Christmastime Courtship. Marie Ferrarella

      “That’s what ‘lead the way’ usually means,” he answered shortly.

      “I know that,” she acknowledged. “It’s just that I realize I’m asking you to go above and beyond the call of duty.”

      And yet here you are asking me, he thought, irritated. Colin was beginning to think that the woman could just go on talking indefinitely. He, on the other hand, wanted to get this over with as soon as possible.

      “Just get in your car and drive, Miranda,” he instructed gruffly.

      Her mouth quirked in another smile that made him think of the first ray of sunshine coming out after a storm. “You remembered.”

      “Yeah,” Colin said shortly. He wasn’t about to tell her that, like it or not—and he didn’t—this fleeting contact with her had already left a definite imprint on his brain. “Well?” he prodded, when she continued standing there. “I don’t have all day.”

      “Right.”

      The next moment she was hurrying back to her vehicle. Getting in, she started up the engine mindful of the fact that she had to be careful to observe all the rules. She had no doubt that if she exceeded the speed limit—and there seemed to be a different one posted on each long block—the officer behind her wouldn’t hesitate to give her a ticket this time.

      He’d probably see it as a reward for humoring her, Miranda thought.

      But it didn’t matter. She’d gotten him to agree, however grudgingly, to try to find Lily’s mother, and that was all that did matter.

      The shelter wasn’t far away. Parking near the entrance, she got out of her car and stood beside it, waiting for the officer to pull into the parking lot.

      When he did, he found a spot several rows away from her.

      She watched him stride toward her. The dark-haired officer was at least six-one, maybe a little taller, and moved like one of those strong, silent heroes straight out of the Old West. She sincerely hoped that he would turn out to be Lily’s hero.