Then again… Nope. No. Hell to the no. I wasnotgoing to think about what Zach could or couldn’t do with his hands bound because I was never going to see him again after this. He would remain exactly where he belonged—in my dreams.
The person bending down to peer in the back wasn’t the same cop, however. This guy was older, in his forties, wearing an expertly tailored suit. His badge hung off a chain around his neck. A detective’s badge. His blond hair and beard were neatly trimmed. Bright green eyes sparkled under his lashes, but they weren’t looking at me. He was glaring at Zach… and he wasn’t pleased that Zach’s hands were in front of him instead of behind. “How did I know you’d be involved, Zach Rowland?”
Ah, at least I now had a last name for the man who’d just made me come my brains out.
“Admit it, Nick. You just wanted to see my pretty face.”
I rotated to stare at Zach. “You two know each other?”
He shrugged. “Eli, this is Detective Nicholas Porter. I guess with your crazy schedules, you two haven’t gotten the chance to meet. He lives in the Grove too.”
I sighed in relief, and my body melted into the seat. “So you can get us out of here?”
Nick smiled and revealed a small set of keys in his palm. “You two shouldn’t be in this car in the first place. Sit forward for me.” I did, and he fumbled in the darkness to unlock the cuffs. “This isn’t the first time I’ve had to deal with an overzealous rookie—this one, in particular. I hope my apology is sufficient enough to dissuade you from suing the city.”
He disappeared, rounding the back of the cruiser to uncuff Zach. I rubbed my sore wrists and stretched my muscles. You’d never think sitting in the back of a car could be so uncomfortable. Then again, I guess these cars weren’t designed with criminals’ comfort in mind.
“Thanks, Nick,” Zach said, shaking out his fingers.
“No problem. Anita asked if you were still okay to watch Penelope tomorrow?”
“Of course I can.”
Another kind smile, then Nick smacked the roof of the car, calling out to us as he walked away. “Stay out of trouble, you two!”
“Penelope?” I asked as Zach walked me to my car. Thankfully, he didn’t offer me a ride on his bike again. With the uncharacteristic decisions I’d been making tonight, I might just have agreed to it.
“His niece,” Zach responded. “His sister, Anita, is a single mom, and with Nick’s demanding job, their schedules don’t always line up. So I watch her.”
Butterflies kicked up in my stomach. “That’s so sweet of you.”
Zach shrugged, leaning against the back door of my car like he belonged there. And when he crossed his arms over his chest, I started to believe that maybe he did…
I couldnotfall for this man.
But the longer I stood there and tried to convince myself of that, the less I believed it.
“Are you sure I can’t give you a ride home?”
My eyes cut to his bike, heat rushing to my face at the memory of what we’d done. Desire built low in my stomach again. Zach took a step closer, enfolding my smaller body in his broad arms.
A breath shuddered out of me, and almost on instinct I opened up for him. His hands settled on my hips, mine on his chest. Neither of us cared that we were filthy and sweaty. And it certainly didn’t stop me from stretching until his lips met mine. The satisfying taste of sin washed over my tongue, swimming with his cherry lip balm and something…sweeterdeep down. Our tongues flirted, and he pulled back.
“That’s not an answer,” he laughed, raising a hand to brush a stray lock of hair behind my ear.
“I’m not getting on your bike, but thank you. I really just want to go home and take a long, hot bath.”
Zach’s eyes darkened. “Can I watch?”
I nudged him backward so I could get in my car, but I gave him a playful smile. “Only if you don’t get caught.”
“Challenge accepted, sweet boy.” He backed away, withdrawing his keys from his pocket. “Don’t be a stranger.”
I watched him walk away, and judging by the slight sway to his hips, he knew it. One long leg swung over the seat of his bike, and he shook out his black waves before placing his helmet on his head. As he fastened the strap, he threw me a wink. He snapped on his gloves and jacket next, lowered hisvisor, then the bike roared to life. I jumped, the loud sound peeling into the night. I couldn’t help but wonder what it would feel like to ride behind him, the motorcycle vibrating my body as I clung to him for dear life.
For what must’ve been the thousandth time that night, I resolved to shake all thoughts of Zach Rowland out of my mind. I wouldn’t see him again. Icouldn’tsee him again.
My most recent heartbreak was still too fresh, and I wasn’t ready to put myself in that position again. Blowing out a breath, I dropped into the driver seat of my car, cranking up the air. I needed to cool my ass down.
