Happily Never After (6 page)

He faced her and placed one hand on either side of her body. Barely enough light remained in the day for her to see him. His eyes glowed with an inner fire as he stared down into her upturned face, his mouth a scant few inches from her own.

The rise and fall of his chest brushed hers with every breath. His sheer magnetism made her mouth dry as a desert, and she licked her parched lips. Her heartbeat quickened as she recognized the desire in his eyes.

Lust slammed through her, strong and all-consuming. It scared the heck out of her. Embarrassment crept up her neck at how caught up she’d been in the night. How much she wanted that kiss
.
But this was wrong. He was wrong for her. Every instinct within warned that he was too bold and full of life ever to fit in her world.

“Bode,” she stammered. “I need to go. Please take me back.”

After a deep breath, he placed his forehead against hers. “We could take this slow, see where it takes us.”

All she could manage was a silent shake of her head.

He reached out, lacing their fingers together. She followed him back to the passenger side. Once she got in, he didn’t move away from the open door. One of his big hands brushed her hair back. “Are you okay?”

How could such gentle hands be a part of this big man? He was the embodiment of a gutsy cop, the type of person who would always run toward danger instead of away. A man much like her father had once been before he became consumed with dominating her mother. She needed to squash this physical attraction.

“That was—”

He gave her a wolfish grin. “Almost combustible. How about we try it again. And again.”

The impulse, to roll her eyes, could not be denied. Okay, gone was the sensitive, sweet man, who absorbed her every word with genuine interest.

Laugh lines crinkled at the corner of his mouth when he grinned at her. “Sure you don’t want to change your mind about going back?”

The temptation to finish what they’d almost started overwhelmed her. For the first time in her life, her hormones wanted a say in the decision. And they were saying,
yes, yes, yes
.

His arched brow irritated her and good sense returned. “I’m sure, Prince Charming not-so-much.”

Laughter rang out as he shut her door. Her flushed cheeks in the side mirror mocked her. This was what she wanted.

Right?

Bode drove back to town while casting quick peeks at Kelsey’s profile. She appeared pale in the dim light from the dash and held her hands clasped together in her lap.

He didn’t understand what had occurred tonight. At the start of the evening, he was determined to keep things casual and friendly. He’d planned a simple, welcome-to-the-neighborhood kind of dinner.

Then, as the night wore on he enjoyed her sense of humor so much, he forgot why she was off limits. Jokes and laughter flowed so natural between them, it slipped his mind to maintain a cool distance.

They had approached the first street lights in the city when a vibration on his hip made him sigh. He plucked his cell phone from the clip. The number listed on the caller ID made him sigh a second time.

“Taggert.” He listened to the conversation and grunted his agreement. “I’ll be there in thirty minutes.” After hanging up, he looked over at her. “I’m sorry. I need to drop you off and go to work.”

Her upper body slumped as if in relief. There was no reason for her actions to aggravate him, but they did. He was attracted to her beauty. What surprised him was how much he liked her. Once her walls came down, she was funny and easy to talk with.

“Okay.”

His stomach dropped at the flat tone of her voice. At the hotel, she opened her door and jumped down to the ground without waiting for him. He hurried to catch up so he could stop her.

“Kelsey, wait.” Her eyes glistened with tears, and the angst staring back, shook him to the core. “Don’t be afraid of me. I would never hurt you.”

Her nose scrunched up as if she wanted to cry. The strong compulsion to wrap her in his arms brought him back to reality. What was he doing here with a woman so vulnerable? He didn’t want a long term relationship. Hell, he didn’t even want short term. After everything she’d been through, she needed a man she could count on.

The smart thing for him to do would be to extract himself from this situation as quick as possible. He had a job that he needed to get to. They both remained silent all the way to her room. She slid the key into the opening. Once she stepped inside, he followed before she could shut him out.

“Before I go, I need to know that you’re okay.”

She squared her shoulders. “I am, thank you for dinner.” Her terse voice let him know that she expected him to leave.

He stared down at her. This night had corkscrewed into something unexpected, and he should get out of here before he suffered a lapse in good judgment. His next words surprised himself as much as they did her. “How about we go to dinner again sometime?”

“I’m sorry. I promise, it’s not you, it’s me. I just don’t date cops. Ever.” Her eyes looked a bit wild. “Maybe we could just be friends?”

His composure threatened to crack and he gave her a stiff nod. “Friends it is. Call me if you have any trouble. Take care of yourself, Princess.”

She shut the door in his face. He forced himself to leave without looking back.

Chapter 7

Billows of frosted air clouded his vision as Bode scrambled to dig raw fingers into a narrow crevice. This route was a local favorite of free climbers, but today they were the only ones around. The weather had been iffy when they left Redding but despite Steve’s objections Bode had insisted on continuing.

When the department hired him, they partnered him with Steve Morrison. He was one of the few people who knew Bode’s history. Kelsey’s words still ping-ponged around his brain like corn in a popper.
I don’t date cops.

His arms screamed from holding his weight while his toes searched for a crack to rest in. A quick glance down showed his friend patiently watching. If he were to fall, Steve as the belayer would arrest the rope and stop his momentum. He took a deep breath and drank in the mountain air. This challenge was what he needed. The thrill of beating the climb, relying on your wits and strength.

The gray soup of fog had started to dissipate, but a few wisps of moisture hindered his view of the very top. A rocky buttress forced him to work his way out over the lip. The altitude caused him to suck in gulps of much-needed oxygen. His biceps trembled as they hauled his body up step by step.

He could see the summit now. The placement of his left foot landed on a patch of loose limestone, and he slid down the rough rock. The breath whooshed from him as the safety rope jerked tautly and stopped his fall.
Dammit, pay attention before you break your fool neck.

Swinging free, he reached out until he could jam an arm into a small crack and lock it into place. Breathing heavily, he moved his limbs back up the steep wall, stabbing his fingers and toes into every available crevice and weather pocket.

He swung his leg to the side and up over the ledge at the top. Tired muscles screamed as he lie on his back panting. The sky had cleared, and blue filled his vision as the sun beat down on him. He groaned and rolled to his feet, setting up a secure anchor where he could belay his partner.

Keeping his mind blank, he watched for the slightest misstep as his friend made the hard climb. When Steve reached the top, he stepped back and gave him room.

The only sound was the wind as it whistled through the craggy mountains and their heavy breath as they recovered.

Steve tilted his head sideways and scowled. “Are you . . . st-still pissed about me bea-beating you last week? Cause if you are, just shoot me and get it over with. It’d be-be more merciful.”

He laughed at him. “Nah, a bullet’s too quick for someone as ornery as you.”

They sat in silence for a few minutes. Steve spoke first. “Didn’t you have a date last night? I figured you’d be recovering today.” He glowered at him. “I know that’s what I was doing when you called.”

Bode took a long swallow from his water bottle. “It wasn’t that kind of date. She’s David Reyes’ little sister. He hired her to work in his office. Since she’s new in town, I offered to take her to dinner.”

Steve’s eyes danced with amusement. “Shot you down, huh?”

“Like a duck during teal season. But she did assure me that it was about her, not me.” His laughter died away. “I believe her exact words were,
I don’t date cops
.”

Steve winced in sympathy. “Ouch.” His partner understood how much this job meant to him.

He lifted one shoulder then dropped it. “It’s no big deal. She’s a little too high maintenance for me anyway.”

Steve saluted him with his water. “Winner, winner, chicken dinner. She gave you an easy out.”

Winner? Maybe his friend was right about this working out in his favor. She was the one to push the eject button so there shouldn’t be any weirdness between them. They’d be working together, so he didn’t have a choice but to see her again.

“Yeah, it should be cool. Maybe I’ll steer clear of the D.A.’s office for a while, though. You can pick up the slack over there for a change.” He rose to his feet and began to get ready for the next part of their climb, Steve’s laughter ringing in his ears. All he had to do was avoid Kelsey, and they could both just go on with their lives.

The idea left him a little empty.

That morning Kelsey had dressed as usual in a beige suit and classic pumps to arrive at the office bright and early. In a show of defiance, she used a clip in her hair that let it flow free down her back instead of wearing it in a bun. The world saw a strong, self-assured woman regardless of the fact she never slept more than a few hours every night.

The day before, she’d met with Mrs. Bradly and fallen in love with the little one bedroom apartment. An outside stairway led up from the side of the garage that would give them both some privacy. They agreed on terms and her move-in date.

Samantha lifted her hand in a wave as Kelsey passed by on the way to her assigned office. She locked her purse in the desk drawer and wandered down the hall in search of a much-needed coffee fix.

The aroma of ambrosia met her when she entered the break room, and she hurried to fill one of the cups sitting on the counter.

An attractive blond man strode in to get a refill. She recognized the familiar fragrance of his expensive aftershave, but the excessive amount he wore made her nose wrinkle. His designer suit screamed
I’m important.
He’d gelled his hair and combed it straight back. The type of guy she used to date. Now, the style made him appear slightly effeminate.

“Morning.” He joined her at the coffee machine.

She smiled and moved to the side to give him more room. He finished pouring before he turned back to her.

“I’m Michael Miller and you must be Kelsey. I was in court all day Friday, so I didn’t meet you. Did you get settled in okay?”

“I’m a little nervous, but Redding seems to be a great city. It’s exciting to be in an area that experiences all the different seasons. In Texas, we have hot and dry or hot and wet.”

“Believe me, it can get wet here, too, during the winter. And the summer is always warm and dry, but everything else in between is fantastic.”

“Are you from Redding?”

“Born and raised, so I’m familiar with all the local spots. I’d be happy to show you around and help you get acclimated.”

The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as someone walked up behind her. She gave an internal groan. With her luck, who else would it be? Her unexpected physical reaction to Bode had left her a little off balance.

“Well now, I sure do hate to interrupt this little welcome to the neighborhood, but some of us are on the clock.” Bode acknowledged the other man with a slight nod as he reached for a coffee cup. “Miller.”

She didn’t understand the hostile vibes between the two men, but the tone of Bode’s voice spoke volumes. Their animosity toward one another wasn’t her concern, so she eased toward the door. Michael stopped her by placing his hand on her arm.

“Kelsey, how about we go to lunch today? There’s a restaurant nearby where a lot of the professionals who work downtown like to eat.”

Bode moved between them and steered her out the door before she could form a reply. Caught off guard by his actions, she allowed him to sweep her out of the room.

“Sorry, but she’ll have to get back to you,” he growled and then propelled her down the hall.

By the time they reached her office, she imagined that steam must be boiling from her ears. They stepped into the room, and she yanked free.

“What do you think you’re doing?” She tried not to yell at him, but she couldn’t help herself as she stormed to the desk and sat. Her anger didn’t seem to faze him. He bent down, so their noses were within mere inches of one another. His breath was minty fresh when she breathed it in.

“I don’t understand where this caveman attitude is coming from.” She glowered at him.

“You’re new around here, so it’s up to me to warn you. He’s a snake. You don’t want to be doing that with the likes of Miller.”

Confused, she shook her head. “Doing what?”

He made a rude sound. “Flirting.”

“Flirting,” she screeched and then took a calming breath. “I was not flirting, but I’ll go out with whomever I want. Besides, he asked me to a friendly lunch. Michael and I will be working—why am I even talking to you about this? It isn’t any of your business.”

Bode lowered his gravelly voice and pushed his face even further into her personal space. “You told me that you wanted to be friends
.
Well,
friends
don’t let other
friends
date idiots.”

His sardonic expression sent her temper soaring. “Friends also respect boundaries. Something you obviously know nothing about.”

“I came by to tell you that I called a cop friend of mine that works for DPD. He knew about your harassment problem but assured me they checked everything out. No one takes a threat to an ADA lightly. If you haven’t had any more trouble since you’ve been here, I guess you won’t need me to keep watching your back.”

She couldn’t stop an involuntary flinch, as her spirits sank at the knowledge he didn’t want to be around her. A loud knock on the door brought her back to the present, and she sat back in the chair.

He prowled with nonchalant grace to lean against the wall.

She ground her teeth in frustration. “Quit calling me Princess, you jerk.”

Taking a deep breath, she called out. “Come in.”

David stuck his head around the corner. “Oh, hey, Bode. I didn’t know you were here. Kels, when you finish, I need to meet with you in my office. I want your input on a few points.”

She forced a bright smile. “I can come now. Detective Taggert was just leaving.”

Bode pushed himself off the wall and strolled across the room. He nodded once at David and then left without a word.

David grinned at her. “You want to tell me what that was all about?”

“No, I don’t. Let’s go.”

By five o’clock, she was tired but had a definite spring in her step. She didn’t understand why she could work here when just entering her old office was a problem. But she wasn’t going to spend too much time questioning her change of luck.

Afraid to leave her apartment in Dallas, she’d quit her regular workout routine. Instead, she opted to practice yoga at home but it didn’t give her the cardio release she craved. Driving back to the hotel and going to the gym would be the perfect end to a wonderful day.

She signed the log book and turned to leave the lobby. “Bye, Carl. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m off to torture myself by getting a workout.”

The security guard chuckled, and she left the building. Her feet seemed to be drifting along on a cloud.

She’d worked the whole day and looked forward to another one tomorrow. People wandered along the sidewalks, unlike the hustle and bustle of the downtown streets of Dallas. The sun sinking below the rooftops put a chill in the air.

She made the short drive and hurried to her room. Dressed in workout clothes, she went down to the hotel’s small gym. The room was good-sized and held several treadmills, elliptical, and an assortment of hand weights. Since her attack, the first thing she did upon entering a room was check her surroundings. A sigh of relief escaped when she hopped on one of the machines and set a comfortable pace.

A tall, muscular man came into the room and lumbered toward a treadmill. On guard, she watched him from the corner of her eye. He started his workout, and she relaxed again.

After ten minutes, she upped the setting and sweat began to run down her face in tiny rivulets. The guy finished running and started using some of the free weights.

Her head jerked at the sound of his voice. “What? Sorry, I didn’t catch that.” She reduced the speed on her machine and studied the stranger.

He was younger than she’d first concluded. His short hair was gray around the temple, but he was in tip-top shape. “The crowds will start flooding into the city now.”

She followed his gaze toward the television. “What’s going on?”

“Big Bike Weekend coming up. People are here for the events. They have everything from bands playing all over town to different motorcycle competitions for the public and law enforcement. The weather’s supposed to be beautiful.”

“Wow, sounds like fun. You from around here?” She reached down and pushed the stop button before stepping off.

He put the weights back into the rack and held out a large hand. “No, I’m from LA. It’s been years since I’ve been here during the festivities. My name’s Joe.”

“Kelsey.” She shook his hand, then bent down for her bag. “Thanks for the information. Maybe I’ll check things out. Have fun this weekend.”

He smiled. “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”

She shifted to leave and saw him bend back down to finish his workout. Returning to her room, she reflected on the day’s accomplishments. The familiar surge of panic didn’t seem quite as sharp when she entered her room. Racing across the small space, she threw herself backward on the bed and giggled up at the ceiling.

She could do this.