Page 23 of Man Cuffed
He’s got me there. “Would it help if I didn’t actuallybreakin but more likefellin?” I think he’s a guy who can appreciate details. I’m trying.
He seems to consider this. He scratches his iron jaw. There’s a raspy sound. Suddenly I want to drag my tongue over his jaw and down his neck, rip open his shirt, and…
Why does being around Maguire turn me into a hot mess of hormones? I feel just slightly out of control whenever he’s nearby.
I decide to go back to the Film Noir idea. “Listen, Copper,” I try, pretty convincingly I think. “Don’t lock me in the slammer. Give a dame a chance. Maybe I can do something for you in return. A favor.”
The hokey voice I’m using is going to be really embarrassing if he doesn’t play along, but suddenly he’s all Bogart to my Bacall. “What kind of favor?” he asks smokily.
A sexual favor. I don’t say it aloud, because Maguire is the kind of standup guy who wouldn’t really ask that. But the idea hovers right there in the room, and neither of us is appalled. Suddenly we’re having a sexy staredown. His pretty gray eyes are dilated. Nobody breathes. There’s so much electricity here that you could power a small city with it.
Wow. I know I should say something to break the tension. But I’m not sure I want to. “I could…” I swallow hard. “Feed your cat. Do you have a cat?”
“No,” he whispers, amusement in those cool eyes.
“Wash your car?” Unzip your pants?
“Just did that myself yesterday.”
“Damn.” Nobody blinks. “I could make you a sandwich? Lettuce and mayo only, though. It’s the only thing I have in my fridge.”
He throws back his head and laughs. That finally does it. Now we’re both laughing. “Oh, you are trouble, aren’t you?”
“Maybe.” I wipe my eyes. “But I mean well.”
“Actually, I do need a favor.”
“Really?” I perk up. “Lay it on me.”
His eyes flare at my choice of words. But then they cool again. “You’re going to think it’s weird.”
“I like weird.”
“I sensed that.”
“So try me.” I wait, my curiosity piqued.
He sighs. “I need a date for something. It’s a big ask. But you do owe me for all the chaos you’ve brought into my day. And also for making my colleagues laugh at me that time when you tried to take off my clothes.”
“What? You should be laughing atthem,” I argue. “After all, I didn’t have the slightest impulse to take offtheirclothes. Just yours.”
There’s that flicker again. A spark of lust before it’s quickly concealed.
I lick my lips. “So what is this date?” It comes out a little breathy. No need to be acting now. It’s all natural.
“It’s a wedding I’ve got to attend. And I need a date. Do you think you could convince people we’re a couple?”
I inhale quickly. A date with Hot Cop? And all I have to do isact?“Honey,” I breathe, “if there’s one thing I’m good at, it’s convincing people to believe in things that aren’t real.”
And guess what? It’s always easier to make the audience believe a fairy tale if it’s based on the truth. In this case, it won’t be a stretch to pretend to find him attractive.
Another glance at Maguire confirms that he’d be onboard with that, too.
But I do have a question. “Why do you need me to go to a wedding with you? Why not your girlfriend? Er….fuck friend?”
“Nicole?” he asks. “Nah. She’s a nice girl, and totally down with the casual thing we’ve been having. But our thing has run its course. The wedding isn’t for a few weeks, anyway. Besides, I’m not sure my family would buy me settling down with her.”
“Your...family?” I’d assumed he was trying to impress his cop friends. What’s he trying to prove here? I have so many questions. “Why do you need to convince your family that you’re in a relationship?”
