Chance Collision
A Totally Bound Publication
Chance Collision
ISBN #
978-1-78184-929-3
©Copyright C.A. Szarek 2014
Cover Art by Posh Gosh ©Copyright January 2014
Edited by Rebecca Douglas
Totally Bound Publishing
This is a work of fiction. All characters, places and events are from the author’s imagination and should not be confused with fact. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, events or places is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any material form, whether by printing, photocopying, scanning or otherwise without the written permission of the publisher, Totally Bound Publishing.
Applications should be addressed in the first instance, in writing, to Totally Bound Publishing. Unauthorised or restricted acts in relation to this publication may result in civil proceedings and/or criminal prosecution.
The author and illustrator have asserted their respective rights under the Copyright Designs and Patents Acts 1988 (as amended) to be identified as the author of this book and illustrator of the artwork.
Published in 2013 by Totally Bound Publishing,
Newland House, The Point, Weaver Road, Lincoln, LN6 3QN
Warning:
This book contains sexually explicit content which is only suitable for mature readers. This story has a
heat rating
of
Totally Burning
and a
Sexometer
of
2.
This story contains 231 pages, additionally there is also a
free excerpt
at the end of the book containing 11 pages.
Crossing Forces
CHANCE COLLISION
C.A. Szarek
Book two in the Crossing Forces series
Vowing to protect her had nothing to do with feelings.
Detective Pete Crane catches a new shooting case and considers it business as usual. But when the lead witness is the Chief of Police’s fiery assistant, he never anticipated she’d challenge him—personally and professionally. Especially while under his protection.
Little do they know, the shooting she and her grandmother witnessed was anything but random.
Thrown together, their attraction sizzles, even though she’s squarely in the no-fly zone. She makes him break every rule in his little black book.
Nikki Harper has been attracted to Pete since they met two years ago. Witnessing a brutal shooting throws her into a stigma that’s always been her greatest fear—a victim. She has no choice but to accept his protective custody and let him help save her and her beloved grandmother.
Can Pete protect his witness and solve the case, while fighting the intense heat with Nikki?
Dedication
The fact that this book came to fruition amazes me. The further I go to chase my dream, the more surreal it seems!
Thanks to my husband Shane for your support and input on ‘the cop stuff’. Yes, I added a dispatcher just for you!
Thanks again to my former FBI agent friend Holly for mentally walking through crime scenes. Thank you to my detective buddy Matt for answering my incessant emails. The same goes for cops Jason and Mario and all the texts with random questions! Y’all are awesome for all you do, both for a living and sharing your expertise with me.
Thank you to my critique partners, Gina, Michelle, Clover and Jen. You ladies have made my stories stronger.
Thanks to Susie, too, who plays equal part critique partner and cheerleader! You’re a fantastic writer and a valuable friend.
Amee, thank you for being my muse and my sounding board, and for holding my hand when I most certainly needed it.
To my two Jo’s: Y’all are AWESOME, from Canada to Texas! Love you guys!
To Alanna, Toni, Kerry and Michelle: Thanks for always being there for me. Love you guys!
Trademarks Acknowledgement
The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of the following wordmarks mentioned in this work of fiction:
iPhone: Apple, Inc
Styrofoam: The Dow Chemical Company
Chevy Impala/Chevy Tahoe:
General Motors Company
Hummer/H2: General Motors Company
Wheel of Fortune
: CBS Television Distribution
Beretta: Fabbrica D’ Armi Pietro Beretta S.p.A.
Coke: The Coca-Cola Company
Stetson: John B. Stetson Company
Starbucks: Starbucks Corporation
Ford/Crown Vic/Taurus: Ford Motor Company
Dodge Challenger/Dodge Charger: Chrysler Group LLC
Texas Chainsaw Massacre
: Bryanston Pictures
Pleasantville
: New Line Cinema
New York Yankees: Yankee Global Enterprises LLC/Major League Baseball
Rangers: Major League Baseball
Teflon: E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
SIG: SIG Sauer Inc
Magnum Ruger: Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc.
Glock: Glock Ges.m.b.H.
Tilt-A-Whirl: Larson International
Barbie: Mattel, Inc.
2004 Nissan: Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.
Word: Microsoft Corporation
BMW: Bayerische Motoren Werke AG
CVS: CVS Caremark Corporation
Silverado: Chevrolet, General Motors Company
(Everything I Do) I Do It For You
: Bryan Adams, Michael Kamen and Robert John ‘Mutt’ Lange
Lego: The Lego Group
Chapter One
The paper aeroplane sailed down the long hallway, heading towards Chief’s office. Pete cringed as the click of high heels registered at the same time as the feminine yelp.
Ethan dashed around the corner, and Pete hurried to follow.
“Hey, squirt, slow down,” Pete called, but his partner’s son was already out of sight.
Nikki, his boss’s administrative assistant, bent down towards the little boy. Ethan’s copper curls were several shades lighter than the young woman’s, but Nikki’s hair was as natural as the kid’s. Usually neatly coiffed at the back of her neck, today her locks were loose and flowing.
Appealing.
“What do you have there?” she was asking Ethan when he reached them.
“I’m sorry,” Pete said. As she straightened, Nikki had a smile on her face.
Thank God
. “Didn’t realise I’d get that kinda air.”
Ethan retrieved the paper creation and slid a small hand into one of Pete’s, looking up at both of them.
“It’s no problem, just startled me. Not like a paper plane collision can do much damage.” She smiled at the little boy, then met Pete’s eyes.
“Yeah, except for maybe a paper cut?” Pete shrugged.
Nikki’s smile slid into a grin and he got swept into the deep pools of her big brown eyes. She shoved her hair over a shoulder and Pete swallowed hard. The soft, wavy sea of red begged for a touch. A light floral scent tickled his nose with her pleasant perfume. It made her more intriguing.
Gorgeous.
How had he never noticed before?
“Somehow I think I’ll live.” She laughed. The sound was sweet and he found himself grinning back. Like a besotted idiot.
“Unca’ Pete. Did you see? It went faaaaaaar,” Ethan piped up, tugging on his hand and jumping up and down. He veered the plane back and forth with his free hand.
“I did, squirt.”
Ethan grinned, his blue eyes wide and bright. “What’s your name?” the four-year-old asked Nikki.
Her white billowy skirt moved as she bent down and offered her hand. The fabric stopped at her knees. Damn, she had killer legs.
Pete averted his gaze from her asset-hugging lilac top and the cleavage peeking out as she moved to the child’s level.
“I’m Nikki. Ethan, you’re getting big! I know your mommy. Andi’s my friend.”
“And my daddy is Cole!” Ethan tugged his hand out of Pete’s and shook Nikki’s outstretched one.
A smile played at Pete’s lips as he watched them.
“I know him, too. We all work together.”
Ethan eyed her up and down. “Where’s your gun?”
“Oh. I work for Chief Martin. I don’t have a gun. I’m not a detective like your parents and Detective Crane,” Nikki explained.
“C’mere, squirt,” Pete said, hauling his partner’s son onto a hip. “Hungry?” His shoulder didn’t even twitch.
Good.
Never could tell when his year-old bullet wound would bother him. How much of
that
was in his head?
“Yeah,” Ethan said, nodding.
“How’d you get little guy duty?” Nikki asked, brown eyes dancing. As she squared her shoulders, her lilac top hugged her breasts more.
Pete’s stomach fluttered. He must be hungrier than he thought. He was too old for her, even if he didn’t consider her off limits. Unlike his partner, he didn’t date—or marry—at work. “Andi went into labour this morning.”
“Ah, I hadn’t heard.”
Shifting his feet, he met her gaze. “Yeah, and Cole’s with her, of course. Bella, his normal babysitter, is a camp counsellor for the rest of this summer down south in Livingston, and Andi’s mom is on her way. She moved to Ohio a few years ago when she remarried. Cole’s sister’s even coming in from Seattle later today. But for now, I’m it. I don’t mind, really. Me and Ethan are cool.”
Nikki’s eyes widened as she took in all the info he’d thrown at her.
Babbling? Really?
Come to think of it, that soliloquy was probably the most he’d ever said to her. He cleared his throat.
“My cousins are coming,” Ethan announced.
“That’s nice,” Nikki said, an easy smile back in place.
Pete had never noticed the dimple in her chin before. He tried not to stare.
“My mama’s having a baby,” his partner’s son continued.
Nikki ruffled Ethan’s hair. “You’re gonna be a big brother?”
Pete chuckled as the little boy nodded. He looked at Nikki’s slender hands. She’d been close enough to touch his face. What would that feel like? Her skin against his—
Jesus, what is wrong with you?
Lusting after a kid. What was she, twenty-five?