Ever After (Love to the Rescue Book 3) (7 page)

“Like hell it’s not a big deal. We’re driving straight to the sheriff’s office to file a report.”

She groaned. “Do we have to? I told you everything that happened.”

“And I appreciate that, but I’m off duty. You need to file an official report. What they did isn’t grounds for any kind of a harassment charge, but it’s important that it’s documented in case there are any future incidents to show a pattern of harassing behavior.”

“Future incidents?” Fear flickered in her eyes.

“They’ve defaced your car twice and hassled you in person all in a matter of days. I’d say it’s likely you haven’t seen the end of them, not unless you’re planning to do as they asked and back off your campaign against Halverson Foods.”

Her chin went up again. “Not a chance.”

A smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “That’s what I thought. The sheriff’s office is just a few blocks away. You look like you’re turning into a popsicle, so why don’t I drive us over and then I’ll bring you back here afterward and see you home.”

She cleared her throat. “See me home?”

He reached out to tuck a strand of shiny blond hair behind her ear. “I’ll follow you in my SUV and keep right on driving once I see that you’re home safely with no unwelcome visitors hanging around.”

“That’s awfully chivalrous of you,” she said.

They were alone in the parking lot and standing way too close for any good purpose.

“Just doin’ my job.” Although his job had nothing to do with the way he felt about her right then. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his jeans, trying to keep his mind off the way the street lamps reflected like little half-moons in her eyes or her flowery scent that toyed with his senses and hijacked his self-control.

“You’re not even on duty right now, and I’ve taken up your whole evening. I don’t think that’s in your job description. Thank you.” She went up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek. Instinctively, he turned his head so that her lips met his. She sucked in a breath, her eyes wide. He’d startled her, taken a friendly gesture too far.

“Sorry,” he whispered against her lips.

“Don’t be,” she said and kissed him back.

He drank in her scent and the feel of her lips on his. He wanted to taste every inch of her, more than he wanted his next breath, but not here, not now. Certainly not right before he marched her into the sheriff’s office to give her official report.

He rested his forehead against hers. “I didn’t mean to do that.”

She laughed, and the sound loosened something deep inside his chest. “But I’m glad you did.”

“I can’t do this with you right now, not while I’m working your case—your other case.” He held her hands in his.

“Well that’s a bummer. Is it against the rules to date a criminal?”

He heard the laughter in her voice. “No, but as your arresting officer, it’s against the rules to become involved with you before your court date.”

“That’s only three weeks away.”

“Olivia.” He lifted her hands to his chest. “It’s not that simple. I’m about to take your official statement about what happened here in the parking lot earlier. It’s unethical in so many ways to even contemplate what you’re thinking about right now.”

She slid her hands around his neck and pressed her cheek to his. “Fine. I get it. But you know, if I get off without a criminal record next month, maybe give me a call?”

He laughed, pulling her closer against him. “Maybe.”

The back door of the café opened, and he spun her so that the Forester hid them from view. She burrowed closer, her head against his shoulder. Her fingers trailed down his back, driving him absolutely crazy with the need to kiss her again.

“Can I ask you a sort of personal question before we go back to a purely professional relationship?” she asked, her breath tickling his neck.

“Go ahead.” He shifted his body so that she wouldn’t feel what she was doing to him, how badly he wanted her.

“Why do you always smell so good, like cinnamon and spice?”

He flinched. “I bake when I can’t sleep.” It was the truth, the raw truth, and much more than he owed this near stranger with her arms around him in a half-lit parking lot behind the Main Street Café.

She tipped her face up to his. “You must have trouble sleeping a lot.”

“Sometimes.”

“You should try meditation.”

He grunted. “No offense, but that sounds like a bunch of horseshit.”

She giggled, and it vibrated through him. This woman, she affected him in a way he hadn’t felt since…well, he wasn’t sure anyone had ever had this kind of hold on him.

“It’s not crap,” she said. “It teaches you how to focus your mind, how to take control of your energy. It could help you relax.”

He tensed. “I don’t need help relaxing.”

She slid her hands up to massage his shoulders. “Yes you do. And since I can’t help you the old-fashioned way,” she brushed her lips against his, “I’d be happy to teach you how to meditate.”

“I think I’ll pass.” If for no other reason, any time spent alone with Olivia promised to be anything but relaxing, given the effect she had on his body and his inability to do anything about it.

“Pig-headed man. Let me know if you change your mind.”

“I’ll be sure to do that.”

Her back was against the side of the Forester, and he had caged her in with his arms. This had gone far enough. He needed to man up and let her go. He straightened.

Olivia sighed. “To remember tonight,” she said, and then she covered his mouth with hers.

His barely leashed restraint came loose, and he kissed her with abandon. Her fingers tangled in his hair as she wriggled against him. He pulled her flush against him and kissed her until his heart felt like it was about to burst out of his chest.

“Olivia,” he gasped.

She smiled, her lips glistening in the lamplight, breathless and absolutely the most gorgeous thing he’d ever seen. “Do you think it would be okay if I filed that report tomorrow morning?”

Reality crashed over him like a fifty-pound weight dropped on his shoulders. There was absolutely no way he could walk her into the sheriff’s office right now without the body language between them revealing exactly what they’d been doing in this parking lot. “That’s probably best.”

“Okay. I’ll stop by before my shift. Will you be there?”

“I could be, but it’s probably better if I’m out on patrol and you talk to whoever’s at the desk.”

She scrunched her nose. “Even if it’s Hartzler?”

“Even if. He’s a good deputy. You have to understand how it looks from his perspective. He’s a cynical guy, and he’s been doing this a long time. But I’ll make sure your case doesn’t get swept under the rug.”

“Thanks. I appreciate that.”

“No problem.” He forced himself to step back, putting a respectable distance between them.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Okay, so I’ll give my report to whoever’s there. Should I mention that I called you?”

He cocked his head. “Never lie to the police.”

“Right. Okay, thanks. Well, I guess this is where we say good night then.” She leaned in to press one more kiss against his lips.

“Not so fast. I meant what I said about seeing you home.”

She blinked. “Oh. Really?”

“I’ll follow in my car. If all’s quiet at your place, I’ll keep on driving.”

O
livia pulled into her driveway to find Merry’s CR-V already parked there. The light in the living room was on. And maybe she needed to have a chat with her friend about using her key when Olivia wasn’t home, even though it was Merry’s house, after all.

She glanced at the clock on the dash. It was just past nine, and oops, it was Friday night. She and Merry had plans, and she was late.

Pete’s SUV pulled in behind her, and he stepped out, looking all alpha male as he surveyed the extra vehicle in her driveway.

Olivia’s cheeks flushed. She hustled out of the car to intercept him. “It’s okay. It’s my friend Merry. I forgot we had plans tonight.”

“And she let herself into your house?” He eyed the light emanating from her living room window, then turned his dark eyes on hers, still looking all badass and protective, and
oh my God
, she was going to swoon right at his feet.

“She owns the house though, so she has keys.”

“Well, all right then.” He stood there another moment, looking like he wanted to kiss her every bit as much as she wanted him to, then he turned and climbed back into his SUV. With a wave, he was gone.

Olivia pressed a hand to her cheek. Her face was on fire, despite the chilly evening. Holy hell—that kiss. But what they’d shared afterward had been intimate on a totally emotional level. He’d revealed bits of himself she had a feeling he didn’t share readily. She pictured him in his kitchen late at night, baking.

Wearing nothing but boxers. Flour smattered across his chest and through the stubble on his face.
Phew.

Their chemistry was
hot
. She hadn’t felt a connection like this in a long time, on an emotional or a physical level, and she and Pete had both. It was exciting, thrilling, but also scary. She hadn’t felt anything like this since Roger.

Pete wasn’t without demons. She saw them haunting the corners of his eyes and felt them bunched in the muscles of his well-sculpted body. But he was different. Pete was the kind of man who’d make some lucky woman a wonderful husband someday.

And Olivia was ready to look toward her future, not repeat the mistakes of her past. So while she might not have a shot at dating Pete, what with her recent foray into criminal behavior and all, maybe at least the fact that she was attracted to him meant she was ready to turn over a new leaf.

She stared after his car for a long moment. Then she marched in her front door to face Merry.

Merry sat in the middle of the couch, a dog on either side. “There you are. I was going to cry if you forgot about me entirely. Girls nights out are few and far between for me these days.”

“Sorry. I got held up after work. And geez, why don’t you make yourself comfortable?” Olivia laughed as she slung her purse on the end table and sank onto the loveseat.

“Well, you know.” Merry glanced down at the half eaten bag of kale chips in her lap. Bailey and Scooby both had a suspicious smattering of green crumbs around their mouths, and they watched her with eager, adoring eyes. “You really need to keep better food in the house. These are good, but they’re like,
vegetables
.”

“My house, my food.”

“
My
house, but…” Merry drifted off, staring at her intently. “You’re all flushed and glowy. Just what were you doing after work anyway?”

“Um.” She felt her cheeks flush hotter. “Let me go change, and I’ll tell you all about it once I’ve had a drink.”

“I’ll drive. You look like you may need more than one.”

“I love you,” Olivia called over her shoulder, as she jogged up the stairs. She stripped in the closet and pulled on a clingy yellow eyelet dress. In the bathroom, she brushed out her hair and freshened her makeup.

Ten minutes later, she was in Merry’s car, headed to The Watering Hole, a local bar where Merry’s dad’s bluegrass band played on Friday nights.

“Before you tell me about whatever naughty thing you were doing after work, why is there a kitten locked in the half bath?” Merry asked, eyebrows raised.

“She was a stray. I caught her at the Halverson plant and tamed her. You don’t happen to list kittens for adoption on your website, do you?”

Merry shook her head. “Only boxers. I could do a courtesy post through Triangle Boxer Rescue though if you want to get her listed on Petfinder.com.”

“Let me get back to you on that.” She hadn’t really thought about what to do with Hallie yet. The kitten was so little, so young, maybe she’d keep her. Dogs were a bit more responsibility than suited her lifestyle, but a cat…a cat she could handle. Maybe.

Merry turned into the parking lot of The Watering Hole. She parked, and Olivia followed her inside. She’d been here a couple of other times. The music was lively and cheerful, and the local beer on tap was just what she needed tonight. She ordered a blueberry ale and settled onto a barstool with a grateful sigh.

“So,” Merry said. “Tell me what you were up to tonight. Are you seeing someone?”

“Not exactly. But I kissed Pete Sampson, the deputy who arrested me last week.”

Merry took a swallow of beer and choked. “The deputy who arrested you? I thought he was a big jerk.”

“Turns out actually he’s not.” She outlined what had been going on with the Halverson employees and how she’d ended up alone with Pete in the parking lot behind the café tonight.

“Wow.” Merry sipped thoughtfully from her beer. “That sounds…complicated. But I’m glad you have him looking out for you, because that’s kind of scary with the Halverson guys.”

Olivia gulped from her own beer. “I know. I was pretty scared there for a minute when they blocked the door to the café.”

“They’re not going to let this drop, you know.”

“I know. And neither am I.” Nobody was going to make her back off from what she believed in. She had taken it upon herself to find justice for those chickens, and she wouldn’t rest until she’d gotten it.

“I’m behind you one hundred percent, you know that. I just wish your name hadn’t gotten so negatively associated with the Citizens Against Halverson Foods effort.” Merry rested a hand on her shoulder.

“I kind of wish that too, although my arrest has definitely brought a lot of attention to what’s going on at Halverson. So maybe it will end up being a good thing in the long run.”

“I hope so. And you and Pete?”

Olivia’s pulse skittered into overdrive. “He says nothing can happen until after my court date. I want to jump his bones, but I wouldn’t jeopardize his career for it. A cooling-off period is probably for the best. He’s really not my type anyway.”

Merry snorted. “Sweetie, T.J. wasn’t my type either. Now I’m just waiting for him to put a ring on it. Speaking of weddings, we need to get our bridesmaid dresses fitted for Cara’s.”

“Yeah.” She felt a twinge of guilt that she hadn’t visited her friend in Massachusetts yet. It had been over six months now since she’d moved. Truthfully, a white dress didn’t sound as hostile to Olivia now as it once had.

Maybe she was ready to grow up after all, ready to find her own Mr. Right. Just as soon as she got over her slightly-out-of-control crush on Pete Sampson.

Pete got her text as he sat in his cruiser, wrapping things up after serving an eviction notice at a well-to-do apartment complex to a man whose unit smelled like a horse’s ass and looked even worse.

Report filed. Hartzler sends his love <3

He groaned. He should have warned her to be professional on his work phone, that the department monitored everything. He shouldn’t have kissed her, shouldn’t have lain awake last night wanting to do it again.

Stupid.

Good. Call the office if anything else happens.

She buzzed right back.
Will do. Let me know if you change your mind about meditation. Ohm.

Okay, this was a problem. He radioed dispatch to let them know the notice had been served, then turned the cruiser around and drove down Main Street. Olivia’s Prius was parked behind the café. He pulled in beside her and walked in the front door.

Heads swiveled. The uniform tended to have that effect on people, although at the moment he’d have preferred to go unnoticed. He approached the counter and ordered a large coffee to go.

Olivia breezed around the corner with a tray of sandwiches on her right arm. She stopped short at the sight of him, and the tray tipped dangerously.

He stuck his hand out and righted it. “I need to talk to you.”

“Um.” She gripped the tray, adorably flustered. “Sure. Give me a minute.”

She delivered sandwiches to a table in the corner, then refilled sodas for the table next to it. A tall brunette brought Pete’s coffee, and he paid for it while he waited for Olivia.

She came his way and motioned for him to follow her. They walked out the back door, and she tipped her face toward the sun with a grateful smile. “What’s up?”

“I should have told you that the number I gave you is town property.”

Her brow bunched, and she gave him a blank look.

“So imagine that anything you text to me could be seen by anyone in the office.”

“Oh.” She giggled. “Sorry. I’m going to get you in trouble with the meditation, aren’t I?”

“I’m your arresting officer on a case that’s still open. It’s a perception of impropriety.”

She sobered. “Gotcha. Sorry about that. I have to get back inside, but I’ll be good from now on. I promise.”

It was on the tip of his tongue to give her his personal number, but that was a line he wasn’t ready to cross. Instead, he watched her go, wishing it didn’t have to be that way and knowing it was for the best.

Olivia worked until the café closed at nine. Way to spend a Saturday night. There was a time when she would have gone home to change and gone out to party with her friends. But she’d gone out with Merry last night, and tonight she wanted to catch up on social media.

Kristi had sent her a link to an article about a beef factory in Texas that had been raided and several employees arrested after undercover video showed workers kicking and prodding downed animals on their way to slaughter.

A loophole in the current laws on factory farming failed to provide similar protection to chickens. And tonight Olivia meant to blog her heart out about the injustice. She was going to renew her request for people to write to their lawmakers and also start a petition that she planned to send to the CEO of Halverson Foods.

She took the dogs on a long walk, sat in the bathroom and played with Hallie, and then settled on the couch with a veggie wrap and a glass of wine. She’d been on the go all day, and she was exhausted. That morning, she’d gone to the sheriff’s office to file a report about the incident in the parking lot behind the diner. Deputy Hartzler had looked bored the entire time, but hadn’t been as rude this time, so at least there was that.

Somewhere into her second glass of wine, as she added photos to her blog post, she dozed off on the couch. She was dreaming about Pete doing naughty things to her with his handcuffs when loud barking startled her awake.

She rubbed her eyes and rolled over to check the clock. It was three a.m., and she was on her couch, still dressed, her laptop on its side on the floor beside her. Ugh. Oh, and her fool dogs were barking.

Bailey and Scooby were at the front window, barking and growling to raise the dead.

Squinting, Olivia peered out the front window. In the yellowish glow of the street lamp, nothing stirred but a few moths.

“Come on, you guys, stop barking at raccoons.” She herded them up the stairs to her bedroom, where she changed into pajamas, brushed her teeth, and climbed into bed.

The next thing she knew, sunlight was streaming in the windows. The clock showed it was just past nine, and Olivia sighed deeply into the pillow. Today was her first day off in eight days. Working at the café, she didn’t have a regular schedule. Some days were early, some were late, some long, some short, but today, blissfully, she had nothing to do.

She’d go to MacArthur Park to meditate, maybe take the dogs on a jog, maybe think about letting Hallie out of the bathroom for the first time. Bailey and Scooby shoved their noses over the edge of the bed, looking for attention.

Merry’d been horrified when Olivia told her she didn’t allow dogs in her bed, but
please
. She’d cleaned enough questionable stains off the couch. She didn’t want to think about any of that nastiness in her bed.

“All right, all right.” She slid out of bed and went into the bathroom. She freshened up, then tied a robe over the skimpy nightie she’d apparently put on in her three a.m. stupor and went downstairs to let the dogs out.

She’d just taken a big bite out of a bran muffin when someone started pounding on her front door. Her heart jolted in her chest. If it was one of the guys from Halverson…

Pressing a hand to her chest, she hurried to the door and peeked through the peephole. Pete stood on the other side of the door, in uniform and mirrored shades, his expression dark with anger or…something else, equally as intense.

Cautiously, she pulled the door open. “Um, hi?”

She glanced down at her bare feet.
Christ on a cracker.
She had on nothing but a thin terry robe over her nightie. Her hair was a mess, and she wasn’t wearing any makeup. At least she’d brushed her teeth.

“Everything okay here?” he asked, his tone low and serious.

“Sure.” She met his eyes with a shy smile, then watched as his gaze dropped to survey her lack of clothing.

“You been outside yet this morning?”

“No.” She pinched the edges of the robe together in her fist to keep from giving him a peep show. Pete still looked awfully intense. She was starting to get the feeling she was missing something. “Should I have been? What’s going on?”

He motioned her to follow him out the front door. “One of your neighbors called it in. They were concerned about your welfare.”

“My welfare?” She padded after him down the walkway, confusion mixing with alarm.

Big, red letters dripped down the front of the house.
You didn’t listen.