Page 613 of One More Kiss

Cole

I pulledinto a spot a few blocks up from the hospital and locked up, preparing for a quick jog back. I’d dropped Josie at the door, promising coffee if she found her friend. My heart clenched at the thought of her with the young kid, but she wasn’t too much older than him as it was.

Just graduated…hell. A man nearly ten years older than her should keep his hands to himself. But the way she handled herself around her team spoke volumes of who she was, and with dreams like the ones she ‘d shared with me, she’d soar the moment she decided to put them into action. That same quiet determination and her spark of humor drew me to her in a distracting way I hadn’t felt for far too long.

That she wasn’t a local girl killed me. She’d probably set up camp in New York and I’d never see her again. Suddenly twelve episodes seemed far too short.

Still…my hand curled, the warmth of her hesitant touch burned into my palm. I wanted to take her out for dinner, learn every secret she didn’t know she had, talk to her until the sun rose then take her home and find out just how soft she felt against me with no clothing as a barrier between us.

Just out of college. I shook my head as I jogged the three odd blocks back to the emergency department. I was out of line hitting on a girl like her, but no matter how many times I pushed the thought of her aside, she returned to the front of my mind.

One day and a decade of career determination is ruined because of a pretty face.

But she was so much more than just a pretty face. I hadn’t heard her whinge all day, certainly in comparison to the moaning of the rest of the crew under director D’s authority.

I sucked in a deep, fast breath and pounded the sidewalk with my boots in a hard beat that matched my heart. It was a quick run, but after standing around for so long, I needed it.

The nurse manning the front desk gave me directions. I wound my way through the hospital's interior to find Josie leaning against a coffee machine opposite a closed door. A pair of plain clothes stood either side of the room she stared into like she could access it with laser vision. The detective’s faces were bland, showing zero emotion. This was just another long night in the making for a pair of cops who had plenty of paperwork to tackle back at the station.

I gave Josie a small wave, silently asking her to wait with my eyes, letting a little warning into them, and approached the cops.

A few minutes later, they opened the door for me. I smiled, waited for them to back off, and ushered Josie inside.

I slid my hand around her waist for the simple pleasure of pulling her into my chest, memorizing her shape. “Make it quick,” I murmured into her hair. “This is breaking every rule there is for all of us.”

She tilted her head back, staring straight into my eyes, and nodded. When she walked over to Paul’s bed, checking him over visually, I nearly hit the deck. She’d stared straight through me like she owned me. It had taken both every inch of control to not haul her against me and kiss her senseless and none at all—because in that moment, I hadn't had control. She’d wiped it from me.

A few minutes while she read the chart, checked that he was alive, and straightened his sheets. She patted his hand, and my heart clenched. I wanted her hands in mine, and the thought of her sitting with the kid because she already loved him…I swallowed hard. Maybe it was her romantic notions but…that was an utter lie, and I knew it. I wanted her, far more than just in my bed though that definitely played a solid part in my fantasy land.

“Thank you,” she whispered, still clutching an armload of folders and clipboards. Her bag hung on one shoulder.

I nodded to the pair of cops who resumed their silent penance for the night shift. Tomorrow would get me more answers from them and the doctors once tests came back on what had happened to Paul. Josie’s words still hung in the front of my mind. First, I wanted to spend some time with her—real time—before I turned all Mister Texas Ranger on her again.

“Let me take some of that,” I held out my hands.

Her fingers whitened on the folder, and after a moment she offered me her bag. “Thank you.”

“No problem.” I shoulders the satchel, sliding my hand across her lower back.

She swallowed but didn’t move away, staring straight ahead, though the death grip she administered to the plastic folder. “Did you want to try for a coffee or, um—”

“Dinner? The sushi place was still open. I ended up parked in front of it. Wanna try that?”

“Sure.” She tilted her head back again as we left the hospital. A pair of sugar-sweet dimples formed by the corners of her mouth.

“Damn, you’re cute.” the words slipped out before I could catch them. I sucked in a breath of sharp night air. “Sorry, I—”

“Haven’t flirted in a very long time, have you?” She surveyed me through sparkling eyes that laughed at me.

I shook my head ruefully. “No. Far too long.” I slipped my arm tighter around her waist, drawing her into my side. Her waist curved beneath my fingers, dipping violently in then flaring out at her hips.

My breath shuddered out. If I didn’t stop, I’d end up with her naked a hell of a lot faster than I wanted , and Josie…I I planned on enjoying every single moment with her that I stole, even the clothed bits.

“Cole, wait.” She stopped and faced me, her arms wrapped around the folders she clutched as a barrier.

I dropped my hand and waited. Boyfriend? Girlfriend? Not at all interested? She was right. It had been way too long. I was well out of practice.

Josie inhaled a breath far too big for her slim frame and held out until I thought she might burst. “Are you married?”

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