A Dozen Deadly Roses Read Online Free PDF

to burden her father with caring for Donnie, but Jade had seen too many sexual abuse reports where a caregiver had violated the trust of the child and parents.  No pervert would get their hands on her son if Jade could help it.
    Afraid to be late for Roll Call again, like a shot, she changed into her uniform and was seated just before Lieutenant Lasko and the sergeants arrived to start Roll Call.
    Mac was sitting in his spot in the front row when she came in.  He nodded to her, but said nothing.  Her stomach rolled in response.  Yesterday she’d felt as though she was on probation all over again.  Mac had watched her every move.  She knew he was just waiting to criticize.  She kept reminding herself he was the one on probation.
    Were the butterflies in her stomach something more?  There was no doubt Mac Stryker looked fantastic on the outside.  His healthy appearance emphasized the fact he was no longer a vulnerable widower grieving over the deaths of his wife and daughter.  A muscular body and take-charge attitude replaced the haggard raw pain that touched her heart years ago.
    Her thoughts were interrupted as Lasko began reading off the car assignments.
    “15A21, Donovan and Stryker.”
    The smirk on Lasko’s face paired with an intense stare were a challenge to Jade to complain about being partnered with Mac again today.
    Screw you, Jade thought, I’ll work with him all month – whether he’s sober or drunk; but you’re not going to get a rise out of me again.
    After roll call she met her partner outside the kit room.  Mac handed her a set of car keys and a camera.  He held the shotgun and Taser.  They both wore bright yellow, waterproof jackets over their uniforms.  His was long, almost like a cowboy’s duster.  Hers was shorter and was equipped with a hood.  Each plastic garment had a cutout that left their pistols exposed and available.
    “You look tired.  Did the storm keep you awake?”  Mac asked.  “Those dark circles under your eyes make you look like you got popped in the face.”
    “Thanks a lot,” she replied.  “Yeah, it must have been the storm that kept me up.”
    There was no way she’d reveal she’d tossed and turned all night in a cycle of nightmares where an intruder broke down the door to her apartment.  Sometimes the invader was Mac, and sometimes the attacker was a faceless beast.  In each vision, Jade was unprepared to defend herself and Donnie.  She’d force herself awake just as the assailant reached for her son.  Shaking off the memory of the frightening thoughts, she got back to the business at hand.
    “We probably won’t have many radio calls because of the rain.  But I hope you have lots of traffic collision report forms.  People in L.A. just don’t know how to drive in the rain.  They looked like bumper cars on my way to work.”
    He smiled at her and nodded.  “I know.  I almost got creamed by some moron in a Mercedes.”
    As they dashed through the raindrops to their patrol car, Mac was glad she seemed more at ease with him today.  The tension between them yesterday had been rough.  He’d thought about it last night and realized she probably felt somewhat threatened.  After all, he had more experience in the field than she had time on the job.  He made the decision to let her do the leading.
    Jade wasn’t the only one who’d had trouble sleeping last night.  Recurring images had haunted him on and off for the past five years.  The dream always started the same way.
    He’d been at a party and had too much to drink.  Jade was there and offered to drive him home.  He was in no shape to drive, so he let her.  When they got to his house, she helped him inside.  Then he started crying over the deaths of Susan and Ashley.
    In the dream, Jade wrapped her arms around him and comforted him.  Before he knew it, he was kissing her.  Unrestrained hunger surged as he deepened the kiss, his hands filtered through her hair. He picked her up and