Page 62 of Bachelor Cop Finally Caught? (Hot off the Press! 2)

It had been inevitable for the past twenty years that Dan would break Lindsey’s heart. He’d come close to doing so numerous times. He had hurt her desperately when he’d married Melanie after giving Lindsey that memorable birthday kiss. But she’d allowed herself to get complacent this time. Maybe she just wanted so badly to believe things would work out that she wouldn’t allow herself to consider any possibility.

She suspected her feelings for him were stronger than and deeper than his for her—but maybe she believed she had enough love and optimism for both of them.

It turned out she was wrong.

They lay in Dan’s bed, wrapped snugly together, hearts still racing, and breathing still uneven from a particularly energetic bout of lovemaking. Dan should have been loose and relaxed—as Lindsey was—but she felt a certain tenseness in the muscles beneath her cheek.

She knew what his problem was. She’d shown up at his door this evening without an invitation, not really caring if any of the local gossips saw her there. Still stewing over their conversation in his office earlier that week, she’d decided it was time for one of them—and it looked as though it had to be her—to move their relationship forward.

Dan had looked worried about her arrival, but he hadn’t turned her away, of course. The conversation she’d intended to initiate with him had been postponed when he kissed her. That kiss had led to another and then another—which had eventually led straight to his bedroom.

Now, she thought in exasperation, Dan was thinking about gossip again, wondering if anyone was speculating about why her car was parked in his driveway at this late hour, hoping no one would make anything of it. “Chill out, will you? No one really cares about me being here.”

He chuckled, but it was a rather weak effort. “You’re underestimating the curiosity level of the average tattlemonger.”

“Everyone knows you and I are friends. There’s nothing extraordinary about friends spending time together. For all anyone knows, we’re in here eating popcorn and playing Scrabble.”

To her regret he slid out from under her and sat up, reaching for his clothes. “Yeah, well, you’d still better head home soon. No one plays Scrabble and eats popcorn all night.”

She sighed as she began to dress. “Dan, don’t you think it’s about time for us to stop being so secretive? I mean, we’ve been together for several weeks now. Don’t you think it’s going to come out eventually?”

“I prefer not to have my private life discussed in the beauty parlor and the barber shop.”

She raised herself to one elbow and propped her head on her hand. “I know you hate being gossiped about because of what happened with Melanie and all, but—”

She could almost feel an invisible wall go up between them. “Melanie is another subject I prefer not to dis

cuss.”

The flat rebuff stung. Surely she and Dan were going to have to talk about his ex-wife at some point. They couldn’t spend the rest of their lives pretending the entire marriage had never happened. She needed to know how he felt about Melanie now. What she could do to help him get over the hurt and the betrayal. She desperately wanted to know how he felt about marrying again eventually—starting a family, maybe.

She’d spent a lot of time lately fantasizing about having a family with Dan.

“Couldn’t we at least see a movie together or something?” she asked wistfully. “In a nice, friendly way, I mean. It’s been weeks since I’ve been out.”

There was a faint note of apology in his voice when he replied. “I suppose we could do that. We’ve certainly been to movies together before.”

“Yes, we have.”

“How about this Saturday night?”

“Saturday?” She winced, feeling rather foolish now. “I can’t Saturday.”

“Why not?”

“I have plans.”

“Plans?” he repeated very casually. “What sort of plans?”

“It’s a charity bowling tournament—raising money for juvenile arthritis research. I’m covering the event for the newspaper.”

“You aren’t bowling in the tournament?”

She laughed as she tugged her shirt over her head. “Heavens, no. I’m really a terrible bowler.”

Fully dressed now, he stood half-turned away from her as he faced the mirror over his dresser and ran a hand through his hair. “Your private lessons didn’t help?”

“Private—? Oh, you mean my date with Bo.” Was he teasing or was that a hint of jealousy in his voice?

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