by Ranae Rose
“When is it?” He was already mulling over reasons to be busy the next weekend, but none of them would seem authentic if he didn’t ask.
If Rogers was going to extend an olive branch in her own weird way, he wasn’t going to piss all over it. Being on her bad side had gotten old.
But that didn’t mean he wanted to go to her party.
“Saturday at Moreno’s. Seven o’clock. We’ve reserved the entire second floor, with the beach view. It should be nice.”
Her monotone caused ‘nice’ to ring false, but that was just the way she spoke.
“Food and an open bar will be complimentary for all guests. Feel free to bring a plus-one, if you can find one.”
A hint of a smirk curved one corner of her mouth.
“Your generosity never fails to amaze.” He kept his tone dry too, refusing to acknowledge her jab. “I’ll have to check my schedule and see whether I’m free Saturday.”
“Don’t forget to RSVP.”
“I assume I do that by tracking you down after roll call, since I didn’t get an official invitation?”
“By Monday, at latest. Gail’s mom is organizing this whole thing, and she needs a final headcount.”
“Duly noted.” He walked away, still seeing her smirk in his mind’s eye. If he did end up attending her engagement party for some reason, he’d bring a plus-one for sure. If he didn’t, it’d just become another fiery little arrow in her arsenal of insults.
The woman never forgot a damn thing, and she clearly wasn’t finished badgering him.
He felt sorry for Gail – whoever she was.
CHAPTER 4
The new window looked just like the old one. The only reminders of what had happened were the tiny holes left in the frame by the staples. Well, those and the balance on Peyton’s credit card.
Shoving the thought aside, she focused on something slightly less troublesome: the cop who’d helped her for no reason at all.
He kept popping into her head, lately. His motivation was a mystery she itched to solve, but no matter how she thought of it, she still didn’t know why he’d been so sympathetic to her plight.
It wasn’t like she’d been very nice to him. And yet, he’d gone above and beyond the call of duty. He hadn’t even asked for compensation for the window patching materials he’d brought. Had he simply pitied her, or was his reasoning more complex?
Maybe he expected something in return. The thought made the back of her neck itch, and she scratched the prickly feeling away.
She didn’t like being in someone else’s debt – especially a stranger’s. She fended for herself and liked it that way. These past few years, she’d fended for her family, too.
What was left of it.
And now she owed some random cop a debt of kindness. She couldn’t help but feel like she was waiting for the other shoe to fall – that her acceptance of his help would somehow come back to bite her in the ass like toxic, karmic backwash.
“Hello.” The bell above the door jingled, and a woman with glossy black curls stepped inside the boutique.
“Good morning.” Peyton smiled, pushing thoughts of Officer Bennett out of her mind. What could he possibly want from her, anyway – a discount on panty and bra sets?
She barely repressed a snort. She was probably just being paranoid.
Anyway, she had more important things to worry about, like the woman who’d just entered. God knew she couldn’t afford to disappoint a customer.
“I’m looking for a bridal shower gift,” the woman said. “A friend of mine is getting married.”
Peyton’s smile was genuine this time. “We just got a shipment of items I think you’ll want to take a look at, then. You won’t believe how gorgeous the honeymoon lingerie is…”
* * * * *
When Elijah drove down Orange Avenue on Saturday afternoon, the sheeting he’d hung over Charmed’s window was gone.
In its place was a window, so new and spotless that he almost didn’t realize it was there.
Pulling over to the curb, he parked his cruiser alongside the street. Since he’d recommended his uncle to Peyton Argent, it would only be polite to make sure she was happy with it.
That’s what he told himself, anyway.
When he neared the storefront, he caught sight of Peyton through the gleaming glass. She was placing panties on a circular table, deftly arranging them just-so beneath a sale sign. By the looks of the open box at her feet, she’d just restocked the table.
Hopefully that was the case – hopefully business had been going well.
Drawing a slow, deep breath, he stood a moment longer, watching her work.
Damn, she was hot. Her pants were shell-white and molded to her ass like a second skin. He didn’t need to be an expert on lingerie to know that ordinary panties would show beneath the light, clingy fabric. She must’ve been wearing something exceedingly skimpy beneath.
Her sleeveless button-up blouse draped much more loosely over her upper body, but did nothing to neutralize the seductive vibes her outfit gave off. The sea-green material waved around her waist and covered her chest up to her neck, leaving his imagination to fill in the blanks.
It jumped to the task, sending a hot bolt of sensation down his spine as he stared, forgetting that he was in public, in uniform and—
She turned abruptly, her gaze snapping to his through the window. The glass was so clear that there might as well have been nothing between them. He could almost hear the little exhalation that parted her lips, drawing his attention to the shine of gloss on their surface.
He raised a hand automatically, giving her what he hoped was a professional-meets-casual wave. Then he ducked inside the store, the little bell jingling.
“You scared me.” Her tone was accusing as she turned, still clutching a handful of panties.
“I apologize. I just wanted to see how your new window checked out.”
His voice sounded smooth to his own ears – believable.
Still, there was a spark of suspicion in her gaze.
“It’s fine. I saw your reflection in it and I about had a heart attack when I realized someone was watching me.”
Guilt speared through him. So, she’d definitely noticed him watching. When she said it out loud, it made him sound like a creep.
“Sorry. I’d never intentionally put someone at risk for cardiac arrest.”
She arched an eyebrow. “You’re supposed to assure me that I’m far too young for a heart attack.”
“Well in that case—”
“Too late.” She waved a hand. “The ship has sailed. I’m just letting you know, for future reference: a little flattery goes a long way after you scare the hell out of someone.”
“Future reference? You think I make a habit out of scaring women?”
She shrugged. “You’re the strangest cop I’ve ever met. How should I have any idea?”
He couldn’t quite tell if she was teasing or not. If she wasn’t, he wasn’t off to a great start.
“I assure you, I don’t.” He flashed her a small smile, testing the waters.
“Is that supposed to make me feel special?” One corner of her mouth twitched, slamming him with relief.
“Can we start over? I really did stop by to ask about the new window. Are you happy with it?”
She nodded, her gaze drifting toward the shining glass. “Your uncle’s company is top-notch. I need to order new decals for the window, but other than that it’s perfect. Thanks again for the referral.”
“Not a problem. You happy with what he charged you?”
“I looked around on the internet, trying to get a feel for the cost of a window replacement like mine. His rate seemed fair.”
“Good.”
He stood there, his gaze drifting to the collar of her blouse, sliding button-by-button down the front.
He stopped staring when she met his eyes again, blinking.
“I don’t suppose any information on who might’ve robbed me has
turned up?” she asked.
“No.” He hated to disappoint her. “Unfortunately not.”
She nodded. “I figured.”
“I’m sorry I don’t have better news.”
She shrugged. “I didn’t expect to hear from you again, anyway. Bad luck doesn’t always come with an explanation. I’ve been looking into security options, like you suggested.”
“Smart.”
“I’d like to set up a surveillance camera out front and get set up with one of those alarm companies with the 24/7 monitoring centers. That way if anyone breaks in in the future, there’ll be an immediate response.”
“That sounds like an ideal solution. I’m glad you decided to protect your business from a repeat offence.”
Last time he’d spoken to her, she’d shown every sign of refusing to protect herself. Her sudden reversal was a welcome surprise.
What’d changed her mind?
Maybe her previous attitude had been a mere product of the stress the burglary had caused her. Maybe the vibe he’d gotten from her hadn’t represented who she really was at all.
The idea unleashed a sense of satisfaction, and something more: a heady feeling of possibility.
He shouldn’t have been thinking of her as anything but the unfortunate victim of a crime – someone he was duty-bound to serve in the most professional and platonic sense of the word.
But his body buzzed with tension every time her eyes met his, and then there was her body: sheer perfection.
Whether it was right or wrong, he wanted her.
It was too damn bad he was on duty.
“Thanks again for your help with all this,” she said. “What you did was more useful than tracking down whoever did this. I started freaking out the moment I saw my busted window, and you— Well, I wasn’t happy when a friend called the police, but you were the dictionary definition of a blessing in disguise.”
“I don’t know whether that was intended as a compliment, but I’m going to take it as one anyway. You’re welcome, Miss Argent. Helping you get repairs sorted out was my pleasure.”
She smiled, and he forgot all about the wariness – the downright hostility – he’d sensed when he’d first met her. Now, all he saw was a gorgeous woman flashing him a look that threatened to burn him from the inside out.
Now that her frosty demeanor had thawed, it was time for him to go. It was a miracle he hadn’t been called out already.
“I’ll leave you to your work,” he said. “I know you’re busy. But tell me: do you work Saturdays?”
“Yes, we’re open Saturdays. It’s a big shopping day.”
“What hours do you work?”
She shrugged. “I usually stay from open ‘till close – that’s ten AM to six PM. Why?”
“How would you feel about going out for dinner at seven next Saturday?”
Her eyes widened, but otherwise, she stood frozen.
“A date?” Her lips remained parted after she spoke.
“A date. At Moreno’s.”
His satisfaction wavered. The difficulty of reading her expression gave him the sense that he was treading on shaky ground.
Maybe he’d made a mistake.
Either way, he was about to find out.
* * * * *
So now she knew: Officer Bennett had helped her because he’d been expecting something in return.
A lot in return. Apparently, he saw her as a Vegas slot machine he could pop a little kindness into in hopes of hitting the jackpot. Did he play all the women he met on the job like this, or had he seen her as an easy target because she ran a lingerie boutique?
A wave of disgust swept over her. The other shoe had certainly fallen.
“No thank you,” she said. “I appreciate what you did for me, but I didn’t ask for it. If you’re hoping I’ll repay you in that way, you’re wrong.”
For a moment, he said nothing. Then his jaw dropped.
“I’m not looking for any sort of repayment. Jesus, that’s not what I meant – not what I was asking for.”
The hint of a flush tinted his cheeks, a soft glow beneath his light brown skin.
If he was able to fake that, that was impressive.
And if he wasn’t faking – if his embarrassment was genuine? Mortification began to settle in.
She shoved the feeling away. If he really was trying to take advantage of her, he didn’t deserve to be let off the hook. Straightening her spine, she met his eye.
“I just recently got invited to an engagement party for one of my coworkers,” he said. “It’s on Saturday, at Moreno’s. I was going to ask you to be my plus-one – nothing more.”
Her resolve wavered.
“Why?”
“Because I’m attracted to you.” The frankness in his voice and gaze sent a shiver down her spine despite her doubts. “I apologize for offending you. It wasn’t my intention.”
“Well…”
The bell above the door jingled, announcing the arrival of a customer.
“I’ll go.” He tipped his head ever-so-slightly in her direction. “Goodbye, Miss Argent.”
* * * * *
“You’re kidding me.” Jackson set his beer down on the bar.
Elijah watched its contents slosh within the glass, liquid amber. “I’m dead serious.”
He had a beer of his own, and he took a long drink. Now that they were no longer roommates, they usually met at the Due South bar instead of kicking back in the kitchen after work. They treated cops well there, and draft beer was cheap during their daily happy hours, so it wasn’t much more expensive than cracking open a six pack at home.
Jackson made a sound that was half laugh, half snort. “Never in a million years… You sure Rogers didn’t hit her head before she invited you or something?”
“No.” Now that Jackson said it, it sounded like a highly plausible explanation.
“Make sure you get a good look at her pupils next time you see her. She might need medical attention.”
“That’d explain everything, except for how a she-devil like Rogers descended from someone like Mrs. Delaney.”
“Maybe the devil gene skips a few generations here and there. You still gotta go to the party, though.”
“Why?”
“Because Belle and I are going.”
“So? Plenty of people from the department will be there. It’s not like you’ll be on your own.”
“Come on. Just bite the bullet and do it. There’s free food, if nothing else.”
“So you want me to be your and Belle’s third wheel just so Rogers can smirk at me for not having a date? Doesn’t sound worth the free dinner.”
“This could be your chance to finally bury the hatchet with Rogers. You’re not going to sabotage that, are you?”
Elijah shrugged.
“Bring a date, then,” Jackson said. “How hard could it be, with a pretty face like yours?”
“Shut the hell up, man.”
“The bartender was flirting with you less than five minutes ago. Ask her.”
Elijah shot a glance at the bottle-blonde shaking cocktails for a couple of off duty cops at the other end of the bar. She was pretty, in an objective sense, but she held as much appeal to him personally as the soggy cocktail napkin plastered to the bar beneath his beer mug.
“Nah.”
“What about the panty girl? You said you were into her.”
“Did I?” Elijah narrowed his gaze. He didn’t remember saying much about Peyton Argent to Jackson, or anyone else for that matter.
Jackson flashed a shit-eating grin. “No, but I could tell the other day when you talked about her before dashing off through the rain to be her personal white knight.”
Elijah grimaced. If his interest in Peyton had been that obvious to Jackson, it’d probably been clear to her from the very beginning. No wonder she thought he was a creep.
“She’s hot,” Elijah said eventually, a heavy sense of defeat settling into his gut. “Gorgeous. But she think
s I’m a jackass.”
“Why?”
He flattened a palm against the bar as a wave of regret washed over him. “I asked her on a date, and she thought I was trying to get in her pants – that I expected it in return for helping her patch up her busted window.”
Jackson was silent for several long seconds. “Well, you fucked that up royally.”
“I know. I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t call the department and complain.”
Jackson’s expression was more sympathetic than Elijah had anticipated – almost pitying.
That just made him feel even shittier.
“I apologized and told her it wasn’t like that, but I don’t think she bought it.”
“And now you realize that I’ve been right all along, right?”
“Right about what?”
“You’ve gotta stop trying to be everyone’s knight in shining armor. You’re a cop, not a superhero.”
Elijah rolled his eyes, even as a prickle of uncertainty crept between his shoulder blades. Yeah, there were times he did things he wasn’t required to do in order to help people who needed it, but so what?
That wasn’t where he’d gone wrong. It’d been asking Peyton out on a date that’d fucked everything up.
It sucked that he’d blown his chance – if he’d ever even had one – but he didn’t regret helping her.
“Come to the party,” Jackson said. “Bring a date – someone you didn’t meet on the job – or don’t. Fuck what Rogers says about it. She owes you and she knows it.”
CHAPTER 5
Peyton unlocked the front door, prepared to enter the house’s stifling silence. It creaked slightly on its hinges, making her wince, and then she hit a wall of heavily conditioned air.
It was cool – almost cold – inside, just like Madison liked to keep her bedroom.
For once, it wasn’t totally quiet. Music was playing, alternative rock with a hint of bluegrass twang.
Peyton stepped inside, accompanied by Jace.
“Madison?”
Peyton’s voice echoed through the entryway as she rounded the end of the short hall, stepping into the living room.