Now that her heart was settling back into a normal rhythm, the rush of danger easing out of her with every exhalation, she noticed more about the cop. First, that he probably wasn’t quite six feet tall, but gave the impression of being taller because of his overall bigness. Although he still wore the shadows of the night, his body appeared powerful—broad in the shoulders and in the chest, definitely no donut belly. He was in perfect shape. Good thing, since her attacker was probably a bit taller. But the guy wouldn’t have stood a chance against someone this strong.
“You’ll have to wait talk to someone from the local precinct. It’s not far; they should be here within a couple of minutes.”
“You’re not from there?” That surprised her. She’d figured she’d been correct in her initial assumption that this neighborhood would be well patrolled, given the location of headquarters up on Second.
“No, it was just dumb luck. I was dropping off some paperwork. Saw this jackoff start to follow you when I was waiting at the intersection and decided to cruise by and see what was going on.”
“Thank heaven for me you did.”
He shifted a little, probably uncomfortable with the praise, as many heroic types were. And she’d already pegged him as one.
As he moved, so, apparently, did some clouds overhead. Because a shimmer of moonlight emerged and cast light on him.
God in heaven.
Evie quivered again, but not from delayed fear. This was sheer feminine appreciation. She’d pictured a middle-aged, hardworking guy who spent his spare time at the gym, but still wore his cop cares like a badge. Not a young, ruggedly handsome one. A very handsome one.
He had that strong, angular face, all sculpted bones and jutting jaw, that made women take a second look. And a twenty-second one. She, for example, had moved right past number two and was well into her fifth or sixth as she catalogued the thick, nearly black hair, and the swoop of equally black brows over dark, deep-set eyes. The chin was hard, the jaw defined, the nose strong but not overlarge, the mouth…oh, Jesus, the man had mouth. A slow, involuntary shiver rolled up her body, but it was nothing like the shudders of desperation she’d been experiencing just minutes ago in this very spot.
“You’re cold.” He didn’t wait for a reply, instead coming closer and whipping off a soft, worn leather jacket. He put it over her shoulders.
Funny, now that he was standing so close, cold was the last way she’d describe herself. The man put off more fire than a jet engine.
There was something else…He looked familiar.
Evie couldn’t identify him, and she was almost certain they hadn’t met in person. But she’d seen him somewhere. Maybe when researching one of her books—he was a cop, after all, in a city that had had more than its fair share of serial killer cases. She would figure it out eventually, of that she had no doubt. The man was simply too spectacular to be forgotten forever.
“I’m fine, really,” she said. “I think my senses are just a little heightened after what happened.” That had to be why she was reacting so strongly to everything—the moonlight, his mouth, his broad, powerful body, and his heat.
“Completely understandable.” He frowned. “You know, this isn’t a great area to walk alone in at night.”
“I figured that out. It looked fine when I arrived this afternoon. I didn’t realize how it would be once the businesses closed.”
“Common mistake all over LA.”
“First lesson learned.”
“You’re new here?”
She nodded. “As of yesterday.”
He barked a laugh. “Welcome to Los Angeles.”
About the Author
Leslie Kelly is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy-five novels and novellas. Known for their sexy humor, Leslie’s books have been honored with numerous awards, including the National Readers’ Choice Award, the Aspen Gold, the Golden Quill, the Write Touch, and the Romantic Times Award. She is also a four-time Romance Writers of America RITA finalist, and is a Career Achievement Award winner from Romantic Times magazine.
Although she has spent most of her life in Maryland and Florida, Leslie currently resides in Colorado with her husband and two fluffy, yappy little dogs.
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