Snippet Saturday ~ Secondary Characters

Welcome to another Snippet Saturday! Today's theme is secondary characters! I'm sharing a scene from my book Protecting Phoebe today. Check it out and then blog hop over to the other blogs!

A Chances Are story.

Phoebe's work at Second Chances, a women's shelter, has gone a long way toward her own healing after surviving an abusive relationship in college. She's moved on in every sense—except when it comes to dating.

Everything changes when Craig visits the shelter. The hot, young cop sets her pulse racing in a way that makes her consider making a move—and moving him into her bed for a casual fling. The first step: ask him out. Subtly, of course.

Craig has been attracted to Phoebe for months, so he's more than happy for the chance to get to know her better, in bed and out. His interest goes way beyond casual, but convincing her to think long term is going to take some time.

When it becomes clear her violent ex has come out of the woodwork, though, time is the one thing they don't have…

Available in ebook or print with the Chances Are anthology.

EXCERPT

"You're late." Gabby greeted her the minute she walked in the door of Second Chances, the women's shelter where they worked. Gabby's smile faded as they walked back to their office. "What's wrong? You look awful."

"Nothing's wrong," Phoebe muttered and strode briskly to her desk. Jeez, could her friend really read her that well?

"Bull and shit. Something is totally wrong." Gabby followed her, folding her arms across her chest. "Seriously, Phoebe, you're like beyond pale and you're already the whitest chick I know."

The urge to confess what had happened this morning flirted with the tip of her tongue. But Gabby didn't need that kind of emotional dump. Not with everything in her own life going so right at the moment.

Gabby had been all aglow for weeks now. Ever since she'd fallen in love with her old roommate and moved back in with him. Phoebe made sure to check everyday to see if a ring had popped up on her friend's finger.

"Tell me." Gabby sat down on the edge of her desk. "I'm not budging—or sharing the box of chocolate Justin gave me this morning—until you tell me what the heck is going on."

Phoebe shoved a hand through her black curls and bit back a groan. Gabby knew her weakness for chocolate, but even for the promise of Ghirardelli's, she couldn't talk about this morning.

"Okay, since you're obviously clamming up like a virgin on prom night, I'm going to take a wild guess."

Phoebe looked up, waiting for her to continue. Apparently Gabby had been holding off until they made eye contact. Her expression gentled and she sighed.

"Did you see him?"

Phoebe drew in a sharp breath, surprised again at Gabby's perceptiveness.

"Shit." Gabby shook her head, her expression switching from sympathy to fury. "That settles it. There's an officer in the other room right now. He's taking Jenny's—the new girl who checked into the shelter last night—statement. Once he's done, you need to talk to him."

Phoebe glanced out the window of her office, trying to see between the cracks in the blinds in the other room. There was an officer here? Was it him?

Her stomach flipped and she scowled, cursing herself for having such a ridiculous juvenile reaction to the thought of the officer who sent her pulsing pounding every time he showed up.

"Why bother? It's not like he can do anything," she said quietly after a moment. "I don't have a restraining order against Rick. I never filed any charges against him in the past, so there's no record of abuse."

Gabby drummed her nails on the desk, nibbling her lip. "Okay, well, has Rick approached you? What's going on?"

"Nothing yet. I don't even know if it's him," Phoebe confessed. "I could just be paranoid—" yeah right "—it could be absolutely nothing."

"One too many coincidences. I think we both know that." Gabby shook her head. "I'm worried about you, Phoebe. And Delanie is worried about you too. Before she moved up to Washington, she made me promise I'd keep an eye on you. And I have to say, this has stalker written all over it."

A light tap on the door had them both glancing up.

Phoebe's throat went dry and warmth spread through parts of her body that had been cold with fear for the last hour.

It was him. Officer Craig Redmond.

His presence filled the doorframe. He was probably just under six feet, but broad-shouldered and built. His hair was short, with closely cropped black curls. His skin a soft mocha, with expressive, coffee-brown eyes that were now focused intently on her. He had great eyes.

God in heaven, the man was sexy. She swallowed hard and averted her gaze. And young. The officer was probably just barely out of college.

"Good morning, ladies." His voice, deep and smooth, sent a shiver down her spine. "I just finished taking Ms. Leman's statement." He paused. "Thought I'd check in and make sure there've been no problems lately?"

Phoebe could feel his gaze heavy on her—as she could every other time he'd come to the office when the police were called—and her breath hitched. With dismay, she felt her nipples tighten under his close scrutiny.

She cleared her throat. "Things are pretty quiet lately—"

"Actually, Phoebe could probably use some advice from you," Gabby interrupted. "That is, if you have a moment."

Phoebe's eyes rounded and her mouth gaped. She lowered her gaze to the desk and inwardly cursed. Gabby had not just said that.

"Is that so?" The officer's tone warmed. "Something I can help you with, Ms. Jeffries?"

"Actually, she's a Miss," Gabby went on perkily. "She's not married. She's single and very much available—"

"Gabby!" Phoebe sputtered and lifted her head to glare at her friend.

"Right. You know? I'm going to put on a pot of coffee and give you two a moment to chat." Gabby grinned and slid off the Phoebe's desk. She paused in the doorway, her whisper anything but, "Ask her about the ex-boyfriend."

Craig Redmond stepped into the office and a moment later the door swung shut.

Phoebe's pulse quickened and she ran her tongue over her lips. The sudden silence in the room emphasized by the heavy ticking of the clock on the wall.

"So I'm supposed to ask about your ex-boyfriend?" he finally said softly.

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