Page 23 of Mine to Hold
“Everyone in my family is a bit of bleeding heart that way.” He chuckled. “My dad and my brother Seth often do lawyer shit for free. Of course, there are all the cops in the family. We have the firefighter and two private dicks, although one of them is a full-time mechanic who often gives out free oil changes to people who can’t pay, which is no way to run a business.”
“I’ll have to remember that, since I’m due for that and a tire rotation.”
“I’ll make sure Miles gives you the friends and family deal.”
She glanced at her watch. “Oh, shit. I’ve got to get going. I can’t be late for work.”
“I’ll walk you to your car.”
“Emmerson, you don’t have to do that. You’re dead-dog-tired and need to go to the station. Sit. Relax. Close your eyes.”
“If I do that, I’ll be asleep in seconds.” He pushed from the chair.
“I need to get my bag.”
“I’ll wait.”
“Of course you will.” She scurried off into the pool house with her heart in her throat. Everything about Emmerson had thrown her off-kilter. He was everything she fantasized a man should be, and in the same breath, he was everything she avoided. There had been times she thought enough time had passed. But Tony was a grudge holder. He’d never forget she’d been the one to betray him.
Grabbing her purse, she raced back out the door, tugging it to make sure it locked. She’d hidden the bag of money, but that didn’t mean it couldn’t be found. “Okay. Ready.”
“I can come by and bring you to the station for your statement after your shift, if you’d like.” He pressed his hand on the small of her back, guiding her across the pool deck.
The closer she got to her vehicle, the closer his hand got to her hip. It wasn’t a blatant sexual move, but he wasn’t simply being a gentleman either. Especially when he turned her, resting both hands on her waist.
Her arms clung at her sides awkwardly. She was used to being in control of all her dating situations. She decided who and when and this should be no different. The problem was she couldn’t deny she wanted Emmerson. But she also struggled to separate the sex from the emotion. Something that hadn’t happened since George and she swore she’d never let it happen again.
“I wouldn’t want to put you out.”
“You’re not,” he said. “I wish I was the one taking it, but my mother thinks it’s best if someone else does it.”
She narrowed her stare. “Why?”
“You’re an interesting complication.” He tilted her chin with his thumb and forefinger. “Tell me this isn’t a good idea. Or that you’re not interested. Or even if you are, give me a reason I shouldn’t kiss you. Otherwise, in about five seconds or less, I’m going for it.”
She stared into his liquid gold eyes while she searched for the words. Any words.
But none came.
Next thing she knew, she parted her lips and blinked her eyes closed as his sweet lips landed on hers in one of the most electrifying kisses she’d ever tasted. It was one of those first kisses that you knew you would always remember every single second of. The way his mouth molded perfectly against hers, as if she were the shore and he were the ocean.
The way his tongue eased between her lips, swirling around hers in a new, but almost familiar dance.
She didn’t want the kiss to end, but for her sanity, she needed it to. Fisting his shirt, she took a step back, breaking off what would go down as the kiss to end all kisses. “I really need to go. I was going to walk to work, but now I’m going to have to?—”
“I’ll drive you.” He laced his fingers between hers and tugged.
“No. That’s not necessary. Seriously, you need to rest and I get the feeling you’re the kind of man who puts everyone else’s needs above your own.”
“It’s the nature of my job.” He chuckled. “But it will be easier if I drive you. That way we won’t have two cars when I pick you up for your statement.”
She stopped dead in her tracks, staring at his police car. “You expect me to get in that thing?”
“My personal car is at the station. I have a motorcycle, but it’s at Miles’ shop. I pick it up next week.”
“Do I have to get in the back? Because that would be way too weird for me and I’d prefer to drive myself if that’s the case.”
He burst out laughing.
