To hell with it, she decided. Her rough exhale escaped with a soft moan, and she slid her hands into the dark brown waves of his hair. The style—just a tad too long and unruly—pushed acceptable limits for a uniformed cop, but she loved the way her fingers could get lost in it during a scorching round of sex. They’d never had sex in his truck. Now felt like a perfect time to risk a public indecency violation.
Sucking his bottom lip between her teeth, she dove head first into a kiss designed with the sole purpose of rocking his world. This was exactly what she needed. Mindless, uncontrolled lust. Shocked when he suddenly pulled away, she arched a brow at him.
“Okay, then. Just close your eyes and sit back and relax for a while.” He reached behind the seat and pulled out a silky scarf. “I want the rest of the trip to be a surprise.”
For the first time since they’d left her precinct, she had the presence of mind to look out the windows of the truck and orient herself. They were well outside the city on a curvy two-lane highway, heading away from the airport.
“Where the hell are you taking me?” She glanced at the scrap of material in his hands. “I’m not terribly encouraged if you need to blindfold me to get me there.”
She let irritation battle back the heated memory of the last time he’d tied the silky scarf around her eyes. “You have a serious blindfold fetish, you know that, right?”
Her words fell upon deaf ears. The last sight she had before he knotted the soft material behind her head was his mischievous gray eyes and the predatory grin that meant trouble. Her cheeks flared hot as she remembered what he’d done to her the last time he’d used the blindfold.
He slipped her sunglasses back on over the scarf and tapped her nose with a finger. “There, that’s better. We wouldn’t want anyone to think you’re being kidnapped, now would we? Although that’d be a fantasy well worth exploring, I think.”
She felt the truck shift into gear and begin to move.
“With your sight gone, your other senses are heightened, keeping you wondering what’s coming next,” he teased. “I think I proved that the other night.”
She sucked in a sharp breath at the memory. Oh boy, had he!
He chuckled—actually had the nerve to chuckle—at her reaction.
Even with her eyes covered, she knew the cocky grin that would be spread all over his face. Not to be outdone, she stretched her arm across the seat and settled her hand between his legs, rubbing and massaging him lightly. It took approximately two seconds before he responded.
“Well, I don’t think we have nearly enough room to repeat that little event in your truck, but I’m willing to give it a try.” Satisfied that she’d gotten just a hint of payback, she grinned when she heard his deep exhale.
“Keep it up, woman. I’ll probably kill us both. Sex is not the reason you’re blindfolded.”
***
The blindfold was purely for Ty’s own self-preservation. If Jordan could see, it’d take her no time at all to draw her weapon and aim it at his head when he pulled in front of the broken-down old ranch house in lieu of a tropical beach. He took a deep breath to slow his thundering heart rate.
Today Ty planned to convince Jordan to move in with him.
Her hints about wanting a beach and some water to play in hadn’t exactly been subtle, and a beach would have been damned easy to deliver. But, no. He’d come up with the bright idea to take her to the middle of nowhere and show her a house with no heat and weedy overgrown pastures. He peeked over at her.
What the fuck was I thinking? She’s going to rip my head off!
Jordan exhaled a giant impatient sigh and crossed her arms. “We’re not heading to the airport, are we?”
“Not exactly.” He swallowed hard. Shit, her instincts were sharp enough to split hairs. What made him think a blindfold would fool her?
“The train station?” she asked.
“Nope.” He sighed, debating whether to keep driving toward the lackluster property or turn around. A couple of weeks ago the plan had seemed like a romantic gesture, a step toward commitment without scaring her off with a marriage proposal. Now his strategy felt foolish.
She sighed again. Heavily. “Hopping on a bus?”
“Un-uh.”
“What the hell, cowboy? I happen to know there are no tropical beaches in Missouri.”
Nerves had eaten away most of his composure. “Could you maybe just be quiet for, like, five more minutes?”
He turned on the gravel road that led to the gated entrance of the old Henderson estate, a onetime horse ranch. His heart was thundering so hard he could feel the wall of his chest vibrate.
The woman he loved had been handed double doses of intelligence, bravery, and compassion. But she’d missed the patience line altogether.
He put the truck in park. “I’m hopping out for just a second.”
She reached up to pull the scarf from her eyes, but Ty grabbed her hand.
“Listen, I promise to have you at a beach by tomorrow night if that’s what you want, but I have one surprise that I need you to see first. If you trust me, please keep your eyes covered for another minute or two.” He brushed a kiss against her lips, and thankfully she nodded.
Ty hopped out of the truck and opened the old, rusted gate, then got back in with Jordan. He took his time passing through the narrow opening between the posts, then pulled to a stop in front of the house and killed the engine. He tugged Jordan out of the cab and turned her so that she faced the house head on.
“Take it all in before you react,” he said. “Use a little imagination—see what it could be, not what it is. And promise me you’ll let me explain what I want to do before you decide if you like it or not.” He squeezed her hands. “It needs some TLC, but—”
“God damn it, McGee. You’re scaring the hell out of me.” She pulled the sunglasses and scarf away from her face. Blinking to adjust her sight in the late afternoon light, her gaze traveled all over the huge old house. Top to bottom. Left to right. Her mouth fell open. She sucked in a sharp breath, but then her focus fixed on the front porch.
The place had been empty for years and was in need of a pretty serious overhaul, but the land surrounding it was amazing. He could so clearly visualize how it had looked when he was a kid. But Jordan didn’t have those memories, so he tried to see it as it was today, through her eyes.
Its weathered wood had flaked bare, leaving only the smallest traces of white paint. Green shutters hung from most of the windows. Some were missing, some were crooked. An enormous covered porch wrapped around the front and sides. That was what Jordan was focused on. He wasn’t about to tell her that the porch was mostly rotten and couldn’t be saved.
“Oh, Ty.” She gasped. “It’s beautiful.” Then she turned a stunned gaze on him. “But why are we here?”
Dedication
To my biggest fan, to my greatest source of strength and
support, to the one person who has always believed in me
much more than I have ever believed in myself...I love you,
Mom.
Acknowledgments
I’ve heard it said that it takes a village to raise a child. Much to my surprise, I’ve found it also takes a village to write a book. At least for Dream Huntress it did. Experiencing the love and support from so many different people was one of the wonderful surprises along the journey.
Please indulge me while I thank my village.
To my fabulous romance critique partners, Claudia Shelton, Linda Gilman, Tammy Day, Dana Waganer. I’m not sure what divine power brought you into my life, but it had to be more than just dumb luck. We came together because of an interest in writing, we’ll stay together because of the honest and true friendships we’ve formed. Thank you for the chocolate, the purple pens, the retreats, the bingo nights, and the love.
To my other fabulous critique group, Cathi, Michael, Kirk, Glen, thank you for being patient with me in the beginning, for all the grammar lessons, and letting me become a va
lued member of your group.
To the first unfortunate victims that were asked to beta read, Cindy Nieukirk, Melissa Elmore, Cindy Shelburne, it’s very possible I owe you a significant amount of wine and chocolate. And Ms. Neiukirk, I realize there is not enough wine in the world to repay the number of times you’ve read and corrected things in this manuscript, (or listened to me bitch.) You’ll just have to suck it up and realize you wear the BFF tiara for a reason.
To my family, I can only say that I wouldn’t have finished one chapter, much less a whole book, without your love. Corey, Cody, Cailey—you are my world. Nothing matters more than you. Thank you for being patient and loving your mommy, even when she locks herself away to write. And Mr. Sharp, you are a dish master, king of all household repairs, and a laundry God. If my ship comes in, your Mustang will be my first purchase. If not, well, you’ll still have my undying love—thank you for picking up the slack.
Mom, there are no words, just know how much I love and appreciate you. For the babysitting alone, I owe you my sanity.
Thank you to RWA and my local MORWA chapter. I’m not very outspoken, but I’m often in awe of the amount of talent gathered in one room during our local chapter meetings. I sincerely appreciate the opportunities and education you provide for romance writers.
I could go on, because there are so many experts, writing groups, instructors, and mentors I’ve had the privilege of working with, but I don’t want to leave anyone out. If you’ve helped shape my writing world, chances are you know it, and I thank you.
Michelle
Books by Michelle Sharp
Dream Huntress (A Dream Seeker Series Book 1)
Protecting the Dream (A Dream Seeker Series Novella) Coming 2015
Dream Caller (A Dream Seeker Series Book 2) Coming 2015
Find out more about Michelle at
http://www.michellesharpbooks.com/
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2014 by Michelle Sharp.
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce, distribute, or transmit in any form or by any means. For information regarding subsidiary rights, please contact the Author.
Cover Design and Interior format by The Killion Group
http://thekilliongroupinc.com
Manufactured in the United States of America
First Edition June 2014
Paranormal, cop, cop romance, hot cop, psychic, drug cartel, Contemporary, Mystery, Kindle Store, Kindle eBooks, Books, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Mystery, Suspense, Mystery & Suspense
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