Read Online Fast and Easy by Betty Womack - Free Book Online Page B

took a deep, steadying breath.
    Time to meet the troops.
    They were like all cops she’d known, rowdy and loud as they greeted each other. Their mood eased her concern, and she walked into the conference room behind Sergeant Rosen.
    “All right, men.” He held his hands up to quiet the group. “We have our new Captain. I don’t want Captain Redstone to think you’re all a bunch of animals.”
    His comment drew a laugh out of the men and then Sergeant Rosen got down to the business at hand. While he read the latest list and information on felons they were to be on the lookout for, Carmen scanned the faces of the patrolmen.
    Some of them were familiar. One face stood out.
    The redhead
.
    Fury stomped her professional attitude to the floor.
    She gripped her anger in a tight hold and smiled when the sergeant gestured for her to take over.
    Her mouth was dry, and her legs were like limp spaghetti, but she managed to brace herself against the small podium.
    “It will take a few days before I put names to faces.” Her gaze shot to the redhead, nonchalantly slathering on a fresh layer of lipstick. “I want you to know from the start, if you have problems, ideas or suggestions for improving how the precinct could operate more efficiently, I’m ready to listen.”
    The redhead glanced around and then grinned. “I’ll show you where Captain Lewiston’s office is.”
    So, the bitch was a wise cracking bimbo too.
    “That’s my office now, and you’ll learn that I’ll rarely be in it.” Carmen leaned forward over the mic. “I’m going to be in a car just like you. I’ll be out in the field to see that procedures are followed.” She almost bit her lip. “Do you have any questions?”
    “Patrolman Stella Wells.” The sergeant’s gruff whisper gave away his irritation.
    Carmen nodded. “Is there anything else, Wells?”
    The redhead’s response was a bored glance in her direction. She’d already pulled out an emery board and filed her nails.
    That was too much for Carmen. “Patrolman Wells.”
    The bitch had the gall to glance around as if she’d heard incorrectly. The smart-assed smile on her face matched her disrespectful mouth. “Were you speaking to me?”
    Hold your temper Carmen
.
    “I’d prefer you filed your claws off duty.”
    Stella stared back at her with cold green eyes. “Yes, sir.”
    “That’s Captain Redstone.” Carmen gripped her jacket in suppressed anger.
    She heard muffled laughter. The men obviously enjoyed the exchange. She hadn’t.
    “That’s all I have for now, men.” Carmen breathed in a reviving breath, glad to turn the meeting back over to Rosen.
    She would have felt much better if she’d been able to step on Wells’ toes a lot more. Hell, there would be time for that later.
    That wouldn’t be enough to blot out the dizzying emotions threatening to ruin her life. Hurt? Damn right. Most of all, she was crushed that the love of her life wasn’t committed to their relationship enough to tell her the whole truth about his life.
    He had a lot of explaining to do. Her heart thudded its pain.
    Then again, did she really want to hear it
?
    * * * *
    Don hurried around his apartment, scooping up dirty clothes and throwing them in the bedroom closet. The dirty dishes that he’d neglected for several days were quickly hidden in the dishwasher.
    He promised himself to keep his place cleaner since he never knew when she would come by. Carmen was coming. His heart beat faster at the thought she’d soon be here, in his arms and in his bed.
    Where were those clean sheets?
    He wasn’t bothered that the sheets didn’t match. He stood back to admire his handy work after getting them on his king-sized bed.
    He hadn’t had a woman in his apartment for a long time. He shook his head, realizing he’d been waiting for Carmen to stop hating him.
    She’d want coffee or maybe some wine. Damn the luck, all his glasses were in the dishwasher. He grabbed two out of the jumble of dishes and was