<p><strong style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)"><em>The last thing I need is another person to protect. But for her, I might make an exception...</em></strong></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">Hiring the sunny marketer, the one with boundless enthusiasm, wasn't my idea.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">My dad insisted on hiring Charlotte. Her mission? To market our fledgling Christmas tree farm. My mission?</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">Figure out why she's triggering all my cop instincts.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">Something is telling me to keep a close eye on her-especially when she takes up temporary residence on the farm. And I'm sure it has nothing to do with how she looks in an elf costume.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">Well, I'm pretty sure, anyway.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">The point is, I have too many responsibilities to even think about romance, no matter how much she's making me wish I could.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">But protecting people is what I do. So, when whatever-or whoever-she's running from catches up to her, I know I can keep her safe.</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">&nbsp;</span></p><p><span style="background-color: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0)">What remains to be seen is if I'll be able to protect myself (and my heart) when it's time to let her go...</span></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p>