Page 1 of Holiday Loss

Chapter

One

December 1st

11:12 P.M.

“Break in in progress at one one four Lennox Road.”

Detective Jessica Spears startled as the dispatcher’s voice echoed through her otherwise quiet car. The address took a moment to register, but once it did, she realized it was her favorite restaurant. Most people in the town’s favorite restaurant.

Eat Dessert First was a family-friendly place with an obvious motto that she’d taken her seven-year-old son to dozens of times. There was also a quieter, more romantic area toward the back where couples often went for dates. Not that she even remembered what going on a date was like it had been so long. Being a single mom and a cop didn't leave much time for anything else.

Since she was only two blocks away from the restaurant, she quickly called in that she would check it out even though she’d already clocked out for the day and was supposed to be heading home to relieve the babysitter.

As much as she couldn’t wait to sneak into her little boy’s room andgive him a goodnight kiss even though she’d missed out on tucking him in, there was no way she wasn't going to follow up on the call. The restaurant was run by a sweet older woman who was adored by everyone in town. While she didn't know Mrs. Grayson personally, she knew the woman had been a struggling single mom before being swept up into a modern-day fairytale when she’d wound up marrying her billionaire boss. Instead of deciding to live the rest of her life in luxury, she’d made her dreams come true and opened up a restaurant that was still going strong two decades later.

Jessica admired the woman for creating such an amazing place that managed to appeal to every single demographic and made it work so that couples wanting a romantic night out didn't feel put off by the family dinners and giggling children. The food was amazing, hitting all the comfort zones, and the desserts were out of this world.

Turning the corner and heading for the restaurant, she took a moment to wonder what she’d ever do if she met a billionaire. Only …

The idea was so preposterous that she couldn’t even come up with an answer.

Where would she meet a billionaire?

At the precinct where she worked?

At the grocery store?

At one of her son’s soccer games?

She didn't even get to go to those as often as she’d like because she was working so many hours just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

Ever since her partner Adam Abram married Jasmine, she’d tried to impose as little as possible to give the family more time together. Both she and Adam had been single parents, his daughter Claire just a year younger than Freddie. While they’d both been single, they’d had a system where they helped each other out, and while she knew that Adam would still be more than happy to keep helping, she felt like she was intruding now that he had a new wife.

Not that she thought Jasmine wouldn't want to help either, the woman was sweet and always happy to babysit, but they were a family now and she wanted them to enjoy that time together without her son hanging around.

Which meant more of her paycheck went on sitters than it ever had in the past.

There was no family to help her out. When her husband had decided that married life was not for him, he’d divorced her and left her to raise their then two-year-old son alone. According to her parents that was her fault. If she’d been a better wife, given up her job, pampered her husband like they believed he deserved then he wouldn't have left.

If the man was so wonderful, why didn't he pay child support?

He’d just left. Left her with a toddler, no support, a house she couldn’t afford, and a struggle that would last at least until her son turned eighteen.

As she pulled up outside the restaurant and thought of all the good times she’d shared there with her little boy, Jessica knew she’d do it all over again, working just as hard, harder even, whatever it took, because those moments with her son made all the exhaustion and stress more than worth it.

There was no sign of anyone at the front door, so she slipped out of her car and headed for the back of the building. Assuming she was going to find some kids thinking the restaurant was an easy target, her hand hovered near her weapon, but she hadn’t pulled it out yet.

First, she’d assess the situation and then decide how to proceed.

Rounding the corner, she immediately spotted the would-be thief.

They were standing by the door, from the looks of things attempting to pick the lock, only they must be doing a pretty poor job of it given they were still out there and had been long enough to be spotted, for it to be called in, and for her to arrive.

Amateur.

Which made her job easier.

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