Page 63 of Playing With Danger

“Coffee here or Jitters?”

Jitters was my second favorite coffee shop after Hot Java.

“Jitters.”

“You got it, baby.”

Without further ado, Valentine was pulling me out of the kitchen into the living room. He nabbed my purse, handed it to me, retraced his steps, and we went into his small laundry room, then out into the garage.

“I like your Rover.”

“So you said,” he returned, holding open the passenger door for me.

My ass hit the tan leather and I looked up at Valentine doing that cool guy thing where they stand in the opening, one hand on the roof the other one on the frame of the door, and stare down.

“Was that your way of asking if you can drive her?” he asked, totally figuring me out.

“No, not if your answer is you never let anyone drive your expensive SUV. Yes, if you’re considering letting me drive.”

My answer garnered the Hot Cop smile I loved.

“I’ve never let anyone drive her. But if you want to take her out, she’s all yours.”

“Why do men refer to their cars as she and her?”

Hot Cop morphed into Sexy Valentine before my very eyes.

“Because men are smart and understand that, much like a woman if you want her to purr then you do everything you can to keep her tuned up and well-oiled.”

With a wink he slammed the door.

I watched him round the hood. I did this smiling with butterflies in my belly. Not from nerves. These butterflies were telling me this was the beginning of something special. Something I’d been searching for but never thought I’d find. No, not something—someone.

If he needed space, I’d give it to him. If he wanted to know me better before he spilled his secrets, I’d wait.

At least that’s what I thought I was supposed to do.

Unfortunately, I was wrong.

I should’ve pushed.

I should’ve asked.

But above all else I shouldn’t have assumed.

My naiveté would prove to be heartbreaking and ugly.

15

I stared at my phone and frowned before I tossed it in my purse.

“Who was it?” Valentine asked.

“My mother.”

Valentine pulled into a guest spot near my building and put the Rover into park.

“Have you talked to her since that day at your apartment?”

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