Claiming Sarah (Ace Security #5)(20)

Smiling to herself, Sarah closed her front door and danced a little jig right there in the foyer of her house. Evidence was showing that maybe, just maybe, Cole Johnson liked her. Eek!





Chapter Five

At twelve fifty-three, Sarah pulled into a parking space in the lot near Ace Security in downtown Castle Rock. She was cutting it close for the one o’clock appointment Cole had set up for her, but her visit to the Adoption Exchange had run long because there were several kids, after her group chat, who wanted to talk privately about her experience of being adopted by a gay couple.

She was happy to talk about the pros and cons and share her experiences. The children at the Adoption Exchange were mostly older—five and up—and they were well aware that with every year that passed, the likelihood of them being adopted shrank. Sarah knew there were a lot of gay and lesbian couples who would love to have children, and she wanted to do whatever it took to help facilitate the process.

She climbed out of her Galant and clicked the button on her key fob to lock it, then turned to rush through the lot toward Ace Security.

“Ooof!”

The sound came out involuntarily as she slammed into a hard body. Her head came up in alarm, and she tried to take a step backward at the same time. Her legs got tangled, and she teetered for a second before she started to go down.

Cole’s strong arm wrapped around her waist as quick as lightning, catching her before she fell on her ass on the ground.

“Cole!” she exclaimed, grabbing on to his arm with one hand. “You startled me.”

“You weren’t paying attention,” he admonished. “I thought we talked about this in our lesson. You have to be aware of your surroundings at all times. It’s important, angel. It could be a matter of life or death. If I were that dickchomper, he’d have you in his grip before you even knew what was happening.”

Sarah blushed. He was right. She’d been lost in her head, wondering if she looked okay, if Cole would like her outfit. What he’d thought about the file she’d sent him, and if the Anderson brothers would think she was overreacting just like the cops did.

“You’re right,” she said softly. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” Cole told her, his voice gentling. “Learn from your mistake.”

She nodded. “What are you doing out here?” she asked, wrinkling her brow.

“I’ve been watching for you. I saw you pass by the gym and came out to meet you.”

“Oh . . . thank you.”

Cole’s gaze traveled from her face down her body, then back up. “You look nice,” he observed.

“Thanks,” Sarah whispered. It wasn’t often that she wasn’t wearing scrubs or sweatpants, but she told herself that since she’d gone to the Adoption Exchange, and because she wanted to make a good impression on Cole’s friends, she’d dressed to impress.

She wore a V-necked, black blouse that showed a hint of cleavage, but not enough to be indecent, a knee-length gray skirt, and a pair of two-inch heels. She’d paid particular attention to her shoulder-length hair, doing her best to make it look soft and flowy instead of simply throwing it up in a ponytail or bun like she usually did. She’d even put on a bit of makeup and jewelry. It was silly—she never dressed up like this, but in the back of her mind, she knew she hadn’t done it because of her presentation or because she was trying to convince the men from Ace Security to help look into Owen.

She’d done it solely for Cole.

She wanted him to see her in something other than the messy scrubs she always wore to work. Wanted him to see her as more than the woman who’d come to him for help with whatever Owen was. He wasn’t exactly a stalker, as she didn’t think he was following her around at all times. He was more of an unwanted admirer who gave her the creeps.

Owen aside, Sarah wanted Cole to see her as a competent woman.

And with the way his eyes widened when he took her in, it looked like she’d succeeded.

“No, not nice,” Cole corrected. “Beautiful.”

“Let’s not get crazy,” Sarah said a little self-consciously. She wanted to impress Cole, but she knew that she wasn’t anywhere near beautiful.

He didn’t say anything in response to her remark, simply shook his head in exasperation. “What’s that?” he asked instead, nodding to the plastic bag she was holding in the hand that wasn’t holding on to him.

“Oh!” Sarah had forgotten all about the gift waiting for her on her front steps.

Grimly, she held it out to Cole. She hadn’t thought her actions through, though, because he had to let go of her in order to take the bag. She watched as he peered into it.

He frowned and looked back up at her. “From Owen?” he asked.

Sarah simply nodded.

Without a word, Cole wrapped his arm back around her waist and turned her toward the sidewalk. “Come on. Logan and the others are waiting for us.”

Hmm. She’d thought she’d get more of a response over Owen’s gift, but she didn’t say anything because Cole was walking fast, and she was having trouble keeping up. She did her best, even as she was taking two steps to his one. It wasn’t until she stumbled a bit that Cole realized he was practically carrying her and slowed down.

“Shit, I’m sorry, angel. Next time, tell me I’m going too fast.”