One Bad Day (One Day) Read Free Page A

up.
    “Getting directions to your house,” he lied.
    “Oh,” she said quietly.
    He glanced over at her as he drove. She sat silent, looking out the window with her arms wrapped around herself. She didn’t look like she could be much trouble. She was petite. Delicate looking. And she was a terrible liar. Her facial expressions said as much.
    He pulled into the parking lot of her apartment complex and parked under a streetlight.
    “Well, thanks,” she said before trying to dart out of the car.
    He grasped her arm and, with a gentle tug, pulled her around to face him. He looked her over. Her wide eyes shimmered in the yellow haze of the lamppost and he noticed for the first time that the bridge of her pert nose was covered with a light dusting of freckles.
    She sure didn’t look like a hooker—at least from the neck up. She was too cute and fresh-faced to be a prostitute.
    Oh, but those glorious legs. He glanced over at her stocking-covered feet and up her torso. Rust-colored splatters on her tiny white skirt caught his attention.
    “Are you hurt anywhere?” he asked, making eye contact again.
    She bit her lip and glanced down. “No.”
    Gray nodded at her skirt. “That looks like blood.”
    “It’s not mine,” she said, jerking her arm from his grasp. She shoved open the door and got out without looking at him.

Chapter Six
    Tessa stood outside the car in the chilly night air and took deep breaths to control the burning behind her eyes. She refused to cry until she was alone in her apartment.
    Talk about a bad day. She was shoeless, tired, cold, and dressed like a stripper with speckles of a strange man’s blood on her slutty skirt. Thank God she was home. All she wanted now was a nice hot shower and her warm, cozy bed.
    She walked up the steps to her apartment and was not surprised that Gray was right alongside her. Whether it was because of chivalry or his ingrained training as a cop, his presence somehow comforted her. His body blocked the cool breeze and when his large hand touched the small of her back, tingles of warmth flooded through her. Standing next to him made her realize how big he really was. She barely came to his shoulder.
    When she drew closer to her doorstep she noticed that her door was open a crack. Lights from inside reflected a sliver of light on the step. The doorframe was dented.
    “Oh shit,” she whispered under her breath. Why would someone break into her place? The most valuable thing she owned was a knock-off Louis Vuitton bag she bought from a guy who’d sold them out of the trunk of his car. Could this day get any worse?
    “Aw, hell.” Gray pulled a gun from the holster under his suit jacket.
    He moved his hand from the small of her back to her hip and tightened his arm around her. Keeping a firm hold, her turned her around, and escorted her back toward his car in hurried strides. Then he opened the door and with a gentle shove, pushed her in. He rushed around to the driver’s side and plopped down, setting his gun on the dashboard.
    After pulling out his phone, he dialed. “Yeah, same to you, asshole.” he said to the person on the other end.
    Tessa turned to look at him. With narrowed eyes, he leaned forward and watched her apartment. For a moment she envisioned him watching her like that. Heat infused her face and she looked away. Get a hold of yourself, Tessa. Someone had broken into her apartment and she was fantasizing about the police officer who was kind enough to help her. She clearly needed to check her priorities.
    “I’ve got a burglary in progress.” He paused a second before barking out a quick “Yeah” then hung up.
    Minutes later another car pulled next to them.
    “Stay here,” he said, picking up his gun. He got out of the car and went over to talk to the men in the other car.
    She closed her eyes and leaned her head back. It was one really bad day.
    A few minutes later she heard the car door open and then close.
    Maybe if she stayed just like