She flushed despite herself. “That you do.” A beat passed, and she sensed he was lingering, wanting to talk with her more but also not wanting to intrude. This was her home now—sort of. And he was just the guy stopping by.
It was only by chance that she’d been here and they’d met.
“How were you planning to use the garage if I wasn’t here?” she suddenly asked.
“Jake gave me the key code to open the garage door.”
“Oh, right,” she said, feeling silly.
“I saw a car in the driveway, so I figured I’d better knock first before just coming in.”
“Well, I’m glad you did. I probably would’ve freaked out if you randomly showed up inside. Thanks for your help,” she added, glancing back at the boxes. “I guess I should get to work on these.”
“No problem. Too bad I wasn’t here a little earlier to carry it all inside for you.”
“Yeah, well, that’s the story of my life,” she said with a laugh. “Bad timing all around.” She shrugged and noticed that Colton’s eyes briefly slid to her chest.
He chuckled. “Just come grab me if you need something else. I’ll be out in Jake’s garage.”
“All right,” she said softly.
She’d love to spend more time with him. Flirting a little. Getting to know him better. She knew most of Jake’s buddies, so it was different to meet one who had no idea who she was. Different and dangerous. Colton never would be standing there winking at her if he knew the truth.
And so what if she was currently imagining Colton’s hands running over her, his large body pinning her against the wall as he kissed her senseless? Just because she was fantasizing about it didn’t mean it would actually happen.
Ever.
She had no doubt this man could fill all her deepest desires if she wanted. But she also knew she could never let him.
Chapter 2
Colton pulled his Mustang into the garage, cursing under his breath. Finding Jake’s new roommate this afternoon had been a surprise—a very unexpected, very welcome surprise. When Morgan had pulled open the front door looking all flushed and flustered in that tank top that hugged her amazing breasts and shorts that showed off her toned legs?
His cock had instantly hardened.
No wonder Jake had never mentioned his hot-as-fuck new roommate—he was probably into her, too. What red-blooded male wouldn’t be?
Morgan was absolutely gorgeous, with long brown hair pulled back from her pretty face and those deep brown eyes that widened slightly every time she looked at him. She was petite, barely coming up to his shoulder, but curvy in all the right places.
Hell. Imagining her body pressed against his was like a fantasy come to life.
Not that he was a chauvinistic asshole or something, but helping a woman had male pride coursing straight through him. She watched in awe as he’d lifted the boxes from her car. And who was he kidding? He kept in good shape for the job. Feeling Morgan’s eyes run over his muscles was almost as hot as a gentle caress.
She was into him.
And damn if he wouldn’t find out more about her before he left tonight.
As soon as he’d found out she was Jake’s roommate and not a girlfriend or something, a little voice in his head had said game on.
And hell if chasing after her was a game he wanted to play.
Morgan. Just Morgan.
He wondered why she hadn’t given him her last name but figured she had her reasons. Some guys were total jackasses. Even though he was an NYPD officer like Jake, she didn’t know the first thing about him, so he could respect her keeping her distance.
For now.
She’d certainly looked interested as they stood in the foyer, though. He’d noticed the way her breathing had hitched as she looked up at him, her full breasts softly rising and falling against the thin cotton of her shirt. He could see the outline of her firm nipples through the white tank top she had on, and man, what he wouldn’t give to take just one little taste.
What would she sound like, moaning beneath him? He imagined all the little whimpers she’d make as he stripped that top right off her and slowly kissed his way down her body. Over her gorgeous breasts, across that flat stomach, and down lower to the sweetest spot of all.
Hell.
Would Jake care if he made a move on his roommate? Even if Jake was interested in her, he wouldn’t pursue something with a woman renting a room in his house. It’d be too messy, too awkward if things didn’t work out. And Jake was too decent of a guy to pull something like that, which pretty much made Morgan fair game.
He stepped out of his car and groaned.
He’d envisioned a low-key afternoon working on his car in Jake’s garage. He’d change the oil, give his baby a tune-up. How the hell was he supposed to relax and focus on his Mustang now though when he knew that sexy-yet-sweet Morgan was right inside?
He was dying to go back in the house and help her unpack all those boxes. Just envisioning her bending over as she worked, those breasts bouncing up and down, was making his groin tighten. Then he’d collect her in his arms, back her against the nearest wall, and kiss her senseless.
Amongst other things.
Muttering under his breath, he leaned down and popped the hood. He needed to focus. Forget about the woman inside his buddy’s house.
After rounding the front of his Mustang, Colton glanced up from his vantage-point in the garage. The neighborhood kids were riding bikes down the street, shouting and joking around. Jake had been saving up for this house in Brooklyn for a while, and he was happy for his buddy. It was located in a nice, safe neighborhood, and his friend’s hard work over the years had paid off. He knew Jake and his sister had a rough upbringing, living with a single mom who could barely afford to keep food on the table, and it meant something to Jake to be able to save up and have a place of his own. Plus, he let Colton come make use of his garage any time he wanted. Couldn’t fault a guy for that.
Colton came from a wealthy family in California. He could’ve stayed out there, working behind the scenes in his family’s sprawling vineyards or launching new business partnerships, but he’d always dreamed of being a cop.
He’d wanted to carve out his own place in the world, and a few years ago he had gone through the police academy with Jake and the third member of their trio, Brock Jenkins.
Being a bomb tech gave Colton the thrill he sought, while still providing him with the knowledge that he was helping people and making a difference. It was no different with those other guys—they all had the need to serve and protect engrained in their DNA. He’d fight to the death to protect the ones that he loved and found that honesty, integrity, and hard work were the most important things in life. His family hadn’t been happy with his decision to leave the west coast and family business, but they’d supported him, nonetheless.
And life was pretty damn sweet at the moment.
His phone buzzed with an incoming call, and he glanced down to see Brock’s name flash on the screen.
Colton smirked. Jake was usually more of his wingman when they went out, the two of them preferring to swoop in on members of the opposite sex together for a little harmless flirting. Brock was usually off by himself chasing after one woman or another. Or he had been, Colton amended, until he’d started dating Lily.
The chick was gorgeous but totally not his type—high maintenance, rich, and as far from his own down-to-earth personality as one could get. Not that Brock usually went for that type of woman either, he mused, but fuck if Brock wasn’t head-over-heels for her. His buddy was pussy-whipped, but he seemed happier than hell living with his girlfriend Lily. The two were total opposites, but somehow it worked for them.
“Yo, what’s up man?” Colton said in a low voice as he answered.
“I just got off work. Lily’s getting changed so we can go grab drinks later on. We’re hanging out in the neighborhood tonight. Want to meet up for a couple of beers?”
Colton’s eyes drif
ted toward the door to the house, knowing Morgan was only a few feet away. “Nah. Not tonight. I’ll catch up with you tomorrow. Something came up.”
Brock laughed. “She got a name?”
Colton grunted, for some reason not wanting to tell his buddy that he was planning to make a move on Jake’s roommate. Not that Brock would disapprove, but he’d want details. And Colton wasn’t ready to share.
“I figured,” Brock said with a low chuckle. “Give me a shout if you change your mind or crash and burn. Jake’s in training, so it’s just Lily and me.”
“How do you know there’s a woman?” Colton asked, crossing the garage.
“There’s always a woman,” Brock quipped.
“We’ll see. Have fun with Lily tonight. Don’t get into too much trouble.”
“Too damn late for that,” Brock joked.
Shaking his head, Colton said goodbye and grabbed the jack from a shelf in the garage, his eyes again landing on the door to the house. Hell. He shouldn’t go in there. He shouldn’t even be thinking about the woman inside.
A sweet and innocent little thing like Morgan wouldn’t even know what to do with a guy like him. But hell if he didn’t want to see for himself how she’d react to his touch.
Putting those thoughts aside for now, he removed the oil cap, setting it on the ground next to him as he laid down to focus his attention on the oil pan. He removed the plug, catching the old oil as it drained from his car. He worked hurriedly, distracted by his thoughts, and oil splashed onto his forearms and old tee shirt.
Damn.
Maybe Jake had another shirt he could borrow, because there was no way he was wearing this mess in his car to drive home. He prided his baby inside and out, and hell if he was getting oil stains all over the interior.
Wiping some of the grease from his hands on his already soiled tee shirt, he stood back up and grabbed a funnel and can of fresh oil, pouring it in.
A loud crash suddenly came from inside the house, and Colton moved quickly, opening the door from the garage. His heart thudded in his chest, his gaze sweeping the area for any danger.
He relaxed his stance when he saw a large box had tipped over and books were spilled all over the hallway, but Morgan was nowhere in sight. “Everything okay?” he called out.
“Fine!” came her far-off reply.
He stepped through the door, grease from his shirt rubbing off on the freshly painted trim. “Damn it,” he muttered, stripping the shirt off over his head. He wiped the oil stains with the cotton.
Jake wouldn’t care if he borrowed a tee shirt but would be pissed as hell if Colton left grease marks all over the front hallway. Colton gripped the soiled tee shirt in one hand, ready to wash up, and then froze at the sight of Morgan standing there, her mouth dropped open in surprise.
It took him a beat to recover, but then he flashed her one of his trademark grins. “See anything you like?”
Chapter 3
Heat bloomed over Morgan’s skin, and her heart practically skidded to a stop as she froze in place, unable to take her eyes off his ripped torso. “Umm,” she mumbled, completely at a loss for words.
He’d peeled off his tee shirt as he stepped in from the garage, revealing washboard abs, broad pectorals that she was dying to run her hands across, and muscular biceps and shoulders. Colton was all muscle, all male beneath that shirt, and her heart caught in her throat at the sight. All that tanned, smooth skin against tight, taut muscle? What would it be like to feel her body flush against his? To feel his hard chest against her breasts?
She flushed just imagining his powerful body moving atop hers. What would it be like to have all that power thrusting inside her, driving her to pleasure as he sought his own?
She didn’t usually date guys like him and shouldn’t even be imagining it.
Morgan was fine on her own. Completely, one hundred percent fine.
Colton chuckled, his deep laughter filling the hallway. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I spilled oil on my tee shirt and then got some on Jake’s fresh paint.” He cocked his head toward the doorframe, somehow looking even sexier with grease stains on his hands. “I was just trying to clean it off.”
Damn.
He looked like some sort of Greek God, and she was standing here like an idiot.
“You didn’t—I mean—you just caught me off guard. I wasn’t expecting you to come in—wasn’t expecting you at all, really.” Her voice drifted off.
Colton stood perfectly still, seemingly not wanting to spook her. She let her gaze rake over him, taking in the way his chiseled abs gave way to narrow hips. There was a happy trail leading down right to the promised land. And boy did she want a glimpse.
The air between them practically sizzled, and she couldn’t bring herself to move away.
“I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting you either,” he said. “I thought I’d be here by myself at Jake’s for the afternoon—not that I’m complaining,” he said with a wink. “I just came in because I heard a loud crash and wanted to see if you were okay.”
Morgan nodded, her gaze landing on the mess in the hallway. “I’m good. I was just trying to organize things—I guess I should’ve expected a cop to come rushing in to my rescue. I’m used to my bro—to Jake.”
Colton didn’t seem to catch what she’d nearly said, just nodded. And he certainly wouldn’t be standing there with heat in his eyes if he knew she was Jake’s sister.
“I think it’s engrained in our DNA,” he joked. “To serve and protect—rescue women in distress. I can help you clean that up later if you want,” he said, nodding toward the books. He held up his oil-stained hands. “Gotta wash up a bit first.”
“The bathroom’s this way,” she said automatically, turning with the knowledge that he’d follow. What was she doing? This guy was Jake’s friend. There’s no way in hell he’d be hitting on her if he knew who she really was.
She felt his large frame move behind her, awareness prickling over every inch of her skin.
She needed to get out of here so she could breathe again. Why Colton had her all flustered and flushing like a schoolgirl was unnerving.
And he seemed to realize exactly the reaction she had around him.
“Great,” he said as she stepped aside in the doorway to the bathroom. “Maybe I can grab one of Jake’s shirts so I don’t get oil stains all over the inside of my car.”
“I’m sure he won’t mind.”
Morgan moved past him, trying to ignore the heat radiating off his skin and his masculine scent. There was a slight trace of oil and sweat there, but it was sexy and appealing. Colton was rough and raw and real.
And she didn’t need anything like him if she knew what was good for her.
She grabbed a clean tee shirt from Jake’s room and walked back down the hall.
“Think this’ll work?” she asked, as Colton stepped from the bathroom.
“Perfect,” he said, catching it mid-air. “And nice throw.”
She looked away as he slid the tee shirt on, trying to ignore the wide expanse of flesh and muscle. She was mortified that he’d already caught her staring at him earlier. He was a good-looking NYPD cop, probably used to all the attention from women. She was a flustered relatively average looking elementary school teacher.
“So what are you doing tonight?” Colton asked as he followed her back into the foyer.
She stopped abruptly, Colton nearly running into her from behind. His hand wrapped around her arm before he knocked her off-balance, and he chuckled. Heat washed over her skin, and he gently released her.
The loss of his touch was unsettling. She shouldn’t want his hands on her skin.
Turning around, she looked up, nearly awestruck again by how handsome he was. The blond scruff on his jaw. Those chiseled features and piercing blue eyes.
Had he just asked her out? No. He was just making polite conversation. He probably already had a hot date lined up and couldn’t wait to get out of here.
“I’m finished with the oil change,” Colton said in a low voice. “It’s early. What do you say we order a pizza or something and hang out?”
“Hang out?”
“Why not?” he said with an easy shrug. “You’re here, I’m here—and I’m starving. You can tell me more about yourself.”
She hesitated a moment, and Colton’s eyes softened.
“Hey, I get that we don’t really know each other. I sort of barged in here on you this afternoon. I promise I’m a decent guy. If you feel uncomfortable and would rather I go, that’s cool. I’ll just have to ask Jake about you on Monday morning.”
She flushed, not wanting that conversation to happen.
Colton wasn’t asking her out on a date exactly, but it would be weird to hang out with him alone here and order pizza. They needed to go somewhere, do something. Just standing here feet away from Colton made it hard to breathe.
He overwhelmed her in the best possible way, and she didn’t trust herself around him. At all.
“How about we go out somewhere instead?” she found herself asking. “I can change—”
“You’re absolutely perfect,” Colton interrupted. “We’ll go somewhere casual. That’s not my usual choice for a first date, but we’ll improvise.”
“A first date?”
“Hell yeah, it’s a date. I’m taking you out to dinner. Otherwise how can I steal a goodnight kiss at the end?”
His lips quirked as he watched the heat bloom over her skin. Goodness. She wouldn’t survive dating this man. Not that they were dating—they were just grabbing dinner. Together. And then she’d never see him again.
Goodness knew she’d have to avoid him after this.
“There’s a diner close by,” she said, hesitating.
“I know the one. It’s perfect.”
Twenty minutes later, they were tucked into the booth of the diner around the corner from Jake’s house. Morgan glanced around at the sparse Friday evening crowd. She’d only been living with Jake temporarily, but she’d gotten to know some of the neighbors. All she needed was for someone she knew to come over and ask how her brother was. Several of the single moms in the neighborhood had the hots for Jake. He’d mentioned once that he couldn’t believe how many women and kids stopped to say hi when he was out walking his dog, Shadow.
Be Mine Tonight (Line of Duty Book 2) Page 2