Where is Zorro?
Two glasses later, she began to suspect the punch was laced with something. She was definitely feeling the hazy effect alcohol usually produced in her. It made her lazy and relaxed. Not totally unpleasant. She set her cup down and reached for an orange cookie. Hopefully that would take the edge off.
* * * *
Mike watched Emma from across the room, getting brief glimpses of her as dancers twirled about in front of him. He figured it was safer this way. She made him want too fast, too hard, and that scared him. He’d dated on and off the last four years, had even gotten close to a couple women, but no one had come close to making him forget where he was. Emma made him forget everything but her.
When they were on the dance floor, he could have easily done something that would have embarrassed them both. His lips quirked into a lopsided grin as he watched her drink down a second glass of punch as though it were water. Instincts told him she didn’t know it was laced with vodka.
Someone brushed against him and he glanced down at Cleopatra. He knew immediately who was behind the heavy makeup and black, shoulder-length wig. Trudy Evans had been trying to capture his attention all evening, and had been after him since moving into town the month before. How the hell did she figure out who I am?
“Oh excuse me, Zorro!” she gushed like a blushing virgin, putting her hands on Mike’s arms. “Someone pushed me.”
Mike doubted it. “It’s a good thing I was here to stop your fall.”
His gaze shot back to where he’d last seen Emma. For a moment the crowd blocked his view and he moved his head from side-to-side to see around them. His eyes narrowed when he watched Frankenstein walk up to her. His mouth turned down as he realized Frankenstein was girl-happy Pete. Before he knew it she was in his arms and they were twirling wildly around the dance floor.
Mike excused himself from Trudy, and headed for the dance floor with purposeful strides.
Chapter 6
Emma didn’t really feel like dancing. Yet before she was able to vocalize her feelings, Frankenstein took her into his arms, and swung her onto the dance floor. The room began to swim immediately and she stumbled slightly, clutching the front of his costume for support.
“Hello, beautiful lady!” he gushed with alcohol-induced enthusiasm. His teeth were startlingly white against a backdrop of green paint. “I can’t believe someone hasn’t snatched you up before now, my good fortune.”
Definitely not hers. Emma tried to remain on her feet. How did he move so fast wearing those lifts on his shoes? She turned her head automatically when he lowered his face. Surely he wasn’t going to kiss her.
“Are you here alone?” His eyebrows danced up and down.
Frankenstein doing a Groucho Marx impersonation struck her funny bone and she started laughing. She hated lying but as soon as she pulled herself together, one lie passed through her lips anyway.
“Sorry, no. I—”
He made a disappointed sound, and interrupted her. “That’s too bad.”
As he twirled her wildly, she had no choice but to close her eyes and pray he didn’t release her. She stumbled a second time, laughing it off. Before she could apologize for her clumsiness, Frankenstein traded her for Snow White and Emma suddenly found herself in the arms of Zorro again.
Grateful for the rescue, she looked deeply into his eyes. “Don’t I know you?” She didn’t protest when he drew her more firmly against him. Almost protectively she couldn’t help notice, and a little thrill shot down her spine. Now that Emma knew he wasn’t married she allowed herself to enjoy being in his arms.
Mike’s lips twitched with obvious humor. “We’ve run into each other a time or two.” He slowed down so she could keep up. “How about I take you home?”
Her eyes widened with surprise. “I thought I told you I don’t sleep around.” She waited for him to deny it.
“That didn’t exactly come out right, I don’t mean take you home to bed; in case you weren’t aware of it, there was vodka in that punch.”
That meant he’d watched her drink down two glasses. Is he actually blushing? Emma laughed gaily.
“I thought it was spiked. But I am not drunk, you know, just a little dizzy—”
“Do you know how just a little dizzy can be dangerous when you’re driving?” He cut her off in a hardened tone. “I can recall one too many alcohol-related accidents from my years in a squad car.”
Emma arched a brow, taking offense to his tone of voice. “Before you interrupted me I was going to say, I’m just a little dizzy due to lack of food and being swung around the dance floor too fast.” She made a halfhearted effort to pull away from him.
He easily held her against him, and released a resigned sigh. “Sorry, I don’t know what it is, but when I’m around you…”
“I rub you the wrong way?” She smiled.
“Something like that,” he mumbled, trying to return her smile but failing miserably.
For the second time that night Mike was becoming aroused, and clenched his teeth as if that alone would hold it at bay. He tried to think of something else, anything that would take his mind off the warm, curvaceous woman in his arms.
For starters he raised his hands to her waist, after realizing they’d fallen dangerously low. The memory of what her curvy bottom felt like in his hands caused a rush of heat to settle low in his belly, and threatened to ignite at the slightest provocation. He began to wonder if he’d drunk a little more than his legal quota. Another major mistake, as far as Mike was concerned. He thought he heard a wistful sigh escape Emma but it was hard to tell with the music and conversation flowing around them.
“So, ah, where’s your wife?”
Emma’s radiant smile momentarily held Mike spellbound. “My, ah, wife?” Her question threw him for a loop until he remembered her last words to him. Thinking he was married was a good thing, right? Only lying went against the grain.
“Right at the moment I don’t know.” He decided he’d better stick as close to the truth as he could. Besides, it wasn’t exactly a lie. He hadn’t seen Sharon since she deserted them and the last he heard she’d moved out of the state.
“Is she here? I’d like to meet her.” She appeared to be looking around the crowd as though she knew whom she was searching for.
“No.” There was nothing like talking about his ex-wife to kill the desire riding Mike. It was as if Emma knew¼ He narrowed his eyes on her suspiciously, trying to see through the mischievous twinkle staring back at him. Did she know?
“That’s a shame. How long have you been married?”
He noticed that her hands were resting lightly on his shoulders, her fingers tapping to the beat of the music. A smile softened her mouth, making it appear as velvety and dewy as a rose petal.
He would have been married for sixteen years but answered honestly. “Ten years. He quickly changed the subject. “I think it’s time I take you home.” It was almost midnight and the party appeared to be winding down.
“That’s not necessary.” Her foot came down on top of his. “Sorry…”
As far as Mike was concerned she’d just proved his point about needing a ride home. The look in his eyes told her so. “I don’t mind. If memory serves me correctly, we don’t live that far away from each other.”
“No, I mean I came with Amanda,” she explained. They stopped moving when the music stopped, remaining close.
“Well, unless my eyes were deceiving me a few minutes ago, I saw Amanda leave.”
Emma did move out of his arms then, her eyes widening. “She wouldn’t just leave me!” she said with disbelief.
Mike watched her carefully, crossing his arms while she scanned the room with incredulity in her eyes. He gave her as long as she needed to accept her situation. A smile tugged at the corners of his mouth when he saw her hike up her low-hanging pants again. Finally she turned back to him.
“Convinced?” He grinned.
“I could always phone for a cab,” she hedg
ed. “I can’t believe Amanda would just go off and leave me. She’s never done anything like that before.”
The innocence behind Emma biting down on her bottom lip reminded Mike of something similar his daughter did when she was in trouble and afraid to tell him about it. “It’s my duty as an officer of the law, ma’am.”
“Because you think I’m inebriated?”
She crossed her arms, which wasn’t a very good idea, considering the action pushed her breasts up and drew his attention there. Emma had beautiful, rounded breasts.
Her challenging stance amused him. He knew he was using the two glasses of punch she’d consumed earlier as an excuse to take her home. Am I hoping something will happen between us? His cock was certainly hoping so.
“If I let you leave here and something happens…” He purposely let his sentence trail off.
Emma pinned her gaze on him, one well-shaped brow arching high. “You’re forgetting one thing, Officer; I can still call for a cab.”
Mike shrugged. “Good luck getting one any time soon. It’s almost midnight and with all the Halloween parties going on tonight they’re probably all pretty busy taking calls from other dizzy harem dancers.” He paused for a moment. “And it’s Detective,” he corrected.
It was the first time Mike commented about her costume. Until then Emma had half-hoped he hadn’t paid much attention to it. Now she became self-conscious. The way his gaze was moving over her made her feel he could see right through it.
“Detective,” she corrected in a sassy tone. “I guess I have no choice but to let you do the gentlemanly thing and drive me home. Just let me get my coat.” She walked away before he could say another word.
On her way to the ladies’ room, Emma couldn’t help but wonder what she was getting into. There was clearly something about Mike that drew her to him, a definite chemistry between them. In addition, she liked his sense of humor. She wasn’t at all certain she was looking for a relationship, although it was apparent Amanda thought she was. One thing was certain though; Mike wasn’t looking for a relationship. Since he was letting her believe he was still married, that was the only conclusion she could draw. The question of the century was, why?
Slipping into her coat, she left the ladies’ room, noticing the party was beginning to wind down fast. Someone had finally turned off the disco lights. The soft glow of the fluorescent bulbs overhead revealed the dancing had stopped. Muted sounds of conversation and mild laughter had replaced the music as the few partygoers left behind had formed into small, tight groups. Frankenstein waved to get her attention, shooting her a kiss when she glanced his way. Laughing, Emma tossed him one back.
Mike was waiting for her at the snack table, munching on a celery stick, the leafy green part hanging out of his mouth and dripping water down the front of his black shirt. He’d removed his mask and somehow appeared even more dark and dangerous. Sexy, which was probably why she said what she did when he was within hearing range.
“I hope your wife doesn’t mind you taking another woman home.”
Not so much as a blink gave his true feelings away. “Let me worry about that.”
He took her by the arm, and led her toward the door. It was on the tip of Emma’s tongue to tell him the truth, but she’d let it go on for too long. After tonight they’d probably never see each other again anyway, so what did it matter? Just because they’d run into each other twice in one week didn’t mean anything.
“Do you believe in fate, Mike?”
Mike wasn’t big on kismet. He was a realist, believed in facts, black-and-white and what was in front of his nose. He had to see it to believe it. He hadn’t always been that way. Maybe his mother was right, he’d let his situation with Sharon harden him. Turn him into a cynic. What man wouldn’t grow a little bitter when the woman he loved and thought loved him just walked away?
“No.” He decided to leave it at that.
The second they stepped through the door, a crisp autumn breeze whipped over them. The chill in the air was undeniable. Mike watched Emma pull her coat more closely around herself as they walked through the parking lot to his truck. He glanced down to see the wind wreaking havoc with her hair. Leaves from the maple trees nearby were flying about their heads and shoulders and by the time he opened his truck door, Emma was laughing and trying to keep her hair out of her face and mouth. The low seductive quality of her laugh sharpened his senses, hardening his determination to ignore it.
“I love this kind of weather!”
Her soft voice drifted away on the wind. She turned toward him, and paused between him and the door he’d opened. Her face was upturned as she gazed up at the unclouded sky.
“Fall is my favorite time of year. I love the crisp clean air and the sound of howling wind whipping through the trees. Don’t you?”
Although she’d asked a question, Mike got the impression she wasn’t expecting a reply. He’d never given the time of year much thought. But for a moment he allowed his gaze to follow hers upwards, before he slowly lowered his gaze to meet her eyes. The parking lot light reflected the innocence in Emma’s eyes. The urge to kiss her was so strong at that moment that it made him shake. He actually started to crowd her against the truck, pulling back when a moment of sanity returned.
If I kiss her now I won’t stop there.
“What’s wrong?”
Did she sense his dilemma? Suddenly Mike didn’t give a damn. His cock had been in a semi-hard state all night because of her and nothing was going to keep him from getting some relief. Even if it was just a kiss.
Emma’s mouth was already parted, as if in anticipation. He didn’t hesitate. Wasn’t going to ask her. He lowered his head and covered her mouth with his, growling when he lost control and crushed her to him. Mike knew as soon as he tasted the sweet softness off her lips that it wasn’t going to be enough.
Sounds of pleasure surrounded them as Emma kissed him back with as much passion. She needed no coaxing, and opened her mouth eagerly beneath his. Mike slipped his tongue inside, taking hers in an erotic dance of give-and-take. Drinking in her warmth and searching for more.
With impatience he moved her thick coat aside and moved against her, letting her feel what she was doing to him. He swallowed her soft moans of desire, a shudder moving through his body when she arched against his cock. Fuck! He realized it wouldn’t take much to make him come.
Mike moved his mouth to the delicate arch of her exposed throat, and kissed his way back up to the corner of her soft mouth, tugging on that delectable bottom lip. His hands glided up her twisting body to her breasts, taking them into his hands. Groaning, he caressed them until he felt her nipples harden.
“Mike!”
The soft sound of Emma’s plea was like a gunshot blast. And to a police detective that signaled danger. It alerted him enough to realize he was close to fucking the willing Emma Stuart right up against his truck. Drawing up what little strength he had left, he reluctantly pulled away.
“We’d better go; it’s getting late.” He was breathing hard.
So was she. Seconds of silence followed before a calmer Emma said, “Oh, I’m sorry, Mike, you probably have to work tomorrow.” She swung around to get in.
What was she sorry for? The heated moment between them or the fact he was driving her home? Mike didn’t bother correcting her. If all went accordingly tomorrow, he’d be spending the day out on Bear Lake with Melissa for some quality father-daughter time. He figured he'd better get in as much time as he could before she started talking about dances and boyfriends.
These days all he had to compete with were the weekend slumber parties at her friends’ houses. So far he’d managed to talk her out of having them at their place. Having one teenage girl in the house was bad enough, but there was no way Mike was going to subject himself to a bunch of girls on the brink of womanhood. He’d seen the way they ogled anything male. A clear sign their hormones had kicked in. Mike figured he needed that kind of trouble like he needed a hole in
the head.
Touching Emma as little as possible, he helped her into the cab, closed the door, and took several steadying breaths as he walked around to the driver’s side. By the time he climbed in, he was halfway in control again. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad being cooped up in his truck with her after all.
It was worse than bad. As soon as the cab filled with the heat he’d turned on, he caught her light fragrance. Not the perfume Emma was wearing, but her. In an effort to take his mind off her, and how damn good she felt in his arms, he reached forward and turned the radio on low. But that only intensified the atmosphere with the slow, sultry tune of an old love song.
Hell! There was no escape. The sudden image of them making love made his blood come to a full boil. He sighed deeply, and ran a hand through his hair while trying to pretend he wasn’t harder than stone in his pants. Maybe if he talked to her it would keep visions of them together out of his head.
Keep it impersonal, old man.
“Are you warm enough?” As soon as the words passed through his lips he wished he could recall them; it was hotter than a furnace in there.
“Yes, thank you. Oh, I forgot to tell you that I moved about a month ago.”
Mike’s gaze swung her way but all he saw was the glitter of her eyes in the darkness. “Am I even heading in the right direction?” he asked then let out a chuckle of dry humor.
Her soft laugh overrode the music playing on the radio. “Yes. I moved into one of the new townhouses down on the lake.”
For the second time his head swung Emma’s way. “Bear Lake?” That was the only lake around that he knew developers were building on now.
“Yes, you know where it is?”
He nodded with disbelief, and clenched his jaw. “Yes, I know where it is.”
He couldn’t believe it. She was actually living on the very lake he spent most weekends fishing with Melissa. If he didn’t know better, he’d think there was more than just coincidence working against him. What had Emma asked him earlier about fate?
PASSIONATE ENCOUNTERS Page 6