Read Online Marrying Mike...Again by Alicia Scott - Free Book Online Page A

independent ex-wife would allow him to hold her instead. But Sandra had never needed much. And he had discovered the hard way that the worse things got, the better she became at pushing him away.
    Mike followed her to the car.
    “Helluva first day,” he remarked finally, and wasn’t surprised when Sandy said nothing at all.
     
    It took fifteen minutes to get from the central station to the shooting scene, and Sandy needed every second to pull herself together. The sick feeling in her stomach had started with the first news of shots being fired. It had grown with the information that officers were down. It had turned positively leaden when she considered that investigating Vee’s case had most certainly brought Mike and Koontz into the east side.
    The world had tilted on her. She’d had a crazy image of Mike and Koontz pinned down behind an unmarked police car. She’d seen her ex-husband’s big, strong body covered in blood, Koontz screaming that it was all her fault, she didn’t have enough experience for the job. Now look at what she’d done.
    Then the sudden, jarring news that it was not Mike and Rusty, but two patrol officers answering a routine burglary call. The relief that had hit her had been out of proportion for what one should feel for her ex-husband, and that had left her secretly ashamed. She was Alexandria’s chief of police. All officers were her responsibility, not just Detective Mike Rawlins.
    And yet…
    Mike was Mike. Warm, grinning, barrel-chested, exasperating, sexy, arrogant, maddening Mike. She’d been married to the man, she’d spent a year worrying about him night after night like a good cop’s wife. She’d been nervous every time she kissed him goodbye and secretly triumphant every time he returned home.
    Old habits died hard. Or was there more to it than that?
    She risked a glance at him. His dark eyes were intent on the road, his square features set but calm. He had the siren going on the dashboard, and was weaving in and out of traffic at eighty miles per hour. But his broad hands were fluid on the steering wheel, his hard-muscled shoulders relaxed. Driving fast and hard to assist fellow officers, Big Mike Rawlins was in his element. He was in control.
    And abruptly the tension dissolved in the pit of Sandra’s stomach. Her fists slowly unclenched, her breathing came more easily. She watched Mike, strong and adept at the wheel, and she was comforted.
    He would get them to the east side. He would guide her through her first crime scene in his smooth, easygoing way. He would take care of her, while taking great pains not to appear as if he was taking care of her, because that was his style. He let people be themselves, a trait she personally had never been able to master.
    Funny how long it had been since she’d thought of that and how much she’d admired that about him. After a lifetime in a driven corporate culture, Mike had been the first man she’d ever met who didn’t go around trying to force the world to fit his vision. He didn’t demand, overpower or overwhelm. He simply enjoyed the ride, and in doing so, made you feel good about yourself. You could always depend on Mike.
    She’d waited for him tonight. The minute she’d heard the news, some part of her had known he would come to check on her, so she’d waited. In all honesty, Sandra was afraid. She’d never been to a shooting before. She wasn’t sure how she’d handle it and didn’t really want to face it alone. She’d definitely been grateful when Mike appeared. Very, very grateful.
    Sandra turned away from him. She didn’t want to think these things about her ex-husband. The day had already been long; this night would be longer, and all of the eyes of the city were upon her. She needed to be strong now. She needed to be tough.
    She needed to remember that she was not the woman who loved Mike Rawlins.
    She was the woman who had realized they were killing each other with that love, and had left him instead.
    Mike