Shadow Ridge Read Online Free PDF Page B

year.”
    “Wow,” he no dded as he looked over to Miles. Miles could see him sizing him up. “Well he must be nice. You turned down Rick who has what the ladies call a hot body for a guy who needs some work.”
    “Hey,” she nearly growled.
    “I’m just saying. If you turn down the man who has what all the ladies want for this guy then he must strike your fancy.”
    “Rick’s ego is big enough to fill two football stadiums. Who wants that?”
    “About twenty of the ladies working his latest movie set.”
    “Let me rephrase that, what sane, self respecting, self sufficient woman wants that.”
    He laughed. “True.” Greg looked over at Miles. “Treat her right. You hurt her and I’m calling in the boys and we’ll kick your behind back to the south side of Freeport.”
    “He’s not from the south side of Freeport. And he’s a law officer, Greg.”
    Greg shrugged. “I don’t care. Anybody hurts you again and I’m taking care of it. Boss man has been good to me and he thinks of you like a daughter so he’ll put up bail money.”
    She laughed and shook her head. Her boss was two steps above Jeff even though she worked with Jeff quite frequently—so much so that sometimes she had to remind him that she did not answer to him. Miles wasn’t sure he liked this guy at all, but he seemed like he cared about Bethany and good friends were always a plus to have— although it would be nice if he weren’t a man who looked like he spent three hours a day in the gym.
    “Good friends are hard to come by, Bethany.” Miles looked at the taller muscular man before him. He had more muscle and more height so Miles was sure he could try to give him a fight. Although he wouldn’t guarantee that would be enough for him to win it. Being overweight did not mean he was devoid of combat skills. He knew how to take care of himself. And despite his appearance he was in relatively good shape. He didn’t have trouble going on foot to get a criminal…well, he hadn’t had to do that in a while, but he knew if he had to he could do it. “Hold on to them as long as you can.”
    She looked in his eyes and he could see her smile there. Greg shook his hand and gave them a farewell salute before walking away from them.
    “What are you doing for Christmas?”
    She shrugged. “Nothing. We don’t celebrate. I’ve never done anything for it…other than send Carman a present.”
    The sullen look on her face told him she would spend another Christmas mo urning her sister. “Spend it with me.”
    “Really? Doing what exactly?”
    “I have to be on call, but you could stay the night—in a guest room if you’d like, and wake up to Christmas lights, trees and a really good breakfast. I make the world’s best pancakes.”
    “Oh now that’s just ridiculous. You haven’t had every pancake in the world.”
    He laughed. “Are you sure about that?”
    “Positive. But yeah, I’d like that. So what do you do on Christmas morning other than pancakes?”
    “It depends, but sometimes I go down to the main part of town and watch the snowball fights. Sometimes I play with the kids out there and take few hits for the fun of it. Everybody comes out to test out their new toys by the ten o’clock hour so downtown is usually busy. Of course there isn’t any snow this year.”
    “Yet,” she patted his hand. “It’s still early. We have three weeks until Christmas you know, so there’s still time.”
    “Do you want snow?”
    She shrugged. “Not really. I’m a California girl now. I like sun, sand, surf. Snow is not something I’m looking forward to. I like being warm.”
    “I can keep you warm.” He leaned into her and she giggled. “I’ll be your big teddy bear.”
    “I’m going to hold you to that,” she chuckled. “It’s a date. Give me details and I’ll drive down the night before.”
    “Do you have any time off?”
    “The week before I’ll be really busy, but I have a couple days. I’ ll be on call though. I’ll