Lori Foster - A Very Merry Christmas

To Sandra Bourland:
Because you and your husband are heroes
to our country.

Because you give so generously of your time.
And because you make really awesome images for me to use.

Osbourne Decker had no sooner pulled his truck into the frozen, snow-covered parking lot to start his night shift than his pager went off. Typical SWAT team biza barricade with three subjects holding two hostages. Hed grabbed his gear, run into the station to change so he could respond directly to the scene, and from that point on, the night had been nonstop. Being SWAT meant when the pager went off, so did the team.

After a lot of hours in the blustery cold that stretched his patience thin, they resolved the hostage situation without a single casualty. And just in time for his shift to end. He couldnt wait to get home and grab some sleep.

Hed just changed back into his jeans, T-shirt, and flannel shirt when Lucius Ryder, a friend and sergeant with the team, strolled up to him. Osbourne saw the way Lucius eyed him, like a lamb for the slaughter, and he wanted to groan.

He fastened his duty firearm in a concealed holster, attached his pager and cell, grabbed his coat, and tried to slip away.

Lucius stopped him. Got a minute, Ozzie?

Shit, shit, shit. He already knew what was coming. Lucius would be on vacation for ten daysthe longest vacation hed ever taken. Hed be back in time for Christmas, but laying low until then, soaking up some private time with his new wife in Gatlinburg. But the wife was concerned about her loony toons twin sister.

And thats where Lucius wanted to involve him.

Actually, Ozzie said, hoping to escape, I was just about to

This wont take long.

Ozzie thought about making a run for it, but Lucius would probably just chase him down, so he gave up. He dropped his duffel bag and propped a shoulder on the wall. Okay. Shoot.

You think Marci is hot?

Ozzie did a double take. Is that a trick question?

No, Im serious.

Serious, and apparently not thinking straight. Marci and Luciuss wife, Bethany, were identical twins. No way in hell would Ozzie comment on her appearance. Hell, if he admitted he thought Marci was beyond hot to the point of scorching, well, thatd be like admitting that Luciuss wife was scorching, and his friend sure as hell wouldnt like that.

If he said no, itd be a direct cut to Bethany.

Shes a replica of your wife, Lucius, all the way down to her toes. Ozzie shook his head. You really want to know what I think of her?

Struck by that observance, Lucius said, No. Hell no. He glared at Ozzie in accusation, then slashed a hand in the air. Forget I asked. I already know youre attracted to her because you went out with her a few times.

No way, Lucius.

Lucius warmed to his subject. I thought you two had something going on for a while there.

No.

You were chasing her pretty hot and heavy

Ozzie forgot discretion. Shes a fruitcake. Totally nuts. Hell, Lucius, she stops to talk to every squirrel in the trees.

She does not. But Lucius didnt look certain.

She even chats with birds. Ozzie nodded his head to convince Lucius of what hed seen. She gives greetings to dogs as if they greet her back.

Shes not that bad, Lucius denied, but without much conviction.

Not that bad? Ive heard her carry on complete conversations with your dog!

Lucius shook his head. Its not like that. Hero doesnt talk back to her. She justShes an animal nut, okay? Shes real empathetic to them, so she likes chatting with them.

No shit. But she doesnt chat the way most of us do. She chats as if she knows exactly what theyre saying, when anyone sane knows that theyre not saying a damn thing.

Lucius paced away, but came right back. Its an endearing trait, thats all.

Because Ozzie loved animals, he might have been inclined to agree. But crazy women turned into insane bitches when things didnt go their way, and hed had enough of that to last him a lifetime. There was nothing more malicious, or more determined on destruction, than a woman who ignored logic. No thanks.

Okay, look, Im not asking you to marry the girl.

Im not marrying anyone! Just the sound of the M word struck terror in Ozzies heart.

Thats what I said, damn it, and keep your voice down.

Ozzie glanced around and saw that the others were watching them, their ears perked with interest. Dicks. Oh, yeah, they all wanted to know more about Marci. None of them would hesitate to go chasing after her. In the three months that theyd all known her, more than one guy on the team had tried to get with her.

Course, none of them had yet discovered her whacky eccentricities. Then again, maybe none of them would mind.

In a more subdued tone, now infused with annoyance, Ozzie said, Any one of them would be thrilled to dowhatever it is you want me to do.

Bullshit. This is my sister-in-law were talking about. Any of them would be working hard to get in her pants.

True. And it pissed Ozzie off big time, but rather than say so, he pointed out the obvious. And you think I wouldnt be?

Luciuss eyes narrowed. Not if you know whats good for you.

Ozzie threw up his hands. Great. Just friggin great. So what the hell am I supposed to do with her, if not enjoy her?

Disgruntled, Lucius growled, You talk about her like shes a pinball machine.

Right. Ozzie rolled his eyes. With a few lights missing.

Lucius drew a deep breath to regain his aplomb.

Ozzie watched him. He really didnt want to get on his buddys bad side. Lucius stood six feet four inches tall, and though he was a good friend with a sense of style that leaned toward raunchy T-shirts, he also took anything that had anything to do with his wife very seriously.

Nice shirt, Ozzie commented, hoping to help Lucius along in his efforts to be calm. The shirt read: Worlds Greatest and beneath that sat a proud-looking rooster.

Forget the shirt. Lucius glanced at his watch. I need to get going. Bethanys waiting for me. So do we have a deal or what?

He had to be kidding.

On an exhalation, Lucius barked, I only want you to keep an eye on her. Thereve been a few strange things happening

Like her talking to turtles or something?

Your sarcasm isnt helping, Lucius warned him. I meant something more threatening. Marci feels like someones been following her. Shes not a woman given to melodrama

Thats a joke, right?

So her concerns also concern me, Lucius finished through gritted teeth. And they concern my wife, who wont be able to enjoy our belated honeymoon unless we both know someone is keeping an eye on Marci. Someone I can trust not to hurt her.