to be near them. “I haven’t been snowmobiling in a long time.”
    â€œLet’s go then. Will two o’clock Saturday afternoon be all right?”
    Did she really want to do this? With him? “I don’t know. Let me check and get back to you, okay?”
    â€œCheck? With who? Reed Truscott?”
    The question rankled. “My schedule.”
    By now she was out of the mood to say yes. Besides, Ethan worked for her part-time. Mixing business with pleasure might not be a good idea.
    But she and Ben had.
    Annoyed with her indecision, she turned to find Reed stillstanding in the doorway, staring at her. She waved him away, but he didn’t budge.
    â€œHang up,” he mouthed.
    Amy glared at him, incredulous, and whispered, “Go away.”
    Ethan’s shocked voice responded, “What?”
    â€œNothing. Never mind. Ethan, I need to go. I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
    â€œCheck your schedule then, and we’ll talk at practice in a couple of days.”
    â€œRight. Sure. See you.” With relief, Amy clicked the end button. “What was so important that you had to interrupt a personal