The Christmas Princess Read Online Free PDF Page A

Rufus, who was curled up on the floor. After today, she’d take less excitement, thank you.
    A place to stay for her and Rufus, the routine of a steady job, and she’d be happy.
    Only much later did she realize she’d fallen asleep without shedding a single tear for the end of her engagement.

CHAPTER FOUR
----
     
    “Pierce. All hell’s breaking loose over there,” Kenton said.
    He woke instantly. Had the close-up view in focus almost as fast. But it was dark. And there was a lot of movement. He thought the thinner form was April. But the other, that had to be a guy. A big guy.
    He and Kenton couldn’t get there, not fast enough. Damn. The hell with the operation if it prevented her from being hurt—
    He grabbed his phone as he switched to night vision.
    He put the phone down without connecting.
    * * *
    Five hours later, April sat on the cushions once more in place on Mandy’s sofa, waiting for the clock to reach eight-thirty a.m. so she could call Leslie or Great-Grandma Beatrice without their thinking it was an emergency.
    Taken from one angle, last night’s scene was really rather funny.
    Clearly, Mandy had forgotten about her guest. She and the guy drunkenly fumbled their amorous way through the dark — shedding clothes along the way, judging by evidence later visible — and fell onto the couch, April, and Rufus.
    Rufus barked, Mandy screamed, the guy cursed, April desperately tried to corral Rufus to stifle the noise.
    Too late.
    The guy — April never had gotten his name — was still pulling on clothes when Roger, the building manager, rapped on the door.
    “I know you’re in there, April Gareaux. I heard your voice in all that ruckus. And I know what you have in there with you. One of those mangy, mutts you were forever sneaking in here. You know they’re not allowed. You can pretend you’re not there all you want — I’m calling the board. You know what they said last time — you know!”
    Yes, she knew. Though, even if she’d known the man was terrified of dogs, there wasn’t much she could have done differently.
    She’d only brought that Chihuahua-mix she’d had out for a walk up to her apartment for a moment because she’d forgotten her sunscreen. But of course it was the precise moment Roger came out of a door, and started squeaking and squealing like a squeaky toy.
    No wonder the dog thought he was playing, and happily jumped at him.
    “And now he’ll be on
my
case,” Mandy had grumbled before she went into her bedroom and slammed the door.
    Roger’s threat became reality with an authoritative knock at quarter past seven this morning.
    The board president wasn’t cruel — he didn’t allow Roger to come in — but he was firm. The dog had to go. Immediately.
    Mandy, clearly hung over, said that was fine with her.
    So she’d have to call Leslie or Great-Grandma Beatrice after all.
    Her fingers slid into her pocket.
    Unless she tried the one remaining possibility of dealing with this.
    A princess for the month of December …
    * * *
    “Pierce.” Sharon’s voice came through his cell. “She’s called the main number at State asking if you work here.” Sharon didn’t have to say who
she
was.
    Smart move, April Gareaux.
Any scam artist could have official-looking cards printed and get a crony to answer a phone. Going through the main number avoided that.
    “Get the call sent to you, Sharon, and confirm. Set up a meet. Her office. One hour.”
    * * *
    April watched Hunter Pierce cross the grassy area, approaching a gate that would let him inside this fenced-in area for dogs. His face showed nothing except a slight flush from the cold.
    At least he wasn’t impervious to nature.
    When she’d called State this morning, she’d been put through to Sharon Johnson, who confirmed that, yes, she was Special Agent Hunter Pierce’s supervisor. And, yes, she knew he had spoken with April yesterday about a certain assignment during the holidays.
    Sharon had excused herself a moment, then