Page 2 (1/2)

g…gonna find out who’s naughty or nice”

He chuckled Christ, ten years ago, Penelope had been a ed since he’d last seen her Hethe paperwork that cao, he couldn’t take his eyes off her He’d been as enthralled with her when she was a teenager The night he’d given her that hot kiss, she’d worn tiny shorts and her exposed belly had been his entire focus Even now, in her tight sweater and black leggings, she stirred things inside him that hadn’t been stirred in a while

The trouble with s a cop, was Darryl knew everyone, and they knew that he and his ex-wife, Natalie, had divorced six o Natalie had left town before the ink of the divorce papers had dried, and every well-et over” his grief

Now, Penelope had turned up, and he wondered if fate were giving him a chance to revisit his past Unfortunately, it appeared that Penelope was in the habit of skirting the law A law that Darryl had spent the past eight years enforcing He’d put in his due and worked the night shifts since River Rock PD hired hi the next fewproiven Darryl the heads-up to bring his A game for the next while

A proo when Larry Michaels retired The day Natalie had signed the divorce papers and left hi friends with a bottle of whisky He’d alsohole in town, Kinky Spurs The next day, the promotion went to another cop

That couldn’t happen again

Penelope sang another few lines, turning in a tight circle, and Darryl honestly doubted he could handle the likes of a grown-up Penelope Carter

“Santa Claus—” Penelope screae of the fountain

Darryl lurched forhen she began to fall She landed with a yelp in his arht?” he asked, ignoring the way her long, chocolate-colored hair felt daainst his hand

Their gazes held for a beat Then, she burst out laughing A full-on belly laugh One that Darryl never thought he’d ever experienced in his life

“It’s you,” she finally said when she stopped laughing

“It’sfroar and vanilla, pure temptation

“It’s you,” she repeated, snuggling her face into hied there “Has anyone ever told you that you’re war teddy bear?”

“I’ only a sweater” He slowly placed her down, ensuring she was steady When he let her go, he unzipped his coat and slid it over her shoulders “And you are very drunk”

She giggled, her eyes bright “I know I think it was the forth” She held up her finger and hiccupped “Nope, the fifth shot that diddeep breath then grinning at him “Seriously, you still smell so damn yummy How is that even possible?”