One Tough Cop Read Online Free PDF

Nicole.
    Goodnight.
    Nicole looked at the read out on her phone and smiled. How long had it been since she’d texted anyone and it made her smile? Too long, and it felt good, she was happy that something felt good for a change. Jules started to fuss again and she looked at the clock. Feeding time.
    She took the baby from the bassinette. “Okay Mr. Jules, let’s get you fed.”
    She kissed his cheeks and inhaled his fresh baby scent before she unbuttoned her shirt and put the baby to her breast. Sleep would be a half an hour later because Jules was hungry and drank from both breasts easily. When he was back to sleep, Nicole climbed into bed and pulled the covers up to her shoulders. She slept with a nightlight on and closed her eyes to the dim room. Jules would be up again in a few hours to nurse. Till then she hoped nightmares wouldn’t plague her and for once she’d be allowed to rest.
    * * * *
    Max stood outside of her door and let out a breath. In one hand he held a bunch of flowers and in the other a bag that held fresh bread. Stop acting like a scared teen , Max chastised himself. But inside he was a mass of nervous jitters. Jesus, when was the last time he’d been out on a date, let alone to a woman’s house? His last girlfriend was dating him and three other guys on the force, and Max wasn’t into sharing. He was jaded about love until he saw Nicole. Now here he was taking a leap with no clue how or where he would land. Finally, he knocked and waited for her to answer the door. She was wearing a pair of blue jeans and a loose pink sweater that looked so soft he wanted to touch it. Her tightly curled hair was pulled up on her head and tied with a blue band. She wore simple studs in her ears and when he looked down at her feet she was wearing Halloween orange socks. Max grinned at the sight she made. It was a beautiful one.
    “Hi Maxwell, come in.” She smiled shyly and his heart ached in his chest.
    He stepped into her apartment and held the flowers out to her. “Hi, these are for you. I didn’t know what you like, so they’re…”
    “Tiger lilies,” she finished for him and plucked the other bag from his hand. “I take it this is the bread?”
    “Pietro’s like you requested. I brought their fudge cookies as well,” Max answered.
    “Oh bless you, I haven’t had one of those in ages,” Nicole exclaimed. “Close the door you’re letting the heat out.”
    Max did as she requested and looked around her apartment. It was nice, warm and inviting with little trinkets that said a woman lived there. His walls were bare and apart from the essentials, he had no decorations. Why would he, there was no one else to see it, he lived alone and was hardly home anyway.
    “Don’t stand at the door like you’re not welcome, sit anywhere you like,” Nicole invited. She walked over to the kitchen that was separated from the living by a simple bar with stools on one side for eating. Close by a table was set and on the other side of the room sat a desktop computer. Max assumed that was her work space and she made the small space versatile and still roomy.
    “Where’s the baby?” Max asked. His stomach growled from the mouth-watering smells coming from the kitchenette.
    “In the bassinette next to the sofa,” she answered from the kitchen.
    Max looked into the blue portable crib and saw the baby was wide-awake and looking up at him. Even for two weeks old he’d filled out and was cute as ever.
    “If he’s up you can hold him before he starts to fuss,” Nicole said. “It would help so I can finish dinner.”
    “I should wash my hands,” Max said. The last time he’d held Jules, he’d liked it and had less apprehension at doing it again.
    “There’s a half bathroom in the hallway,” Nicole said.
    He went to wash his hands and noted that while her wall had pictures of cityscapes and nature scenes, there were none of family and friends. Max wondered if she was like him, raised in the system until it