PASSIONATE ENCOUNTERS

by Tory Richards

  Thinking of his daughter, Mike wondered how the Halloween party had gone at her school. He’d offered to chaperone, but she’d begged him not to, saying it was bad enough some of the other parents were going to be there, baby-sitting, if he remembered her words correctly. They didn’t need a cop around on top of that.

  His daughter hadn’t been a teenager long enough to know what every parent of a teenager already knew, that sexual curiosity and experimentation were right around the corner. Mike dreaded those coming days, recalling what his own youth had been like once he’d hit puberty. He’d lusted after everything in a skirt, including some of his teachers. He’d gone through the last three years of high school with a constant hard-on until one of the cheerleaders had taken pity on him and put him out of his misery, educating him in the art of love.

  Mike snorted to himself. Love, hell, it had been lust pure and simple. The thought of something like that happening to Melissa made him sick inside, but he knew it was going to happen eventually because it was part of life. Still, god save the punk who tried to get fresh with her and he found out about it.

  The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his ominous thoughts. He shot Emma a glance, and reached for it where it was clipped onto his belt. He just happened to be driving beneath a streetlight and was able to make out that her eyes were shut, but instincts told him she was just resting.

  “Yeah?” he said into the mouthpiece.

  “It’s me, Dad.”

  An instant smile formed on his mouth at the sound of Melissa’s voice. She sounded tired. “What’s up, kid? Everything okay at the party?”

  “Oh, we left there an hour ago. I’m at Casey’s now. I just wanted you to know before you went to bed.”

  Casey was Melissa’s best friend and her house was one of the few places where he allowed her to sleep over. Secondly, the fact that she didn’t have any brothers around was a definite plus. He’d never allow Melissa to spend the night with one of her girlfriends if there were boys in the house.

  “And?” Mike could always tell when there was something else on her mind.

  “Well, I know we had fishing planned for tomorrow, but…”

  “Spit it out, kid,” he encouraged when she hesitated.

  Melissa cleared her throat. “Would you be very upset if I didn’t go? A group of us from school want to go river rafting tomorrow and then picnic at the park and I thought, well, you wouldn’t mind. Casey’s parents are going,” she was quick to add.

  Mike knew what he wanted to say, but something totally different came out. “Bear Lake isn’t going anywhere; we can fish any weekend. You go rafting with your friends and have a good time, just dress warm. And call me with all the details before you leave in the morning.”

  She said goodnight and Mike released a long breath, snapping the phone back into its clip. It was starting already. Tomorrow was probably just the first of many canceled outings between them.

  Chapter 7

  There was something warm and comforting listening to Mike’s voice in the darkness of the cab. And sexy. He was sexy. Emma’s pulse was still racing over their kiss, her blood still hot. She was honest enough to admit that she wanted more with him. She’d nearly sunk to the ground in weakness when she’d felt how hard and ready his cock has been.

  Wrong place. Wrong time.

  She opened her eyes, glanced at Mike, and asked the obvious. “Was that your daughter?”

  “Yep.”

  She smiled at his brisk response. “Sounds like you were being dumped,” she continued.

  “Yep.”

  “How old is she?”

  “Thirteen going on twenty.” He kept his eyes on the road. The turn off to Bear Lake came into view and he made a sharp left. “You have a grown daughter; how did you handle it when Amanda turned thirteen?”

  Emma chuckled, not correcting his assumption about their relationship. After all, she had raised Amanda.

  “There’s nothing to handle; you can’t stop them from growing up. All you can do is guide them and hope they make the right choices. And support them when they go their own way and it’s not the path you would have chosen.”

  “You make it sound so easy. What about…” He hesitated, obviously growing uncomfortable. “Sex education?”

  “Some of that she’ll get in school.”

  “That’s what I’m afraid of.” He cast her a glance.

  “I don’t mean that.” Emma laughed softly, realizing where his fears were heading. “They teach sex education in school, remember? In addition, you should be talking to her about it at home. You might let your wife handle that particular discussion.”

  He remained quiet after that and Emma knew why. Smiling to herself, she glanced up in time to see a large tan buck step into the middle of the road, freezing in the headlights of the truck.

  “Mike!”

  He slammed on the brakes. The truck swerved back and forth on loose gravel and for a moment it seemed they weren’t going to stop in time. Emma grabbed the dashboard to keep from being thrown against it, and finally the vehicle came to a skidding halt.

  “You okay?”

  His concern warmed her. She nodded, forgetting he probably couldn’t see it in the darkness.

  “Isn’t he beautiful?” she whispered, and reached out blindly to touch Mike on the arm. She couldn’t take her eyes off the huge animal as he stood there quivering, his large brown eyes staring directly at them. He looked noble and proud, almost as if he were posing for a picture that would portray his whole species.

  “Good thing it’s not deer hunting season,” Mike joked. “He’s a prime target right now.”

  Emma shot him a scowl. “Just like a man,” she responded, taking note of the impressive antlers on the buck. “I see a lot of deer around here. Sometimes I look out my back door in the mornings and they’re right there, stealing apples off the crab apple trees down by the lake.”

  “Really? About what time is that?”

  She picked up on the interest in his tone, and chuckled in spite of herself. “Forget it, Detective. I’m not going to be the cause of some poor helpless animal becoming someone’s dinner. You—” Her remark was cut off by the unexpected sound of gunfire. She jumped. “What…”

  “Get down!”

  Emma had time to see the buck take off before Mike grabbed her and forced her down on the seat. Another shot followed closely behind the first one, shattering the window in the door next to her. She screamed.

  Mike swore viciously, and gunned the engine to get out of there. They were on a stretch of isolated road and though the shooter was after the buck, right now they were the sitting ducks.

  “This isn’t hunting season,” Emma said from her crouched position, looking up at the shattered window in her door. Glass had sprayed everywhere but her heavy wool coat had saved her.

  “Those rules don’t apply to poachers,” Mike said in a tight voice. He spared her a quick glance while reaching forward for his radio. “Are you all right?”

  She nodded.

  “Stay down and don’t move; you’re covered in glass,” he ordered in a hard voice while driving the truck at a dangerous speed.

  Emma listened quietly while Mike called the station to report the incident. She heard him say he’d meet them back there in half an hour. She wondered what he thought to find in the dark but didn’t question him, appreciating his urgency in getting them away from there. Whoever had done the shooting had terrible aim.

  A shiver ran over her that had nothing to do with the cold air rushing in when she thought about what could have happened. She’d never liked guns and being shot at only enforced her feelings. It occurred to her that either one of them could have lost their lives if the shooter’s aim had been any better.

  “Were you cut by any glass?”

  There was concern in his voice. He slowed his speed when they were far enough away from the area. He turned on the dome light.

  Meeting the fierce look in his eyes, Emma smiled to r
eassure him. “I don’t think so.”

  “I’m sorry this happened.”

  His gaze moved over her quickly before determining she was okay and turning off the light again.

  “It wasn’t your fault.” Emma began to feel cramped on the floor.

  The sudden turn Mike made told her they were entering the Bear Lake Townhouse parking lot. She grabbed for the seat when she lost her balance, but it was Mike’s thigh her fingers clutched instead. He sucked in his breath. “I’m sorry!” she gasped with embarrassment, realizing she’d hurt him. The muscle beneath her hand flexed, becoming harder and more defined. She released him at once.

  “An old war wound,” Mike explained, deciding it was a lot easier than telling Emma the truth. Past history taught him that most people didn’t question war wounds; however, in his experience, knife wounds acquired in a fight with a motorcycle gang leader were always a source of interest to someone who wasn’t a cop.

  Mike didn’t feel like going into any details about how he received that injury. He’d only mentioned it in the first place to disguise the truth behind his reaction. She hadn’t really hurt him, but her fingers had come dangerously close to his cock when she’d grabbed for the seat.

  “What’s your building number?”

  Each town house had a large brass number over the garage door and the streetlights enabled Mike to see them as he drove past. The two-story houses of brick had wooden flower boxes at each window on either side of the front door, and a chimney he suspected wasn’t just for show. He liked that the developer had opted for building around some of the original pines and birch trees, instead of cutting them down. It gave the place a rustic, established look.

  “I live in the last townhouse closest to the lake, building ten.”

  Mike parked his truck in a spot directly in front of Emma’s door and turned off the ignition. As he walked around to her side he caught the reflection of the moon on the glassy surface of the water, noting her nice view of the lake. He opened the door and glanced down; the dome light revealed she’d been showered with glass. It was all over her coat, the seat, and the floor.

  Their eyes met as he held out his hand. If she didn’t get cut before it was over, it would be a miracle.

  “Let’s take this slow.” Emma put her hand trustingly into his, and let him guide her out. “Don’t move,” he ordered when she had her feet planted firmly on the ground. Reaching up, he began to unbutton her coat.

  “What are you doing?” She looked around the darkened parking lot.

  “What do you think I’m doing?” he asked with a crooked grin, enjoying her sudden discomfort. “I’m taking off your coat. I want to shake the glass off before we go inside.” If she thought it was odd he said we, she didn’t show it.

  “I’m not sure I want to give my neighbors a strip show,” Emma explained, glancing around to see if any curtains were being pulled aside. “A lot of them are elderly, and nosey.”

  Mike’s eyes captured hers, his fingers hesitating beneath her chin. If he were an old man and happened to glance out the window in time to see Emma’s scantily clad body in a harem outfit, he’d die a happy man. “Think they can’t handle the view?” he teased.

  “I don’t know, what do you think? This body could be a lethal weapon. I wouldn’t want to send anyone to the hospital with cardiac arrest,” she teased right back.

  She was kidding, her eyes glimmering with amusement and her tone light, yet Mike couldn’t get past the picture of her on the dance floor earlier that night, or the feel of her in his arms. And the taste of her mouth.

  She had a lethal body all right; he was sure he’d be dreaming about her long after they parted. Reminding himself he needed to get back to where the shooting had occurred, he quickly worked the buttons free and slipped the coat off her shoulders, suddenly wishing they weren’t standing beneath the streetlight. He stepped back, trying like hell not to let his eyes wander below her chin.

  “While you do that, I’m going inside where it’s warm.” She turned for the front door.

  He watched her as he shook out her coat. His gaze dropped down the length of her backside as she unlocked the door and flipped on the light. She turned his way, standing there for a moment, nothing but a shapely silhouette in the threshold.

  Something told him if she knew the light was filtering through her costume right now, she’d die of embarrassment. Or, was she doing it on purpose? Knowing he was watching her?

  He hoped the darkness hid the predatory gleam in his gaze as he slowly made his way toward her, seeing Emma in a completely different light now. Literally. The lighting at the Halloween party had been dimmed low for effect, and the disco lights on the dance floor had made everything seem distorted. The bright light behind her enabled Mike to see the full effect of her body in the costume.

  He clenched his teeth. A single thought flashed across his mind: of fucking her until the sun came up. He struggled to keep his glance impersonal as he closed the distance between them, but halfway down her body something caught his eye. As he narrowed his gaze, it didn’t take him long to determine she’d been cut on the leg. The glass had clearly sliced right through the sheer fabric covering her thighs.

  “Looks like you’ve been nicked.” He stopped in front of her.

  Emma followed the direction of his gaze. “So I have,” she agreed with complete surprise. “I didn’t even feel it.”

  “Do you have a first aid kit?” He stepped further into the room, closed the door behind him, and dropped her coat on the back of a chair. “I’ll take a look at it to make sure the glass is out and you don’t need any stitches.”

  “That’s not necessary.” She smiled up at him. “I’m sure peroxide and a Band-Aid will do.”

  Mike glanced at her long and hard, before raising a brow that he knew usually intimidated people into doing what he wanted. There was no way he was leaving there until he made sure she was all right. The cut was high up on her thigh and he suspected Emma was afraid of letting him get that close to her.

  Come to think of it, he was worried, too. She was too damn appealing.

  “If you’re worried about modesty, don’t be. I’ve delivered babies before.” That should take care of her sudden shyness.

  “My, you are a talented man,” she teased. “A detective and a doctor.”

  “It comes with the costume,” he joked in return. “Now, what about that kit?”

  She turned and began walking away from him. “I’ll get it; it’s in the bathroom under the sink, but I doubt it has much in it. I haven’t opened it since Amanda was a child.”

  Mike was close behind her so when she bent to open the cabinet beneath the sink, he slammed right into her. His hands automatically went to her hips to keep her from flying forward and for the briefest moment their positions were as intimate as they could get.

  He took a second to enjoy the feel of her ass brushing his cock before releasing her as if he’d been scorched. Knowing instinctively where the light switch was located he reached up to flip it on. It was obvious Emma hadn’t known he’d followed her. She released a nervous laugh, and straightened up, meeting his eyes in the brightness of the bathroom light. She took a nervous step back.

  The bathroom wasn’t all that big and when Mike stepped further into the room, it shrank even smaller.

  “Sorry if I frightened you.” As he spoke he looked around the room, searching for a good place for her to sit. There was only one place high enough. “Up.” He patted the vanity top.

  “Up? I don’t think…”

  Before she could brace herself, Mike’s hands went to her waist, and hoisted her up without any trouble. She caught her breath when her legs came in contact with the cold marble surface.

  “You were saying?” He took in her pretty blush, noticing she couldn’t meet his eyes.

  “Do you always get your way?”

  There was a slight tremor in her voice, which didn’t go unnoticed by Mike. He couldn’t help wondering if she was
as affected as he was by their close proximity. He began questioning his common sense. Her sitting on the vanity brought their mouths almost level.

  “When it matters,” he responded. He lowered his gaze, taking in the blood soaking her costume before opening the kit to see what it offered. Not much, but at least it had bandages and antibiotic ointment. He set it aside and reached for Emma’s leg.

  She stiffened immediately.

  “Ouch.”

  His gaze shot up to hers. “I haven’t even touched you yet.”

  “I’m practicing,” she said with sass.

  The light in her eyes caught Mike’s interest and turned him warm inside. For a second he wanted to do something crazy, like kiss that soft mouth again. He remembered her lips tasted as sweet as they looked, and something had to be done to erase the humor that always seemed present in her eyes. He wanted to replace it with something hot and needy. When he realized he was staring at her mouth, he literally shook his head, and swore beneath his breath.

  “Are you okay?” There was nothing at all innocent about her question. Not when she used that low, seductive tone and looked at him like he was something she wanted to lap up.

  Am I okay? Hell, he hadn’t been okay since the first time he looked into her large, brown eyes. He managed to find enough strength to ignore her comment, bending to the task at hand. His hands reached for the fabric covering her thigh, gently parting it where it was torn.

  Taking a deep breath to steady his nerves and stop the shaking of his hands, he carefully inspected the wound. His fingers and knuckles grazed Emma’s soft skin and he clenched his teeth to ignore the rush of heat exploding through him. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d touched anything so satiny.

  He gently probed the area, and searched for any remaining glass. Emma caught her breath, and stiffened, her hands falling upon his shoulders as though to push him away. Mike slowly raised his gaze to hers, losing himself in the sensual pools. His hands faltered. The glare of the bathroom light emphasized the situation between them, making it more intimate than it should be.