Colton's Christmas Cop. Karen Whiddon

These will be filed with the court in the morning. Those are your copies.”

      Accepting the papers, Hunter nodded. “I’ll make sure the officers working this case get these.”

      “You do that.” Judge Kugen narrowed his eyes. “I sure as hell hope you’ve got an airtight case. People like the Colton family don’t take kindly to being arrested under false accusations.”

      Since he privately agreed, Hunter simply nodded.

      Once the judge had left, the attorney stuck his head out the door. “Are you Hunter Black?”

      “I am.”

      “Ms. Colton would like a word with you,” the guy said.

      Summoned. Just like she thought he still worked for her. Hunter briefly debated declining, but in the end, he headed for the conference room. Call it curiosity or call it compassion, but he truly wanted to hear what Layla Colton had to say.

      When he entered the room, she raised her gaze to his, her long-lashed blue eyes troubled. Her platinum blond hair swung, settling back into place.

      “I’ll leave you two alone,” the attorney said, grabbing his briefcase from the table. “Ms. Colton, do you need anything else from me?”

      “No, I don’t think so,” she said, her normally cool voice sounding a bit shaky. “Thank you, Anthony.”

      With a brusque nod, the lawyer left, closing the door behind him.

      She tucked a strand of her silky hair behind her ear, clearly waiting for Hunter to speak first. Instead, he studied her. Her tailored suit and silk blouse meant she’d most likely been arrested at work. At this hour of the morning? He’d heard she was a workaholic, but still.

      Suffering his perusal in silence, she finally sighed. “Won’t you please sit down?”

      Instead, he jammed his hands in his pockets. “What’s going on, Layla? It’s late and I really need to get home.”

      At his words, her icy composure crumbled. She covered her face with her hands so he wouldn’t see her weep.

      Damn. He seriously went to pieces when a woman cried.

      “Hey, now,” he said, awkwardly patting her shoulder. “It’s going to be okay.”

      “Is it?” When she raised her face, her perfectly applied mascara had run, sending black streaks down her face. She angrily tried to wipe them away and only succeeded in smearing sooty color all over her face. She looked, he thought, like a bedraggled raccoon. He actually liked this Layla better than the icy tycoon.

      Resigned now, he pulled out a chair. “Tell me exactly what’s going on.”

      She did, replaying what she’d been told—basically what Lakely had told him earlier. “I just don’t understand how anyone could honestly believe I’d sexually harass someone like Mark Hatton.” She shuddered. “Or anyone, for that matter. You know me. You worked with me. I took care to keep my conduct businesslike, above reproach.”

      “Yes, you did.” He leaned forward. “But what about the text messages? The photos?”

      Though she blushed, she didn’t look away. “I never sent them. Those two cops who arrested me confiscated my phone or I’d show you. I’m being set up, though I have no idea why.”

      “Someone with a grudge against Colton Energy?” he gently pointed out. After all, it wasn’t like the company didn’t have enemies.

      Again, her expression went from glum to miserable. “I... I don’t know.”

      He wasn’t sure if she was telling the truth or not. But then, he wasn’t surprised. The entire time he’d worked there, everyone had known Colton Energy was Layla’s life. Whether she turned a blind eye or just didn’t know about her father’s shady business deals, he had no idea. Certainly, few in town even suspected the true nature of Fenwick Colton. After all, they’d elected the man their mayor.

      The uncomfortable thought hit him. If she’d lie about this, then who knew what else she’d do? “Layla,” he asked gently. “Did you proposition and then threaten Mark Hatton? I know it can get lonely at the top.”

      She recoiled, her expression aghast. “No. I most certainly did not. I swear to you on the lives of my family that I didn’t send those texts, emails or photos. I’m being set up.”

      Unimpressed, he continued to study her. “Swear to me on your job, on Colton Energy.” In other words, what truly was the most important thing to her.

      Hurt flashed across her face, but she lifted her chin and swore again, exactly how he’d asked.

      He nodded, satisfied. “Now I know you’re telling the truth.”

      “Why did you quit, Hunter?” she asked, surprising him. “You were well regarded and performed your job duties well. And we paid you an excellent salary. Yet you gave notice without even the prospect of another job offer. When we heard you’d signed up for the police academy, we were surprised, to say the least.”

      How to tell someone that the life they’d chosen for herself was one he found abhorrent? Corporate greed and lies, constantly wondering if the things he was asked to do skirted the border of legality...

      “Working in law enforcement had been a longtime dream of mine,” he said. Then, deciding the time had come to change the subject and wrap things up, he checked his watch. “Do you want to call someone, maybe your fiancé, to come and get you?”

      “No. My engagement is currently on hold, like everyone else’s in this town,” she replied. She had a point. With some crazed serial killer going around murdering grooms right before their wedding day, just about every scheduled wedding had been postponed.

      “And to tell you the truth,” she continued, “I’m afraid if Hamlin finds out about these charges, he’ll end the engagement for good.”

      She looked so miserable at the prospect, his heart went out to her.

      “Come on, then,” he said, making an instant decision. “Let me run you home. It’s on my way, so it won’t be any trouble.”

      “What about the news vans?” She pointed toward the front of the police station. “Is there any way we can avoid them?”

      Eyeing her, in her tailored suit and heels, he considered. “We’ll go out the back and take my squad car, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they don’t have someone watching that exit, too. It’d be better if you had a disguise.”

      “I don’t.”

      “I might be able to come up with something,” he replied.

      “Please tell me you’re not planning on raiding the police lost and found.” She shuddered. “No one knows where those things have been.”

      He couldn’t help but laugh. “I wasn’t, but that’s an idea. No, I keep a clean change of clothes here in case I have to spend the night. These uniforms aren’t the most comfortable to sleep in.”

      To his astonishment, she blushed. “Oh. But I don’t think your clothes will fit me. At all.”

      “We’ll figure out a way to make do. Come on, follow me.” He led the way down the hall, toward an area marked Employees Only. They went through the double doors and into a large room filled with lockers. From his locker, he retrieved a flannel shirt, a pair of sweatpants and socks. He’d even stuffed back a pair of old snow boots. “Here.” He handed everything to her. “The bathroom is right there. Put these on.”

      Eyeing the folded bundle dubiously, nevertheless, she did as he asked. When she emerged a few moments later, he felt like he’d just been punched in the stomach. His plaid flannel shirt hung down to her knees. She’d gotten creative and rolled his sweatpants up so they didn’t drag on the floor. She’d gathered the excess waistband to one side and held it in her small hand. And she