by Karen Kelley
“No family could compare to mine. Growing up around my relatives was total chaos. Aunts, uncles, and cousins flowing in and out of the house like a pipe that’d sprung a leak.”
Knowing he had a family and hadn’t just magically hatched from a rotten egg made him more… human. He’ s still a cop, a persistent little voice whispered in her ear. And one who seemed to doubt her knowledge about law enforcement. She still resented his pat-on-the-head attitude.
She’d always thought she made a decent cop. It just wasn’t the profession she wanted for the rest of her life.
Apparently, super cop had his doubts she’d ever worked the streets. In uniform, that is. A frown furrowed her brow. She wondered why he was apparently unable to visualize her taking down a perp.
Conor could picture Jessica in the middle of a big family. What he couldn’t visualize was her in a uniform. Especially after what her cousin Mike had told him about her. Hell, the way he’d talked, she could walk through the door of a nunnery without a smidgen of guilt. She was so pure she almost had a halo around her head.
And right now, he felt more at home than he had in a long time. He was afraid he’d stepped into dangerous territory where she was concerned, because his thoughts were anything but pure.
It was all he could do to swallow past the bile that rose inside his throat. Jessica probably never even thought about sex. If she did, then not the down and dirty kind. She would be the type of woman who’d want the lights off to preserve her modesty.
Damn, and he’d arrested her for soliciting. He’d misinterpreted everything that happened that day. And he was supposed to be such a good cop. Suddenly, he felt like a rookie.
She hadn’t seemed pure and innocent, though, he rationalized. But all the pieces were starting to fit. Why she was no longer a cop. Why she dated a wuss like Al.
Hell, no wonder she’d turned in her badge. The harsh re ality of a cop’s life had probably been too much for her. He had no explanation why she was dating Al, though. Maybe the guy hadn’t made a pass yet. He looked like the kind of man women considered safe. He probably still lived at home with his mother.
Was he any better, though? Or maybe he’d done her more harm. Conor had no idea how he could screw everything up in such a short time. He was a real jerk.
He’d stepped into Jessica’s little world and fucked it up royally. She’d been a babe in the woods. A fawn hesitantly moving from the safety of the trees. Then bam! The brutal hunter showed up and hauled her off to jail. He’d never felt so low in all his life as he did right now.
“Have you eaten?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
He looked at her for a long moment. She seemed uncomfortable around him. She furiously twisted her top button around and around. Surely she wasn’t afraid of him. No, he didn’t think that was it, but he wouldn’t make her suffer his company any longer.
“I think it’s time I left.”
Her tongue came out and licked her upper lip. He almost groaned. Didn’t she realize what she was doing to him? Stupid question. Of course she didn’t.
“Dad was right. You came all this way, so you might as well stay and have dinner. Besides, didn’t Dad say he wanted to go over a few things with you concerning the burglaries?”
“You shouldn’t have to wait on me, though.”
“I’m not.” She suddenly tossed a saucy grin in his direction.
His heart skipped a beat. God, she was so damned beautiful it made him ache just looking at her. She might be the wholesome girl next door, but the signals she sent out told an entirely different story, whether she meant them to or not.
“Everyone does his share around here,” she told him. “Come on, if my nose is right, he made stew. That’s about the only thing Dad can cook really well. It’ll serve him right if we eat every last bite.”
Okay, he’d stay for a while. If her father didn’t return soon he’d make up some kind of excuse and leave, but damned if he didn’t find himself wanting to hang around a little longer.
Motioning for him to follow, she led the way down the hall, through the dining room and into the kitchen. She had the sweetest sway in her step. His gaze was glued to the way her hips went from side to side, an easy, natural walk, but on her it looked damned sexy.
The kitchen was yellow and white… cozy. And it smelled great. It surprised him the chief was so much of a homebody. Or maybe it didn’t when he thought about it. The chief seemed to be a good parent, even if a little meddlesome.
Jessica raised the lid and looked inside the pot. “I love Pop’s stew. He uses chunks of the best beef money can buy, then adds carrots and potatoes and simmers it all in its own juices. I’m still not sure how he makes the brown gravy it cooks in. He told me as soon as I marry he’ll give me the recipe. It might be worth getting married just so I can get it.” She looked up with a smile on her face.
Conor took a deep breath. His stomach rumbled, but it wasn’t from the need to eat… at least, not food.
She pointed toward the cabinet. “Grab some bowls and I’ll get spoons.”
Anything that would take his attention off Jessica. He removed two ceramic bowls from the shelf and closed the cabinet. As he set them on the table, his gaze fell on the re frigerator. An assortment of childish drawings were scat tered over the white surface, held on by a set of heart magnets, a bumblebee, and one glittery butterfly. Longing filled him.
“Conor?”
He looked at her. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“I asked if you’d like to sit.” She laughed lightly. “You seemed so far away. What were you thinking about?” She placed a large bowl filled with stew in the middle of the red-checkered tablecloth and waited.
“The pictures.” He nodded toward them. “Cute stuff. My sister’s two kids have papers stuck all over the fridge, too.”
“Where do they live?”
“All over. Her husband is Air Force. Right now, McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey.”
“Long way from Texas,” she said, going to the pantry and grabbing a box of crackers.
“Too far. Especially since my parents moved to Florida.” He didn’t like the feeling of not knowing exactly where he belonged. He missed the few family gatherings they’d all shared.
His parents had been more cemented in the business world when he and his sister were growing up, but did attempt an occasional holiday function of sorts when they weren’t out of town on one of their numerous trips. They just weren’t the home-and-hearth type of family, but he knew they loved both their kids and that did count for something.
He nodded toward the refrigerator, drawing himself out of the past. “So, who are the artists?”
“My brother Gabe’s two kids.” She sat in one of the chairs at the table and motioned for him to take the one across from her. “Dad has always encouraged their creative side.”
He straddled the chair while she dipped them each a bowl of the steaming stew. The rich aroma wafted up to his nose and he couldn’t do anything except breathe in the wonderful smell. He realized it had been a while since he’d eaten.
After straightening her napkin, she picked up the conversation. “I think Dad saved everything Gabe and I ever drew. Somewhere in the attic is a trunk stuffed with stick-figure drawings.”
He took a bite of the stew. Damn, she was right. Her father could cook. “Not bad.” He scooped another bite.
Her pride in her father’s cooking was evident on her face. “Dad’s half-Irish. He always tells us he couldn’t mess it up if he wanted. He also says that’s why our family are cops, medics, and firefighters.” Except you.” Except me,” she murmured.
Her eyes were fascinating—smoky-blue, kind of dark and mysterious, all at the same time. As soon as he realized where his thoughts were wandering, he returned his attention to his food. He didn’t want to think about her eyes or how they drew him in.
There was one question he’d like to ask, though. “Why don’t you date cops?”
The spoon stopped midway to her mouth and her fore head wrinkled. “How did you know I don’t date cops?”
“Your father told me.”
“Ah, of course. My father has been telling my secrets… again.” She set her spoon down and brushed some loose tendrils of hair behind her ear. “Why date a cop if I don’t want to be one? I want a normal relationship. Cops aren’t normal.”
He frowned. “I beg your pardon?”
She chuckled. “I didn’t mean you weren’t normal. I don’t know what you are. I meant the hours you keep. For example, if you moved your jacket back a fraction, I bet I’d see a pager hooked on your belt.”
He immediately reached down. She didn’t even try to hide her knowing smile.
“Told you so. My dad, brother, cousins… even my aunt, for goodness’ sake, couldn’t survive without the PD, the fire department, or ambulance. You all live for that adrenaline rush.”
“Not everyone is like that,” he argued.
“If you heard shots right now, I bet you’d be the first to investigate. And what about when you’re called out at midnight? Believe me, I won’t be showing a house in the middle of the night.”
He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. “Is that why you gave up being a cop?”
Instead of answering him, she countered with a question of her own. “Don’t you get tired of living on the edge? You never know if the dispatcher received the correct information. Or if the call will be a hoax, or if your life might be in danger. And what about when you only have seconds to make a decision? Do you ever worry if it’s the right one?”
“But that’s the exciting part. Not knowing exactly what to expect. Every call will be different because people are different.” He set his spoon to the side of his bowl and leaned back in his chair. “And as far as making the right decision, that’s part of it. A chance you have to take.”
“Not me.” She shook her head. “I don’t have to. Being a real estate agent may not be nine to five, but it’s certainly more normal than the hours you keep, and I don’t hold anyone’s fate in my hands.”
Her answer was pat. Almost like she’d memorized it, and maybe she had. He felt like there was more to her story, but he wouldn’t question her. She might just want to see if the grass was greener on the other side. Hell, he couldn’t fault her for that. Like he told himself before— she wasn’t meant to be a cop.
Something in the air seemed to shift between them. Like she realized they were actually carrying on a conversation, and he didn’t think she liked him that much. And why should she? Not after he’d arrested her. At the very least, she seemed edgy around him.
Suddenly, though, it seemed like she was closing herself off from him. He wasn’t sure he liked the feeling, but one thing was certain—she was definitely safe.
No matter how bad her father wanted to see his little girl married to a cop, and he’d already guessed as much, she refused to date one. She’d said so herself. And even though she was damn easy on the eyes, he didn’t have to worry about becoming involved with her. He could relax.
“You were right.” He stared at her, liking the way her eyes widened just slightly when she looked at him.
“About what?” she asked.
For a moment he forgot everything except the expectant look on her face; then he remembered what he’d wanted to tell her. “The stew. It was good.”
She suddenly laughed. His senses absorbed the light and beauty of the sound. The dying notes wrapped around him, bringing an unfamiliar longing that settled in the center of his chest. He held his breath, not wanting the moment to escape.
“I’m glad you liked Dad’s cooking.”
The spell broke and Conor exhaled. What the hell had just happened? One minute he had everything under con trol, and in the next, he was lost in the sound of her laugh ter, and wishing he could get to know her better.
Abruptly, he stood, reaching for her bowl. “Here, I’ll take the dishes to the sink.”
“I can do that.”
She sprang from her chair, grabbing her bowl, but instead of ceramic, her hand closed over his. The room grew quiet. Her fingers were soft and warm. His insides quaked.
Her pupils dilated, and she leaned just a fraction toward him. The urge to pull her into his arms and taste the sweetness of her mouth was almost unbearable. Conor didn’t think she’d put up much resistance.
Hell, why not? One kiss wouldn’t hurt. He set the bowls on the table and pulled her into his arms, lowering his mouth to hers.
Damn, she tasted sweet… and hot. She snuggled closer to his body. Softness and heat wrapped around him. He tangled his fingers in her hair, wanting her closer still. Tremors swept over his body. He slid his hand down her back, then around to cup the fullness of her breast. He could feel the nipple tighten when he barely brushed across it.
She moaned. He stilled, ending the kiss, moving his hand away. Damn, what the hell was he doing? He knew the answer, though. He was seducing the chief’s daughter in the chief’s kitchen. Had he really thought Jessica was safe?
He had to end what he felt before it got out of control. All he needed was the chief to walk in on him and Jessica having a go at it on the kitchen floor. There was only one way to kill anything that might be starting between them.
He drew in a deep breath as he stepped away, picking up the bowls off the table. “You know, it might be a good thing you didn’t pursue law enforcement.”
She jerked her hand away from his. “Why do you say that?”
“You’re soft.”
Her shoulders stiffened. It was for the best, he told himself, even as an empty feeling began to swallow him.
“Soft.” She put some distance between them, then planted her hands on her hips.
Damn, she looked sweet, even though right at this mo ment she reminded him of a cute little kitten spitting and hissing at him.
He cleared his throat. “In a nice way, I mean. You’d never have made a good cop. You’re lacking that hard edge, the gut instincts it takes to be good at the job. I suspected as much when I found out you were an ex-cop. I mean, not even an ex-cop would let herself get arrested for soliciting. No, selling property suits you much better.”
Her eyes sparked. “I’m so glad you approve of my job choice, Officer Richmond,” she ground out between her teeth. “If you’d been around sooner, you could have saved me the trouble of going through the academy. And, if I remember correctly, you were the one who jumped to conclusions. I was selling property, not my body. I only let you take me in because I needed a ride.”
“There are other ways to get a ride than being arrested. All you had to do was ask. And from what I’ve heard, it was your decision to quit law enforcement. Right? You’re not upset with something I said, are you?”
“Upset? Upset! Why would I be upset?”
“I didn’t think so,” he lied. “I need to run some errands, so tell your father I enjoyed his cooking and the company. If he wants to discuss the burglaries, he can contact me at home in a couple of hours.” He set their bowls in the sink.
“I’ll be sure and tell my father exactly how much I enjoyed visiting with you, too.” She followed as he strode toward the front door. He could almost feel the daggers landing in his back.
Shuuuuuu… thunk!
He hesitated at the front door, then turned. Damn. Her expression could’ve been carved from stone, but she still made a pretty sexy statue.
Jessica De Milo, except she had the arms to caress him… or slap the shit out of him if he didn’t get the hell out of her life.
It was a damn shame they couldn’t have met at a different time or place. Some things weren’t meant to be. He certainly wouldn’t be the one to corrupt her. He had some ethics, but he did hate leaving her with a bad impression of him.
He opened his mouth, but no words came. What could he say? That he didn’t mean what he said?
No, he’d done the right thing. Long-term relationships never seemed to work out for him, and b
eing the boss’s daughter, Jessica spelled trouble with a capital T. It was only one step up from being a preacher’s daughter.
“See you around.” He opened the door. Then why did he feel lower than a sunken ship?
“I doubt it. I don’t get to the station that often.” Her words were clipped.
Conor took a deep breath as he stepped outside. All the way to his car he told himself he had done the right thing. Sometimes doing the right thing sure felt wrong, though.
Chapter 5
The front door opened and Jessica’s father hurried inside. “Has Conor left?”
She uncrossed her legs and tapped her toe as she scowled at her obviously unrepentant father. “You’re three hours late, and you didn’t fool me one iota.”
He closed the door and tossed her the keys to her Mus tang. She deftly caught them.
“How’d it go?” He hurried to the sofa, rubbing his hands together. “I knew you two would hit it off right from the start.”
Maybe her father needed to call Dr. Parker and make an appointment to have a CT scan of his brain. It definitely wasn’t functioning right. “The first time I saw Officer Richmond, he arrested me! How did you get an attraction from that encounter?”
His forehead puckered. “That’s irrelevant. He saw you on the corner and stopped. Never discount the role fate plays in your life.”
Fate? She could think of a dozen other words, and fate wasn’t one of them.
And her father wasn’t showing one bit of remorse. He acted like an engagement announcement was just around the corner. She couldn’t believe he harbored such notions. On second thought, this was her father—the matchmaker.
Well, she was about to burst his bubble. “If I never see Conor Richmond again, it’ll be too soon. The man is full of himself.” And darn it, why did he have to be such a great kisser? A spark of electricity had jumped between them. At least, that’s what it had seemed like to her. Electricity and fire and… Damn, he was doing it to her again.
Being attracted to him ticked her off almost as much as Conor did. He’d said she was soft. Where had he gotten that impression? She was thoughtful for a moment. Unless her cousins had been scamming him. Very possible.