Officer Off Limits Read Online Free

through the hospital room door, he felt Jack’s gaze burning into the side of his head. He pasted a casual expression onto his face and turned. “You didn’t mention your daughter was coming to New York.”
    “Don’t even think about it, Danny.”
    Damn. “Boss?”
    Jack pointed toward the hallway, a look on his face that clearly said, you’re not fooling anyone, buddy . “Whatever you’re thinking, forget it. She is in no place right now to field your advances.”
    “Why is that?” Daniel asked. Jack gave him a black look and he backpedaled. “Not that I’m interested in…advancing on her. Obviously. I’m just curious about the second part. Is something wrong?”
    Jack sighed heavily. “The trip was…spontaneous. The asshole doctor she was planning on marrying in two weeks’ time broke off their engagement last night.”
    Daniel’s heart pounded furiously in his chest, drowning out the beeping machines. She’d been engaged up until last night. Her distant expression when he came upon her in the hallway crept into his mind. Now he knew why that particular look had bothered him so much. Heartbreak. “Son of a bitch.”
    Jack shrugged his broad shoulders. “Fisher wasn’t right for her. Some distance from the situation will do her a world of good.”
    “Distance. Right.” Daniel drifted from the conversation, wrestling with the image of Story and this Fisher . A man who’d apparently hurt her enough to send her flying across the country. The notion didn’t sit well with him. When Jack cleared his throat, he snapped out of his dark thoughts, only to find his mentor watching him closely. Too closely.
    When Jack finally spoke, Daniel could practically hear an ax whistling toward his neck. “I’ve never addressed your fucked-up track record with women, because hell, mine isn’t all that sparkly either. This is different. She is my daughter and she’s vulnerable after her breakup. I won’t have you taking advantage of her. She came here to heal, not to be your latest conquest. Hands . Off . My daughter .”
    Daniel rubbed the back of his neck. Apparently his mentor didn’t think very highly of him. For good reason. His history with women happened to be abysmal, to put it mildly. No father in his right mind would want him anywhere near his daughter. He quickly made a joke to dispel the twinge in his chest. “Great to see the heart attack did nothing to dull your good humor.”
    “This isn’t a laughing matter.” Jack made an impatient noise. “I hate being stuck in this hospital bed the first time she’s ever come to visit me. I can’t do a damn thing for her. Would you mind giving her a ride to my place?”
    Daniel gave his head a quick shake. “Whoa. Wait. You just said—”
    “What? You can’t drive her home without physically accosting her?”
    “I’ll drive her home,” Daniel assured Jack quickly before he got too upset and set off the heart monitors. He’d have a lovely time explaining that to Story. “You can relax. She’s safe with me.”
    “Good. I’m counting on it.” Jack lowered his voice when footsteps sounded once more in the hallway, moving toward the room. “She’s in a strange city and I need someone to look out for her. I suppose you’re my only option. But remember what I said. Keep it zipped.”
    Story walked back into the room then and Jack brightened. “There she is. The girl of the hour.” She glanced over at Daniel with a small smile. From behind Story’s back, Jack slashed his index finger across his throat.
    What the hell had he gotten himself into?

Chapter Four
    Story and Daniel didn’t speak after trading stilted good-byes with Jack. On the elevator ride to the hospital lobby, the tension lay palpable between them. Story collected her two pieces of luggage from the pay locker, shrugging when Daniel insisted on carrying them for her. He’d parked his black department vehicle directly outside the entrance so they didn’t have far to walk.
    After