My eyes glanced to the other car where Tyler fumed as an unwilling passenger. The other officer entered the vehicle and it took off down the street.
“Ma’am?” His voice brought me back.
“Sorry. I don’t know what I ever saw in that creep.” I shivered, and wrapped my arms around myself.
He frowned. “You’re gonna get pneumonia out here.”
I sighed. “Come on in, I’ll make a pot of coffee.” I opened the door wider to grant him easier access. He followed me inside, and I gestured him into the kitchen.
“Please, have a seat. I’ll be right back.” But then I sneezed. Gooseflesh covered my arms and I shivered with cold.
“Ma’am, I’m a patient man. Why don’t you go get fully dry and dressed in something warm? I’ll wait.” His warm hazel eyes gave me a look of compassion, and it caught me completely off guard.
“I… wow, that’s really sweet of you. I just need a few minutes. I’ll be right back.” I turned and quickly hastened down the hall. No, I didn’t know this man from Adam, but there was something about his professional authority that put me at ease.
I raced into my bedroom, grabbed the first pair of panties in the drawer, a bra, jeans and a sweatshirt. Figuring he’d wait, I made the decision to take a quick hot shower–after all, I was freezing. I took the fastest shower known to man, then toweled off and dressed in record time. I combed the knots out of my hair, then headed towards the kitchen.
The heavenly scent of dark roast coffee hit my nose, followed by the soft gurgle of the percolator.
No. Was he really that perfect? My jaw dropped. The officer stood in front of me offering me a mug of steaming hot coffee. I mean, it wasn’t completely weird. I had a coffee tin and a few mugs sitting out next to my coffee pot. But it was the fact that he had taken it upon himself to be kind and compassionate. That was something I had really never experienced.
“I hope you don’t mind. But I figured this would save time.”
I wordlessly took the mug from him, still staring at him wide a wide-eyed expression.
“Thank you, sir.” I managed to murmur.
“I’m Michael.” For the first time that evening, his cheeks reddened a little. “I mean, it’s Officer Rossi. But, you can call me Michael. Or Mike.” He cleared his throat.
I offered him a warm smile. “Amanda Everett. Nice to formally meet you, Mike. Thank you again for letting me get warmed up and for making coffee. That was really sweet of you.”
Mike’s hazel eyes studied me. “I’m sorry your shitty night got worse.”
“It wasn’t all bad.” I took a sip of coffee and looked up at him from under my lashes. “The five minutes we spent together were the… highlight of my evening.”
He smiled, but then pulled out his notepad.
“Alright, I hate to have to do this to you. But I need you to give me a summary of what happened here. What did he say to you? Were you threatened?”
I frowned, my warm feelings dissipated. I sat down at the kitchen table beside him, my hands clutching my coffee mug for support. I sighed, and told him everything.
Mike sat quietly, writing down my every word.