AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“There, done,” I said after all the wires were set. We tested the alarm, and she clapped her hands when it worked. Her pink lips puckered before she gave me a wide smile, and I focused on that—on her lovely, beautiful smile. It was easier to resist taking the rest of her in if I focused on her mouth.
“Thanks! I can finally cross this off the list. Let’s have dinner.”
She led me to the living room, and I walked a few feet behind her, watching that perfect, round ass swing on every step. The skin of her thighs was lighter the further up it went, as if she hadn’t exposed it to the sun.
We ate at the low coffee table, sitting on the floor. Paige was fidgeting, clearly trying to find a sitting position that wouldn’t be indecent. She tucked her legs under herself and flashed half her ass. Then she stretched her legs out, which... wasn’t exactly indecent, but I had a hard time concentrating on my curry.
“Did you find a handyman?” I asked. She’d mentioned it during cocktails.
“Yes, he’s coming next week to do an initial check and tell me what it will all cost.” She looked around wistfully. “I’ll miss this place. I spent a lot of afternoons here as a kid, came here straight after school. My grandma and I were close.”
“When did she pass away?”
“Last spring. I think that’s when I first knew I didn’t want to be in Paris anymore. I was missing a lot of birthdays and stuff, but not being here for my family when this happened, that hurt. It took me almost a day and a half to come here, and everyone was... well....”
I reached over the table and stroked her hand. Her eyes widened, but she didn’t pull her hand away. I wanted to comfort her any way I could. She had a beautiful soul, and clearly she was still beating herself up over the fact that she hadn’t been here.
“Tell me about your job. Have you always worked at nonprofits?” I asked, in an effort to distract her. It worked. Her expression lit up.
“Yes. My friend Luna got me into it. She volunteered to run a study group for kids from underprivileged backgrounds in college, and roped me into it. Then we both interned at Three Emeralds. One thing led to another. She works at a bank now, but I stayed there. I like it. I feel like I’m making a difference. Why did you become a detective?”
“Same reason as you, I suppose. Making a difference.” I liked that we had that in common. “I studied criminal justice and law enforcement in college, then enrolled in the police academy.”
I had surprised everyone with my decision, especially because as a rebellious teenager, I’d had some encounters with the police. Once they busted me when I’d tried to climb the Hollywood sign. It had been a stupid dare, but I’d been all about stupid dares back in those days. The cop had seen right through me. I wasn’t just a kid out on a prank. I was feeling lost after my parents’ accident, angry that the culprit hadn’t been caught.
He’d brought me to the station with him. At first I’d thought I was going to spend a night behind bars, but then he told me that if I agreed to shadow him for a week, he wouldn’t press charges. I didn’t have time for that. I had to be home every day after school to watch Lori, Jace, and Hailey. Val and Landon were counting on me. I did a lot of shit, but I hadn’t let my family down... yet. But the cop left me no choice. After one week of witnessing him bring in vandals and criminals, I wasn’t so hot on the idea of stupid dares anymore. In retrospect, I realized that had probably been his intention. But I had gotten a taste of what it meant to be on the force, and I’d liked it. So much, in fact, that after college, I’d decided to join it. Catching criminals had made me feel useful.
We spoke about each other’s jobs while we finished our curry. I’d forgotten all about her short dress until we got up to carry the empty takeout containers and glasses to the kitchen. Apparently, so did she, because she pushed herself off the ground with her back to me, and as the skirt flew up, I had a view of half her ass, since her panties barely covered anything. Fucking hell.
My dick twitched. I groaned, turning away. Paige was desperately trying to cover herself.
“Paige,” I said slowly, “no matter how much you tug at it, that dress won’t cover much.”
She stopped fidgeting. “I wore a suit to work today, and this was the only thing I could change into.”
I gave her a cheeky smile. “Works for me.”
“Can you at least pretend not to be enjoying it so much?”
“Why? Is it too flattering for you?”
She blushed.
“You sure you didn’t choose that dress on purpose? To torment me?” I continued.
“Did you do something for which you’d deserve tormenting?” She tossed me a sassy glance over her shoulder on the way to the kitchen.
“Maybe.” I’d had dirty thoughts. I still did.
What I’d do to this woman, right here in this kitchen.... I’d bury my face between her legs until she cried out my name.
“You’re flattering yourself now. Maybe detectives aren’t my type,” she teased as she threw the cartons in the bin. I placed the glasses on the counter, then swept my gaze around the kitchen... and stilled. There was a bouquet of roses on her windowsill. They even had a card. I walked closer until I could read what it said.
I had a lot of fun today. I’d love to take you to dinner.
Christian Lackeroy
General Manager
