Page 59 of Bachelor Cop Finally Caught? (Hot off the Press! 2)

She knew he was still smarting from his very public breakup with Melanie. She certainly didn’t want to remind him of that unhappy time.

Because of his near obsession with their privacy, they saw each other rarely during the three weeks that followed that first night. Both were busy with work, of course—a perfectly legitimate excuse—but Dan was also concerned about being seen too often at Lindsey’s house or vice versa. He knew too well how closely the neighbors monitored their activities, and how quickly gossip spread from the beauty parlor throughout the rest of the town.

When he did deem it safe for them to be together, he usually came to her house. Sometimes they would talk for a while, usually about work or local events, but it wouldn’t be long before they would fall into each other’s arms. The passion between them had not diminished since that first night. It seemed, instead, to grow stronger each time they were together.

Every time they made love, Lindsey grew more optimistic about their future. Despite Dan’s reticence about expressing his emotions, she couldn’t believe he could make love with her with such intensity unless he felt the same way she did. Could he?

If only she could be patient until he was ready for the next step. She certainly wouldn’t want to scare him off at this point. And yet…she’d had to make the first move last time. She supposed it was possible that she would have to do so again.

If only she could wait until the time was right.

Late in April Dan had to attend a four-day conference in Dallas. Lindsey missed him terribly while he was gone. She’d hoped he would call, but he didn’t. She chided herself for spending those evenings waiting hopefully by the telephone—but she did so, anyway.

Late Saturday afternoon of that week, she attended a wedding. Officer Joe Elrod was finally marrying his longtime girlfriend, Lindsey’s hairdresser, Paula Campbell. Both Dan and Lindsey were invited, of course. She would have liked for them to have gone together—but that was expecting too much of Dan, she supposed. He hadn’t even guaranteed that he would be home from his conference in time to attend. It depended, he said, on whether his flight into Little Rock was on time.

Resigned to going stag, she put on a colorful spring dress and a bright smile, and went to the wedding.

To her disappointment Dan didn’t show for the ceremony. She sat with friends and made a pretense of being enthralled by the festivities. She was quite sure that no one watching her could tell that part of her simply wasn’t there—the part she had given to Dan.

A reception at the Edstown country club followed the ceremony. Lindsey had been there only a few minutes when she was approached by Dan’s sister, Tina.

“That brother of mine.” Tina shook her head in disapproval. “Can you imagine him missing the wedding of one of his own officers? Honestly, I don’t know what to do with that man.”

“He said he would try to make it if he could. I suppose his flight was delayed.”

Tina sighed. “Work always comes first with him.”

“Now, you know that’s not true. If you or Polly was in trouble, he would drop everything to be there for you.”

“Oh, I know,” Tina relented. “I’m just being a bossy older sister, I guess. I wish he had something besides work in his life.” She suddenly brightened. “Maybe he’s met someone in Dallas. Maybe that’s what’s keeping him there.”

Lindsey felt her smile go stiff. It was all she could do to hold on to it.

Polly joined them then, all dimples and excitement. “Hi, Lindsey.”

“Hi, Polly. How are you?”

“Fine, thank you. Wasn’t that a beautiful wedding?”

“It was lovely.” The reception was quite nice, as well. Very low-key and budget conscious, the emphasis was on friends and family gathered to share the newlyweds’ joy. And judging from the beaming expressions on the faces of the bride and groom, it seemed there was quite a bit to celebrate.

“Oh, look. There’s Uncle Dan.”

Polly’s cheery announcement made Lindsey’s heart trip and then beat faster. It seemed like weeks, rather than days, since she’d last seen him. She turned eagerly, smiling when she saw him moving toward them. He looked so handsome in his dark suit.

He gave Lindsey a polite nod, then threw an arm around Polly’s shoulders for an affectionate hug. “How’s my favorite niece?”

She giggled. “You always say that. I’m your only niece.”

“Mmm. But still my favorite.” He turned then to his sister, dropping a light kiss on her cheek. “Hi, sis. You look very nice.”

“Thank you.” And then she was unable to resist adding reproachfully, “I missed seeing you at the wedding.”

“My flight was delayed. I got here as soon as I could.”

Lindsey was beginning to wonder if he’d completely forgotten her presence when he finally turned to her. “Hi, princess. How was the wedding?”

He spoke to her in the very same tone he’d used with Polly. As if, Lindsey thought, she was his second-favorite niece.

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