She laughed. “How can you say that?” She was anything but fine, and things were definitely not all right.
He stared past her, his gaze searching the interior. “Anyone else inside?”
“Just Oliver.”
“Who? Oh. Rinda’s cat.”
“Yeah, he nearly gave me a heart attack. Considering my state of mind, I’m afraid that’s not very hard to do these days.”
Carter gave her shoulders a squeeze before letting go. “Let’s lock up and get you home. Safe.”
“Sounds good.” In truth, it sounded like heaven. In her mind’s eye she saw herself with a glass of wine as she soaked in the hot tub, her fears and tension dissipating in the warm water and mist that would rise into the cold air. The trouble was, she saw Carter in the Jacuzzi with her…ridiculous. Before her fantasy got out of hand, she shut off the lights and the theater was suddenly dark as death.
She stepped over the threshold and into the frigid night. Again she had trouble with her key; then, finally, the tricky dead bolt slid into place.
Carter tested the doors and they held. “Let’s go.”
“How did you know I was inside?” They walked, bodies close, breaths misting and mingling in the air, to the parking lot where Carter’s Blazer was parked next to her Jeep.
“Turnquist called,” Carter said. “He explained what was happening and that he wasn’t comfortable with you being out alone at night, so he called and asked if someone could check on you.” Carter’s eyes found hers. “I volunteered.”
Her heart fluttered stupidly. “Sense of duty?”
He lifted a dark eyebrow. “I was on my way home anyway.”
She felt a little jab of disappointment, and she told herself she was the worst kind of fool. What had she hoped? That Carter had eagerly come to her rescue out of some need to see her? Because he cared about her? Get real, Jenna.
Carter was saying, “Turnquist was right to phone. You shouldn’t be out alone. I’d feel a lot better if you had someone with you all the time, preferably Turnquist. But anyone is better than no one. I don’t like the idea of you being by yourself, not until we nail this guy.”
“I think I was pretty safe tonight. Oliver didn’t really attack me.”
“This time. I don’t know how much you can trust that cat,” he deadpanned, and she chuckled, relieved. They reached her SUV and he touched her on the arm. “Seriously. Be careful. I wouldn’t want anything to happen to you. Especially on my watch.” Again, he squeezed her and it felt good to have his strength surround her. “You know, it wouldn’t be too good for my reelection campaign if I lost the county’s most famous citizen.”
So he did have a sense of humor, she thought, and for a split second the ice and frost covering the ground seemed less threatening. “I wouldn’t want to tarnish your stellar reputation,” she teased, and felt herself blush. Like a schoolgirl! What was wrong with her?
“Now, that’s the attitude I like.”
She turned toward him and, for just a second, in the cool blue glow of the street lamp, thought he might kiss her. The intensity in his gaze said he wanted to fold her into his arms and kiss the breath from her lungs. She sensed that spark of electricity in the air, the sizzle of seduction, and trembled inside. He stuffed his hands into his pockets as if he suddenly couldn’t trust them. He cleared his throat. “Seriously,” he said, his voice a little deeper, “take care of yourself.”
Tears sprang unbidden to the back of her eyes. “I try to.”
“Try as hard as you can.” The barest of smiles from the tall man. “And I will, too.”
She felt as if she was breaking inside. Tenderness from this taciturn lawman? “Thanks,” she said, a trifle breathlessly. “I will.” Then, impulsively, before she could second-guess herself, she stood on her tiptoes and brushed her lips across the beard shadow on his cheek. “Thanks, Sheriff. I don’t think I’ve ever been more glad to see anyone in my life as I was tonight to find you on the other side of that door.” She hitched her chin toward the theater’s covered porch. “You take care, too.” Pausing, before climbing inside her Jeep, she cocked her head to one side as if evaluating him and felt the cold of winter brush her face. “I’m sure you don’t want to hear this, but beneath that tough-as-old-leather facade lurks a damned nice guy.”
“Not so nice.” Again, his eyes darkened with desire.
“Oh, I think so.” She caught a glint of white teeth beneath his thick moustache.
“Well, don’t let it get around. It would ruin my reputation.”
Pressing a gloved finger to her lips, she assured him, “Your secret’s safe with me.”
“Good. Now, go home before we both freeze. I’ll follow you.”
“You don’t have to—”
“Of course I do.” The speck of lightheartedness of the past few minutes fled into the frozen night, but there was still that sensation of want in the air, the ache of newfound desire existing between them, as flakes of snow whirled and fell to the ground. Her throat dry, Jenna climbed into her truck and tried to ignore the wayward beating of her heart. This is crazy, Jenna. Nuts! You don’t have time for any kind of fantasies or infatuation. And with Carter? Oh, my God, get real. Scrabbling in her purse, she found her key ring and jabbed the Jeep’s key into the ignition. Her hands were quaking in her gloves. Get hold of yourself, she admonished, then jumped when he tapped against the driver’s window, his face pressed to the chilled glass.