by Love, B. T.
Dating A Cop
By B.T. Love
Dating A Cop
All rights reserved.
Copyright © 2015 by B.T. Love
This book is protected under the copyright laws of the United States of America. No part of this material or artwork may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including but not limited to photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without the prior written permission of the author.
* * *
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
Twelve
Thirteen
Fourteen
Fifteen
What James Saw
One
“You need to get back out there and start dating again,” Mary sighed on the other end of the phone line.
I sighed back sarcastically. “No I don’t.”
“It’s been four years, Kate. Don’t you think it’s time to move on?”
I glanced over at the picture of my husband that was hanging in a silver frame on my bedroom wall. His handsome face was smiling at me. “I don’t know, Mare. I feel like I might be ready to move on but I don’t think anyone would want me.”
“Why would you say something like that?”
“Because I have a lot of what men would consider baggage. I’m basically damaged goods.”
“Kate,” she huffed, “that’s no way to talk about yourself.”
“But it’s true. I’m a thirty-year-old emotional widow with a young kid. No man wants that.”
“Your kid isn’t that young.”
“Eight is still considered young.”
“Not these days,” she laughed. “And besides, Hailey is really well behaved for her age.”
“Well, she’s my baby and I will always put her before anything or anyone else.”
“I know, but what about you?”
I plopped down onto my bed and twirled a strand of hair around my fingers as I pondered her question. “Well, I do miss having the company of a man. But I don’t think anyone will ever add up to Matt. He was my soul mate.”
“I know he was. But did you ever think that maybe we all have more than one soul mate in this world?”
“Yeah, I know. I’m sure we all have plenty of soul mates. Finding them is what poses the problem.”
“Well I’ve made it my mission in life to help you find yours. I miss Matt just as much as you, but it’s time to move on. He wouldn’t want you spending your life alone if there was a possibility of you being happy again.”
I bit my lip and eyed Matt’s picture again. “I, I feel guilty being with someone else.”
“But you shouldn’t. He’s gone, Kate, and he’s not coming back. It’s hard for all of us to deal with but we have no choice. You need to find your second chance at happiness.”
“But—”
“You’re not cheating on him,” she corrected me quickly.
I chuckled quietly. “How did you know I was getting ready to say that?”
“Because I’ve been your best friend for years and I know you. And you always bring that up when we talk about you dating someone else.”
“Well, it’s going to take one hell of a man to take on what I’m bringing to the table.”
“Don’t worry, he’s out there. So will you go with me?”
“Go with you where?”
“Ugh, to the barbecue I told you about. Don’t try to pretend I haven’t been talking to you about it for the last couple of weeks.”
“Why do you want me to go so bad? Do you honestly think I’ll find my soul mate at a barbecue?”
“It’s worth a shot. Rick has a ton of friends who will be there and you know how hot some of them are.”
“Yeah,” I scoffed, “and I know how shallow and immature they are. That’s not what I need in a relationship.”
“Well, you’re going. End of the conversation.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay, fine. What time is it at?”
“Five o’clock this Saturday. Can your mom watch Hailey for you?”
“Yeah, she should be able to.”
“Good. And Kate?”
“Yes, Mare?”
“Make sure you look hot.”
* * *
I stood in front of my bathroom mirror and wiped away the steam that covered its reflective surface. Staring back at me was the image of myself, a blank canvas, freshly washed and ready to become transformed into someone “hot”. Looking hot wasn’t something I was used to doing. Since my husband died I let myself go in a way, not taking the time to fix up much when it came to makeup and trendy hairstyles. After his funeral I dyed my blonde hair back to its natural brown so I wouldn’t have to keep up on it. I also let it grow out a lot and it finally passed my chest, which is something I did so I could keep it in a loose bun on my head. I did start wearing mascara again though since I don’t cry everyday like I used to, so at least it appears that I am trying a little.
I undid my towel and let it drop to the floor. “Here goes nothing,” I said, shrugging to my reflection. I reached for my hair dryer that was tucked away under the cabinet and plugged it in before clicking it on. It felt nice, actually, drying my hair into a smooth and straight style. My usual routine consisted of me tying it all up in some fashion on my head since that was easier. Once it was dry I surprised myself by searching for my straightener to finish the look. I had forgotten how pretty my hair could actually be.
I kept my makeup light. Mascara went on as usual but I also added eye liner, blush, and lip gloss to complete the “hot” appearance that I was going for. Well, at least I thought I looked pretty hot compared to the way I usually looked. Mary would be the person who would have the final say on that, though.
As if she knew I was thinking about her, Mary’s ringtone chimed on my phone. “Hey Mare,” I answered. “And yes I’m getting ready. Don’t worry; I’m not bailing on you.”
“Good. I wouldn’t let you anyway. You know I’d be pounding on your door and dragging you out of your house kicking and screaming.”
“Yeah,” I laughed. “I’m actually surprised you’re not here right now just to check on my progress.”
“Who says I’m not?”
My head shot over to my bathroom window. “You aren’t!”
“I am.”
“What, you actually showed up at my house to see if I was getting ready to go with you?”
“Yep.”
“So I guess trust isn’t a thing between us anymore, huh?”
“Nope,” she laughed. “Not when it comes to you getting out and finding a date. I know how much it’s weighing on you, Kate. I just wanted to come give you some moral support, that’s all.”
“You little sneak,” I said lightheartedly. “Well come in then and help me pick out something to wear.”
* * *
“Hi babe,” Mary said to Rick as he sat down in her car.
He leaned over and kissed her sweetly on the lips. “Hey. You look pretty.”
“Thank you, sweetie!”
“Hey Rick,” I greeted him from the back seat.
He turned around to see me, his eyes widening with mild surprise. “Wow, Kate. You really fixed up.”<
br />
“Yeah, Mare wouldn’t let me leave without making sure I was completely put together.”
“I even bumped her hair,” she added with a smile.
“Bumped your hair? What the hell does that mean?”
“I teased it to give it more volume on top. She’s gonna have a ton of guys wondering who she is.”
My eyes rolled. “I’m just going to this barbecue thing to get out and socialize. It’s not like I’m on some kind of man hunt or something.” Rick and Mary exchanged smiles as he turned back around. “What?” I asked, apparently catching them in a secret.
“Nothing,” Rick answered.
“Well obviously I said something to make you guys look at each other that way.”
“Rick knows someone there who you might like,” Mary said.
“What?” I huffed. “I don’t want to be set up with anyone!”
“Babe, I told you not to tell her.”
“No,” I disagreed, “I’m glad you did. Now I can make sure to stay in the car when we get there.”
“Oh stop it,” Mary griped. “You need to relax. I just asked Rick if he had any single friends that we didn’t know that he thought might be good for you.”
“Yeah, I only have one,” he laughed. “But he’s probably not your type anyway.”
“Probably not,” I agreed. I crossed my arms and looked out the window at the passing cars. “All of your friends are drunks or are completely not my type physically.”
“You calling my friends ugly?” he joked.
“Yes,” I laughed. “Especially that really hairy one with the extra toe on his foot.”
“You mean Mitch? Man, Mitch is awesome! He was the fastest runner in our school.”
I leaned forward and patted Rick’s shoulder. “Yeah, Rick. He has an extra toe; of course he’s fast.”
The car filled with our laughter. “You have a point,” he said.
“So does Mitch,” I joked again, making them both laugh. I sat back in my seat and squirmed to get comfortable in my skin-tight jean capris. “Who is this guy, anyway?”
“His name is Joe.”
“As in ‘Joe Schmo’?” I chuckled.
“No,” he said, his voice a little on the defensive side. “He’s a pretty fun guy. And he has a good job.”
“What does he do?”
“He’s an accountant.”
“An accountant? Sounds boring.”
“Oh, give him a chance,” Mary cut in. “I’m sure he’s not boring at all.”
“I meant the job sounds boring,” I lied.
Mary looked in the rearview mirror and locked eyes with me; she knew what I had really meant.
“Fine,” I sighed. “I’ll give him a shot. Thank you for thinking of someone for me to meet, Rick.”
“You’re welcome. And just so you know, he doesn’t have any extra appendages. Well, that I know of, anyway.”
I laughed to myself and continued to watch the passing scenery. Being set up was something I definitely didn’t want to have happen. I was looking forward to just relaxing and enjoying the company of my friends and maybe meeting some new ones. Now I would be expected to talk to this guy and actually get to know him. What if I wasn’t attracted to him? Or what if he was really dull and we had nothing in common? Then the rest of the night would be awkward because I would have to eventually figure out a way to get away from him. I had an overwhelming feeling that my evening was really going to suck.
Two
The house where the barbecue was being held was a few towns over and it took us about thirty minutes to get there. When we pulled up I could see the plume of smoke coming from the backyard and a few heads of some taller men that were standing close to the fence.
“There’s supposed to be a lot of people showing up,” Rick said. “And Joe texted me and said he’s already here.”
“Isn’t that great?” Mary asked while glancing at me in the mirror.
I plastered on my best fake smile and nodded. “Yeah. I’m really excited now.”
Mary’s eyes stayed fixed on mine as she opened her door. “You’re going to have fun, okay? This will be good for you, even if it’s just to meet someone. Nobody is expecting you to form a relationship with this guy. We’re just trying to get your feet wet. Maybe he will even kiss you by the end of the night . . .”
“Gross,” Rick said as he got out of the car.
“Yeah, gross,” I laughed.
“I’m just saying that four years without any intimacy has got to be brutal.”
“Mare, don’t get me started on the sex talk. You know how I feel about being intimate with someone, which is yet another reason why I will have a hard time finding a man.”
“With the way you look right now I doubt any man will have a problem with waiting until you’re ready.”
I smiled and opened my door. “Well, then let’s go meet Joe Schmo.”
* * *
“Yeah, I love being an accountant,” Joe said after taking a swig from his glass of wine. “It’s my dream job.”
I nodded slowly. “Yeah. I mean, it sounds like it would be a great job.”
“It really is. I’ve made a lot of money since I’ve opened my own business. I’m very successful.”
I glanced over at Mary, who was watching me from across the lawn. “Are you okay?” she mouthed to me. I gave her a wide “get over here and save me” smile and she reacted instantly, leaving Rick to come to my rescue.
“Hi Joe,” she said when she reached my side.
“Hello again. Mary, right?”
“Yes,” she smiled.
“Your boyfriend is a good man. He’s a pretty funny guy.”
“Yeah, he also seems to think he’s pretty funny.” She turned and nudged my shoulder. “Um, Kate, I’m sorry to take you away but can you go with me to the car? I need help with something.”
“Oh, yeah. No problem.” I reached my hand out to Joe. “It was very nice to meet you, Joe. Thank you for all the information on the accounting business.”
He took my hand and shook it firmly. “The pleasure was all mine. Would you like my card? Maybe you can give me a call sometime.”
“Oh, um, sure.”
He gave my hand a gentle squeeze and then let it go to reach into his pocket for his wallet. “This has my business number on it,” he said as he handed me his card. “Just leave a message and I’ll call you back from my cell.”
“Thank you,” I smiled. “Have a good evening.”
“And you as well.”
I turned with Mary and we locked arms, walking away toward her car. “So I take it that it didn’t go so well?” she asked.
“Ugh, are you kidding me? He talked about his job the whole time, and then continued to talk about how much money he has and about his material possessions that his said job has allowed him to acquire. I almost threw up.”
“He didn’t even ask you anything about yourself?”
“Nope. Not one question.”
“What a jerk! Well, at least he was semi-attractive.”
“That was the only thing that was in his favor.”
“You’re way better looking than he is anyway. And if he’s shallow like that then you don’t need him.”
“Yeah. And he definitely wasn’t someone I could see Hailey liking. He doesn’t seem like the ‘kid’ type.”
“No, he doesn’t.”
* * *
I managed to avoid Joe the rest of the evening. I could feel him watching me though, which was pretty uncomfortable. But I just mingled with the people at the barbecue and kept my line of sight away from him for the most part.
I met a nice woman named Susan. She looked like she was in her late thirties and was what I would consider stylish. Her husband was a cutie and he had his arm around her waist most of the time. His name was Mark, and Rick knew him from work.
Susan and Mark joined the three of us in a semi-circle of lawn chairs that were nestled in the corner of the yard. “There are a lot
of people here,” Susan pointed out.
Rick nodded. “Yeah. I’m surprised there's so many people I don’t know. I feel really unpopular.”
Mark chuckled. “I don’t like crowds like this. I’m a simple man. Just give me a six pack of beer and a few close friends and that’s all I need.”
“Me too,” I agreed. “I consider myself to be a hermit these days.”
“A hermit?” he laughed. “My brother’s the same way. He likes doing stuff like this but would much rather stay home and have a family game night or some crap like that. He’s actually coming tonight, surprisingly.”
Mary nudged my arm and leaned into my ear. “The cutie has a brother . . .”
I nudged her back. “A brother who likes family game night. In other words, he’s married.”
She shrugged and took a sip of her drink.
“Well, speak of the Devil,” Mark said. “Here he is now.”
We all looked over at the fence gate to see a man laughing and shaking hands with someone. Mary nudged me again, much harder this time. “Would you look at him,” she whispered. “Now he is a hottie.”
Mare was right; he was very attractive. He was dressed in nice jeans and a T-shirt and was wearing a baseball hat with some sport team’s logo on it. His chin was nicely trimmed with a goatee, which was something I was really attracted to. I’ve always loved it when men had some facial hair.
“Hey James,” Mark yelled across the crowded lawn. “We’re over here.”
The man, apparently named James, looked over toward his brother’s call and put his hand up to acknowledge that he heard. He said goodbye to the guy he was chatting with and came over. I watched him as he approached, his posture straight yet relaxed. He exuded a confidence about him but minus the cockiness. I was instantly attracted.
“Hey,” his deep voice greeted us when he joined our semi-circle. It took him a second before he spotted me. When he did his eyes lingered on mine for a moment and he smiled.
“I was just talking about you,” Mark told him.
“Oh yeah? I hope they don’t believe everything you said.”