Branded by Cindy Stark Page B

activities were ever discovered. 
Leaking confidential police information was not something his buddy did
lightly.  But Sam, along with the rest of them, had had an incident in his life
where the police had been bound by certain restrictions and had failed to
provide justice.  At that point, they’d realized it was more important that
justice be served, and if they had to cross legal lines to keep things fair, they’d
do it.
    In the end, families were protected, and the
guilty paid their dues.  That’s what everyone wanted, and that had become the
cause that joined the five of them together.
    He doubted there was anything that could
jeopardize that bond.

Chapter Eight
     
    For whatever reason, Nicole took extra care
getting ready the next morning.  Maybe it was for Xander.  Maybe it was because
she had possible jail time in her future, and she’d begun to appreciate every
freedom she had.  She’d been tempted to hide behind a ball cap and sunglasses,
but it was still overcast outside, and damn it, she was innocent.  Having
Xander by her side would give her the strength to face the public.
    She donned her super soft, grass green sweater and
jeans, opting for her heeled boots over more comfortable shoes because they
made her legs look longer.  She spritzed on her favorite perfume and glanced in
the mirror.  Her bangs had grown much too long.  She slid a finger across her
brow, pushing them to the side, but they quickly slipped back into her eyes.  She
groaned, wishing she wouldn’t have postponed her hair appointment.  Who knew
how her stylist would greet her now that she’d achieved infamy?  She snipped at
them with a pair of scissors, making them seem more manageable.
    The buzzer at her front door rang, and she ran to
answer the call button, Stormy chasing at her feet.  “Hello?”
    “Nicole?”  Xander’s deep voice came through her
small box, giving her a thrill.  Stormy whined, either recognizing Xander’s
voice or sensing Nicole’s excitement.
    “Hi Xander.  I’ll be right down.”
    She shrugged into her leather coat, and Stormy
raced for the door, more than ready to leave.  “I’m sorry, baby.  You can’t
come today.”  She headed into the kitchen and grabbed two dog biscuits from the
container on the counter.  Stormy knew the routine.  If Nicole went for the
biscuits instead of her leash, she did not get to go.  Her pup sat next to the
front door, doing an excellent job of guilting her with her big brown eyes.
    Nicole tossed the treats to the side, and Stormy
quickly abandoned her guilt trip in favor of the biscuits.  “I’ll be back soon.”
    When she arrived downstairs, she found Xander
waiting outside the main entrance.  She took a quick moment to appreciate him
before he noticed her.  Tall, dark hair, the perfect gentleman.  He wore his
leather jacket again, and although he looked pretty damned attractive, she kind
of missed the trench coat and tie.  At first glance, he seemed to be a prince. 
Only time would tell.  All she knew was right now, he was the only bright spot
in her future.  She wished she could feel confident that she would have a
future.
    She pushed open the door, catching his attention.
    His eyes flashed with appreciation as he gave her
the once over, leaving her cheeks and insides heated.  “Good morning.” 
    “Hi.”  She tried to temper her attraction and
protect herself, but her heart pushed right through that barrier and sent a
smile straight to her lips.
    He held out a hand, and she took it.  He pulled
her close, wrapping her in his embrace.  The scent of his earthy cologne surrounded
her, tickling her senses.  “You smell wonderful.”  His deep voice vibrated
against her ear, giving her chills.
    “I was going to say the same thing.”
    He placed a quick kiss on her lips before
releasing her.  “Let’s get going.  We have a puppy to find.”
    Nicole directed him to the pet shop.  She did feel
a twinge of fear that someone