AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Such a tiny girl to be so diplomatic!” Abby said, picking the puppy up to cuddle her. She sniffed and frowned. “Since when do you wear Nina Ricci cologne?” she asked after a minute.
“The trooper,” he replied. “She was wearing it.”
“What trooper?” Abby asked, trying not to sound jealous.
Cody felt his heart swell. He could see exactly what she was thinking, and it made him warm all over. “I told you about the perp I assisted with. She was almost overpowered by a perp she was trying to get into the back seat of her squad car. I stopped and assisted.”
“I see.”
He pursed his lips. “She had my handcuffs from an arrest I helped her with,” he added, watching Abby carefully. “She dropped them by the office.”
“How nice of her,” Abby replied. She forced herself to smile and act nonchalant.
“That was what I thought.” He studied Abby. “It was the first set of cuffs I ever owned. They’re still the best ones I have.”
“I can see that you might get sentimental about a tool of your trade,” she replied, seething under her calm expression.
He pursed his lips. “You want to know about the trooper, don’t you?” he teased. “She was about five foot five, blond hair, blue eyes and a big, warm smile. Very pretty.”
Abby just glared at him. She couldn’t even come up with words.
He moved closer, step by step, and caught her by the waist to bring her gently to him. “It wouldn’t matter if she was a swimsuit model with a see-through negligee on,” he told her, and he wasn’t smiling. “I don’t look at other women lately, Abby. Just at you.”
Her heart took a great leap and landed inside one of her shoes. “Really?” she asked breathlessly.
“Really.” He bent his head and kissed her, very tenderly, coaxing her arms up and around his neck before he lifted her off the floor by her waist and kissed her with slow, barely contained hunger.
He drew back almost at once. “Work,” he bit off. “Sorry. I have to get back. It’s one of those nights when I wish I had ten extra deputies, just to work traffic. One of my deputies is out sick, so I’m on call, even though I can grab a little sleep in between catastrophes,” he chuckled.
She leaned forward and kissed him, shyly. “Stay warm,” she said. “And watch all around you.” Her worried eyes met his. “You must be very careful.”
He smiled slowly. “I have a good reason to be careful now,” he whispered. He kissed her again, one last time, and put her down. “And so do you,” he pointed out.
She smiled. “That sounds nice.”
He chuckled. “What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?”
“Cooking, mostly.”
“Cooking what?”
She sighed. “Whatever you like,” she teased.
“Chicken and dumplings.”
Her eyebrows arched. “Lucy’s favorite Sunday meal,” she assured him.
“Mine, too.” He studied her. “I wish I could cook it.”
“I can,” she returned. “You can come help us eat it, if you like.”
He grinned. “Okay. What time?”
She told him. “And if you have a wreck to work or something, just text me and we’ll wait until you’re free to serve it.”
He bent and kissed her warmly. “That I’ll do. Thanks for the meal. And the company.”
He put on his hat.
