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It seems fate is giving me another chance to do exactly that. Or perhaps it’s not fate at all. Maybe she came here looking for me. The possibility causes me to stand a little taller as she approaches the front desk.
If this was my first-time laying eyes on her, I probably wouldn’t give her a second glance. She’s as beautiful as I remember, but her natural beauty is hidden behind heavy make-up, and there’s an air of vein arrogance about her, head held high and hips moving with swagger.
Luckily, I’d seen the woman behind the mask—hair pulled up into a messy bun, no makeup on, and a pair of blue jeans. I’d seen the vulnerability in her eyes and the insecurity in her movements.
She tells the rookie behind the desk she’s the reporter with the Ruth County Newspaper here to interview someone about the domestic dispute standoff last night, and I’m suddenly glad I was the sucker chosen to stay late to deal with the press.
The poor kid they put up front, who doesn’t have a clue what she’s talking about, is practically stuttering over his words as he looks around for help. With a couple swift, long strides, I step up behind her and clear my throat.
“I believe you’re looking for me.”
She spins in my direction, her perfectly glossed lips parting as her eyes land on me. A sense of pride washes over me. She definitely remembers me. I loosen a laugh with my faded breath.
As quickly as her mask slipped, it’s pulled back into place. Her posture straightens as she lifts her chin, her lips curving back into a crooked yet seductive smile.
“Hello again, Officer Duncan.”
I give her a slight nod. “Ms. Stevens, what a pleasant surprise.”
She tilts her head as her eyes roam over me, her teeth digging into her bottom lip before meeting my eyes again. “Indeed, it is. I’m a lucky girl. I feel like I hit the policeman lottery.”
Her boldness causes me to choke out another sharp laugh, and I wonder if she’s this forward with all men or it’s just me. Something tells me it’s the latter. Yet another thing that would normally be a turn off, but I get the feeling this is all an act.
With a slight shake of my head, I gesture toward the interview room down the hall. “Why don’t you follow me to where we can speak more…privately.”
Her eyebrows lift. “Privacy. I like the sound of that.”
I might buy into her confident flirtatious act if I hadn’t caught the light coloring on her cheeks as she walked past me.
Once we’re in the room, she’s all business, firing off one question after another. More than once, I forget I’m speaking to a reporter, nearly divulging more information than I should. She’s the best reporter I’ve ever come across. Makes me question what she’s doing working for a small county paper.
By the time we finish, I’m even more intrigued by her and desperately want more of her time. I stand as she’s gathering her things, offering her my hand. She eyes it, looking up at me briefly before taking it and coming to her feet. She stands so close to me I can smell her faint floral scent, her hand lingering in mine a little longer than necessary.
She pulls away and adjusts her bag on her shoulder, smoothing her black pencil skirt down her thighs. When her eyes meet mine, she clears her throat. “Well, Officer Duncan, I—”
“Would you like to have dinner with me?” I blurt.
So much for being smooth and charming.
She begins to decline with a shake of her head but stops short, taking in a deep breath before letting out a sigh. “Dinner? When and where?”
“I’m off duty now. I need to run home to change, then I can take you anywhere you want to go.”
“Or…” Her flirtatious smile returns as she closes the small gap between us, trailing a finger down the shirt buttons on my uniform. “We could skip the going out portion of the evening and stay at your place.”
Warning bells sound at her suggestion. I’m not the type of guy who takes a woman to his bed on a first date, and I don’t typically get involved with women who would want or expect as much. I guess you could say I’m the opposite of a playboy. I don’t enjoy the bachelor lifestyle. I’m looking for a relationship that’s more long term.
But there’s something about this woman I feel drawn to. So much so, I spent weeks trying to get another opportunity to spend time with her. This is my chance. I’m not going to turn it down. If that means breaking my own rules, so be it.
* * *
My pulse races as I park my Nissan Frontier outside the house. Lori pulls up behind me in her white Audi RS 7. If her choice in vehicles is any indication of her taste, she’ll be less than impressed by my little fixer upper. It was the wrap-around porch that made me fall in love with this place, but even with all the work I’ve done to my old farmhouse—fresh white paint for the siding, red for the front door, and black shutters—it still has a long way to go.
I get out of the truck, and Lori meets me at the end of the front sidewalk, both of us awkwardly quiet as we make our way to the porch. This is unfamiliar territory for me. I’m not entirely sure how to behave or what to say. Silence seems like the best option. We reach the front door, and she invades my space as I work to unlock it. She’s close enough I can feel her body heat on my back and her breath on my neck. Her hair brushes against my cheek, her floral scent surrounding me as the wind blows.
As soon as we step inside, Lori launches herself at me, her mouth crashing into mine with a need too intense for me to deny her. I’m not sure if she’s melting into me, or it’s my resolve dissolving into a puddle at her feet as her tongue slips into my mouth. I have no intention of sleeping with her tonight, but the way she’s rubbing her body on mine tells me she has other plans.
My hands grip her hips, and I’m saved by the bell. Or bark rather. The unexpected sound startles Lori enough to break the kiss, drawing her attention to my dog standing at our feet.
