Page 37 of What Alex Wants…He Gets

“Yeah,” I mumbled as I stared one last time at the only weapon at my disposal. As if that would help. Not like I wanted to stab anyone anyways. But desperate times and all that.

I headed for the front, pushing through the swinging door behind Jessie and sure enough, one of NYC’s finest stood in the middle of the dessert bar with his hands on his hips, gun at his side and a cocksure smile on his face.

Wait. What?

What was happening?

I stopped in the middle of the dining room and stared, trying to figure out why this extremely good looking officer of the law was smiling at me like—

He did look a little familiar, but it was hard to tell for sure with his hand resting awfully close to his gun pulling at my attention. Maybe he was a regular here and he’d seen me on one of the rare occasions I stepped out of the kitchen? Is that when he discovered me? My head spun with the options, getting absolutely nowhere.

I forced myself to meet his gaze and found crisp, clear blue eyes staring down at me from probably at least six foot three if I had to guess. Thick, dark hair surrounded his perfectly chiseled face, which would have thrown me off in any situation. But that damned slight smile turning up the corners of his mouth confused me.

Okay enough. Time to face this head on.

“I’m Harper. Can I help you?” I held out my hand in what I hoped was a friendly gesture. And hoped he wouldn’t notice the shaking. Whatever his intentions, I was no way ready for them. Whatever blow he was about to deliver, there was no amount of bracing to protect myself.

“Hi, Harper.” He drew out my name in a cadence I recognized immediately and it went straight to my core. “I’m Jeremy.”

My eyes widened and my heart beat out of control all while the heat of a frantic blush crept along my neck and face.

Oh my God.

Of all the things that could have come out of his mouth…

“I hope you don’t mind me coming by here. I thought we might need to talk.”

Talk? Was he crazy? I shook my head, words escaping me. I couldn’t function properly let alone form sensible words.

Suddenly my skin crawled with fear that everyone was staring at me and somehow they knew exactly what I’d done with Officer Jeremy. I glanced around the small space only to find everyone absorbed in buying or selling various desserts and not paying a lick of attention to anything else.

“Is there somewhere we can talk?” he asked.

“No,” I whispered for no good reason other than the heat of embarrassment crawling across my skin. “I don’t even have a private office here.”

“No problem, how about a walk?” When I hesitated he added, “Surely your boss will allow you to take a break. You look like you need one.” He reached up and brushed what I knew to be pretty dark circles under my eyes. The evidence of my not sleeping was written all over my face.

I sighed at his touch as memories of that night flooded through me again. Rough hands in all the right places of my body. Lips pressed to flesh. My desires at their command. I sighed. How would I ever get those memories tucked back in again?

Might as well get this over with. Then when they were done I could start rebuilding those stupid walls that keep crumbling. “Sure. Let me grab my coat.” I disappeared into the back and bent over the sink for two seconds, trying to slow down my racing heart. This was the last thing I’d expected. For a few brief minutes here and there I’d let an occasional romantic fantasy creep into my mind of Alex coming after me.

Maybe announcing his undying love for me. I laughed, a harsh sound even to my own ears. It sure as hell didn’t get more ridiculous than that, now did it?

I took a few calming breaths and then scooped up my coat from its hook and yelled at Jessie that I’d be back in fifteen. She merely waved at me, her attention too focused on the customer in front of her. I shook my head. That would be good enough. If there was one thing I could say about my place of employment, it was what a success it had become practically overnight.

Every one of us here were overworked, but Zia compensated us well for the hassles.

A perk of being owned by a newly minted celebrity chef.

When Jeremy spied me coming from the back, he turned and headed for the door. I followed, shrugging into my coat all while pretending I didn’t feel my coworkers staring at my back.

February in the city could be pretty unforgiving if you weren’t prepared for it. Thank goodness for a sunny day. I caught up with Jeremy and we walked in silence for about

a half a block.

“So you’re a cop.”

Jeremy laughed. “That’s exactly what everyone says when they find out. They always sound so surprised.”

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