Ed tossed the pencil in his hand on the desk and sat forward in his chair. “Be careful, Hudson. We don’t need any misconduct accusations or false promises haunting this department.”

“Understood.”

Colin pulled onto Parker’s property with Ed’s words chirping in his head. It was obvious Ed had a steady eye on everything Colin was doing . . . and assuming a hell of a lot. The fact he was underestimating Parker was a testament to the fact he didn’t know the woman. She controlled her world with a tight fist.

As for the misconduct concerns, Colin supposed if it was any one of his men in the same situation he might have the same conversation, so it shouldn’t have come as a surprise that his boss had it with him.

But this was Parker.

If there were going to be any misconduct accusations, it wouldn’t be by her. She’d take care of anyone’s transgressions head-on.

That fact was confirmed within thirty minutes of stepping out of his truck. Apparently Parker had run a trespassing neighbor off her property at gunpoint. At least that’s how Colin heard it.

I hear you’ve been gunslinging. He sent a text to Parker, unsure if she was up at the house or at work.

When she didn’t respond right away, he assumed she was at work and pocketed his phone.

Nearly an hour went by before she replied. Don’t you have better things to do than talk about me at work?

Colin stood at the mouth of the canyon looking over the gaping hole his men had created to collect debris. Why didn’t you tell me?

It just happened yesterday. I haven’t seen you. I was going to talk to you about it on Saturday. Their dinner date over at his place.

When are you coming home?

He glanced at Parker’s reply. Kids Christmas thing tonight at the school.

I’ll call you later. He sent his text and pocketed his phone. He tried to shake off his irritation but realized he’d failed when the men on his crew went out of their way to avoid him.

Parker went straight from the school to the Christmas tree lot where she promised Austin she’d pick out a tree. Most years they picked up something cheap at Home Depot, but Austin insisted the trees at his lot were fresher, and his boss was going to give them a great deal.

Christmas music played through the speakers surrounding the lot, and kids ran in and out of the rows of trees playing tag and getting ramped up on the free candy canes being handed out at the entrance. She saw Austin right away and waved. He was talking with a couple and holding on to a tree while the woman walked around it.

Parker pulled in the fresh scent of pine through her nose and walked around. She hadn’t so much as bought a single Christmas present. She’d baked cookies and set them out for the guys, but that was about it when it came to giving for the season.

When her phone rang and Colin’s name came up, some of her seasonal blues lifted. “Hello.”

“Hey.”

She stopped walking. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah.” His voice said no. “Are you around? I wanted to stop by.”

“I’m at the tree lot. Austin’s going to help me pick out a tree. You don’t sound okay.”

“You’re picking up a Christmas tree?”

Why did he sound surprised? “It’s that time of year. Although these are not really in my budget.”

“How are you getting the tree home?” He sounded miffed.

“On top of my car like everyone else. What’s the matter, Colin?”

She heard his sigh through the phone. “I’m on my way.”

“What? I can—”

“Don’t leave. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”

He hung up.

She looked at her phone as if it had grown horns. What the hell was up with him?

Parker watched Austin from a distance as he helped the couple with the tree, took it over to the guy with the chain saw to give it a fresh cut, then shoved it through the net thingy that cost an extra buck. He then picked up the tree, and walked it out to the parking lot and out of sight. By the time he returned, Colin was at his side and he was tucking something in his pocket.

“Sorry that took so long,” Austin said. “Women can’t make up their minds.”

Colin let out a short laugh.

“Hey!” She tapped his arm as if offended.

“Have you picked anything out?” Colin asked.

“No. I was waiting for Austin.”

Colin looked at Austin as if she’d just confirmed her brother’s words with her statement.

“He told me he knew where the freshest ones were.” She returned Colin’s glare. “Don’t look at me like that.”

Austin started walking away. “They’re over here.”

Colin placed a hand on her back as they walked through the lot.

Austin stopped and made a sweeping motion with his hand. “I put all these out today from this morning’s shipment.”

Parker ran a hand along one of the branches. “These are the Douglas firs. The expensive trees.”

Austin shot a quick look at Colin, then back toward the booth where they collected the money. “I told you, I get a deep discount. I’ll tell them to take it out of my check.”

“Which is more than you make in a day,” Parker argued.

“Just pick one out. I got ya covered. It won’t cost me hardly anything. My boss loves me.”

She tilted her head. “Austin. Don’t lie to me.”

“If he says he has it, he has it,” Colin said.

Her brother stared at her. “I have it.”

Parker let her shoulders relax. “All right.”

Austin looked up, grinned. “I see new customers. Pick any one of these. I’ll be back.” He rubbed his hands together. “They look like big tippers.”

She watched him walk away and glanced at the first tree on her right.

“You were really going to put a tree on the roof of your car?”

Parker wasn’t sure it was an actual question. “That was the plan.”

“Why didn’t you ask me?”

She walked around the tree. The shape was right . . . not too fat, not too skinny. “Ask you what?”

“To help with the tree.”

“And put it on the top of your new Jeep?” How was that different?

“My Jeep is four years old, but I have the truck.”

“I thought you said it was a work truck.” Not that she considered him using it to help with a Christmas tree.

“Parker?”

His tone made her stop examining the tree and look at him. “What?”

Two kids ran by . . . “You can call me. I want you to call me.”

“I didn’t think to.” She turned back to the tree.

He stepped in front of her. “Well, think to.”

His words shifted her thoughts from trees to the man. She was tired and more than a little overrun, but she just figured out what was going on. “You’re mad at me.”

Colin slapped his lips shut, took a deep, audible breath, and blew it out like he was taking down a hundred birthday candles. “Irritated. No, frustrated that you didn’t think to ask for my help.”

“I’m not used to asking for any help.”

Before more could be said, Austin appeared at their side, ear-to-ear smile. “Did you pick one?”