by Jen Talty
The next few holes proved to be more difficult for Delaney, but they were still in the lead by one stroke by the time they came to the last hole.
“This one is nearly impossible,” Josh said. “Last time I was here, it took me five tries to get the ball into the hole.” Since he won the last hole, he was first up.
“You got this.” Delaney’s fingers circled his biceps, sending a warm shock across his skin.
“How about a good luck kiss?”
She rose up on tiptoe, her eyelids fluttering as her soft, plump lips landed on his for a brief but powerful kiss.
He hit the ball, but it went over the hump and back down the other side. “Maybe I need a longer kiss.”
She laughed. “I’m distracting you.”
He hit the ball five more times before it went in.
It took Delaney three times, and Viv five.
“You’ve got to get it in the hole in two,” Viv said to Tristan.
“Easy peasy.” Tristan lined up his shot then cursed when the ball rolled back to his feet. His second shot wasn’t any better. He picked up the ball then tossed it in the hole.
“We won!” Delaney did a little dance that sent Josh’s mind off into a world that he knew, once he entered, he’d never be able to leave.
“That’s my girl,” he said, pulling her in for a wet, slow kiss.
“Come on, Romeo,” Tristan said. “Let’s get this over with.”
“He doesn’t like to lose.” Josh looped his arm around her waist.
“I can see that.” Delaney slipped her arm under his, resting her hand just above his ass.
“I’m feeling like an extra-large banana split,” Josh said. “And maybe a chocolate shake.”
“No way,” Tristan said. “You can only order what you can actually eat.”
Josh laughed, but the sound stalled in his throat when he spotted a dark sedan parked across the street. He poked Tristan on the shoulder and cocked his head toward the car.
“I noticed it,” Tristan said.
“Noticed what?” Vivian asked.
“An old friend of ours might be here.” Josh glanced across the street once more, trying to see if anyone sat in the car. “Order me a medium-sized fudge ripple in a waffle cone.”
“Where are you going?” Delaney looked up at him with questioning eyes.
“To see if that’s actually our friend’s car.” He kissed her nose. “I’ll be right back.” He jogged across the street, still unable to see if anyone was indeed in the car. Wishing he had his weapon on him, he inched closer to the vehicle.
It was empty. He glanced at the meter, noting it had only fifteen minutes left.
By the time he made it back to the ice cream shop, Delaney was perched on top of a picnic table, holding his waffle cone. He sat down next to her, taking his cone while he eyed the car and everyone walking up and down the street.
“What did you get?” he asked.
She held up her small dish. “Almond chocolate chunk.”
“Let me taste.”
Scooping a large, creamy dollop onto her spoon, she held it to his mouth. He kept his stare fixed on her, with the car in his peripheral vision. “Not as good as mine.” He held his cone in front of her face. Her pink tongue licked her lips before she lapped at his ice cream, sending visuals to his brain that weren’t very gentlemanly.
“That is good,” she said softly.
“I hate to be a party pooper,” Viv said. “but I have to open tomorrow, which means I have to get up at four, so I need to head home.”
“Not a problem,” Tristan said. “So, you get off early tomorrow?”
“I do,” Viv said.
“What time? Maybe we should do something.”
Josh cracked a smile. It was amazing that Tristan got any women with his lack of skill.
“I’m off at two, so if you think of something, let me know.”
Josh took out his phone, then texted Tristan a few good lunch date ideas. He showed it to Delaney, who smiled and nodded.
“Do you like horseback riding?” Tristan asked Viv.
“I might be into doing that.” Viv smiled.
“Good. My buddy owns a horse farm,” Tristan said. “We’ll go there.”
Josh laced his fingers through Delaney’s, tugging her back through the parking lot, giving Viv and Tristan a moment alone. Hopefully, Tristan wouldn’t ruin the moment.
“That was nice of you to help him out like that,” she said, leaning against the car.
He planted his hands on her hips. “He can usually get a girl to go out with him once, but it never lasts long.”
“It’s too bad. He seems like a good guy.”
“The best.” Josh leaned into her, spreading her legs with his knee. “I hope you had a good time tonight.”
“I did.” Her arms looped over his shoulders, pulling him closer, but the moment was broken when Tristan slapped him on the back.
Tristan jerked his head across the street.
A tall man wearing jeans and a black T-shirt slipped into the driver’s seat of the sedan, but Josh didn’t see his face. He was tempted to wave or jump out in front of the car before it pulled away, but decided against it with Delaney around.
Josh opened the car door for Delaney before pulling out his phone and sending group text to a few of his trooper buddies, including Tristan, about keeping an eye out for the sedan. Once in the backseat, he pulled Delaney so close she practically sat on his lap. He slipped his hand under the hem of her dress, his fingers gliding over her soft skin. He kissed her neck, inhaling the sweet smell of her floral perfume. “You’re gorgeous,” he whispered in her ear.
“Thank you,” she said.
He palmed her cheek, drawing her lips to his in a slow, tender dance with the promise of something more....and he wanted so much more.
“You two can stop sucking face now, we’re here,” Tristan said.
“That was rude,” Viv said under her breath.
Josh helped Delaney out of the car and didn’t even bother to say goodbye to his buddy as he grabbed her hand, tugging her up the porch stairs of the main building of The Heritage Inn. “Wasn’t as good as the last date, but I’ll make it up tomorrow night.”
“It was a great date,” she said, leaning against the door. “Want to come up for a drink? I have a bottle of wine that I haven’t cracked yet.”
He lowered his forehead to hers, arguing with himself on the various reasons why it wasn’t a good idea. “It’s not that I don’t want to, because I do. Only if I go up, I don’t think I could stop myself.”
“That’s okay.”
He kissed her temple. “I want you, but it’s late, and I’ve got an early meeting before I go out on patrol.”
“I understand,” she said, but her voice shook.
“I don’t think you do,” he said before pressing his mouth against hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Walk home safely.”
He waited until the lobby door closed and clicked before turning on his heels, walking back to his apartment, on the lookout for the dark sedan that seemed to be everywhere he’d been lately.
Chapter 4
Instead of working on her novel, Delany found herself reading articles on how to seduce a man, because obviously she’d been doing it all wrong since Josh had turned her down flat.
She picked at her bacon, sitting on the wraparound porch of the Heritage Inn overlooking the waterfront, but her head was behind her computer screen, reading all about how to become a temptress, according to some online magazine.
The clock on her computer read just past ten in the morning. Waiters and waitresses moved about, setting tables for the lunch crowd. The restaurant did steady business daily, from open to close, but guests could reserve tables the day before. The owners had created a vastly different atmosphere from that of the Boardwalk by opting not to build a bar and closing by nine. They maintained a quiet, family-friendly ambiance.
“Hi, Delaney,” Pat
ty said. “How are you this morning?”
“I’m doing okay,” Delaney said.
“Just okay?” Patty smiled. “Are you sure you’re not better than okay? Because I heard you went out with Josh after Reese and I left you last night. “
Delaney swallowed. “I didn’t realize we were the talk of the town.”
“I didn’t mean it that way,” Patty said as she sat at the table. “The chatter actually started with Tristan and the new waitress at the Boardwalk.” Patty held up her hand. “It wasn’t gossip, just that my cousin Frank and his wife were there last night and said Tristan had planned on taking Viv on a date where she works, but that you, or Josh, somehow saved the day.”
“I don’t know about that. By the time I got there, we were heading to play miniature golf.” Delaney chewed on her thumbnail.
“What’s bothering you?” Patty asked. “Because if it’s what I just said, honestly, none of it is gossip. That said, we live in a small town, and when it comes to all the State Police, well, we’re one big, dysfunctional family.”
“It’s not that.” Delaney shook her head. “Most of the time, I think Josh really likes me, but then, he… I don’t know.” She had to be nuts to be asking Patty to help her have a one-night stand with Josh, just so she could make a sex tape and ruin the sweet man.
“I get it.” Patty leaned in. “Before I say anything, mind if I ask you a personal question?”
Oh, Delaney minded, all right. “No. Go ahead.”
“Are you looking for a fling? Summer romance? No strings kind of thing? Or do you want a long-term relationship?”
Delaney had no idea how to answer that. “I like him. I’m attracted to him, but I recently got out of a bad relationship, and I’m not sure I want anything but a good time. Plus, I don’t live here.”
“I totally get that.” Patty smiled. “My advice to you is, tell him what you just told me, because it’s better to be upfront about these things than have regrets later.”
“Thanks,” Delaney said, tripping over the word. Her phone vibrated on the table.
“I’ve got to go help Reese with the kids. His nana can’t really handle them anymore, and we haven’t found the right part-time nanny.”
Delaney closed her eyes briefly before staring at her phone for a long moment, not wanting to see Gray Eyes’ phone number flashing in her messages. The creepy man with the ominous eyes had been relentless between sending her ‘gentle’ reminders, as he called them, and pictures of her brother, tied, gagged, and sporting a pair of black eyes. Snagging the phone, she tapped her passcode. Three text messages.
One from Josh and two from Gray Eyes.
You have three days to make this happen, or Liam is dead.
If you fail, not only will Liam die, but we’ll kill you, too.
She coughed. That meant she had until Saturday to make a sex tape…
Her heart thumped as she tapped on Josh’s text.
Can you go to the waterfront at 10:30?
It was 10:20.
Yes…☺
She contemplated running up to her room to put on a little makeup, fluff her hair, and maybe put on a sundress, but decided that would be overkill, especially after that conversation with Patty. The blue tank top that went just below her belly button and a denim skirt, would have to do.
After gathering her things, she headed toward the docks, trying to calm her racing pulse.
From a distance, a Lake George Patrol Boat sped across the water toward the shoreline. Josh stood behind the helm, his green eyes hidden behind dark shades.
He pulled up to the docks, waving her over, his uniform conforming to his muscled body.
“You really are a Trooper,” she said, leaning against the post a few feet from the one he held, keeping the boat steady.
“That wasn’t a line.”
“But it would work. Especially if you’re wearing that uniform. I bet you get a lot of bleeding hearts when you pull over women.”
He smiled, placing his hat on the seat, then yanked his shades off his face, tucking them in his pocket. “Why is it that you ladies think crying will prevent me from writing a ticket?”
She tilted her head, giving her best pouty lips, and batted her eye lashes.
“Now, that might work.” He leapt onto the dock, wrapping a single rope around the post.
She laughed. “Next time I get pulled over, I’ll have to give it a try.”
“Actually, I’ll give you a signed card and a sticker. Just drop my name, and no one will bother you.”
“I couldn’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking.” He licked his lips. “I came up with an evening that will surpass yesterday’s picnic and miniature golf.”
“Impossible.”
“Trust me. This will be an epic date that no one, ever, will be able to top.” He did a loopy thing with the rope.
“You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
He waggled his finger. “I’m sure you’re going to kiss me right now.”
“No, I’m not.” But she found herself pushing away from the post toward the man who made a gray uniform the sexiest thing any male could sport. Keeping her hands behind her back, she got so close, his wintergreen-scented breath fanned over her mouth. “What should I wear tonight?”
“What you have on now works.”
She held his gaze in an erotic tug-of-war. She hoped she had restraint, for a change. “Not appropriate for a restaurant.”
“Where we’re going, it’s perfectly appropriate.” Licking his full, luscious lips, he leaned a little closer. “Shorts and T-shirt is fine. The atmosphere is chill.”
Her chest heaved dangerously close to his. “Okay.” Her single word sounded more like a long, slow breath with a hint of a moan.
His lips parted as he brushed them against hers in a tender, slow kiss, but it ended too soon when he pulled back. “Is your brother the overprotective type? Should I be inviting him for a manly beer so he knows my intentions, and hope he doesn’t beat the crap out of me?”
She cocked her head back, trying to keep from flinching.
“Didn’t mean to ruin the mood,” he said, “but if I had a sister, I’d have been the kind of brother that demanded to meet all her suitors and threatened bodily harm if they hurt her.”
“Suitors?” She laughed. “I don’t know if I am annoyed, or you’re just the sweetest man ever.”
“I’ll vote for the latter,” he said, “but you haven’t answered my question.”
“My brother and I aren’t that close. I mean, we are, but we stay out of each other’s lives. If we didn’t, we’d fight all the time, especially because he works for my ex,” she said, keeping as close to the truth as possible.
“Good to know.” He unraveled the rope as he jumped back into the boat. “Mind coming down to my place at seven?”
She shook her head, her body still hot from the erotic encounter, but her mind reeling with worry. “Should I bring anything?”
“I’m not sure you want me to answer that honestly.” He winked before putting his shades on. “But I’ll take care of what we didn’t have yesterday after lunch.”
“Oh.”
He waved. The engines roared as he sped away, creating large waves on the water and setting her stomach to rolling as if smashing against a break-wall.
* * *
Delaney had opted for a black miniskirt and cream-colored halter top that fitted her body, leaving little to the imagination. Standing at the top of the stairs behind the Boardwalk restaurant, she banged on the door with a little more force than she intended.
Less than a minute later, Josh let her into his cozy but unique apartment with the most breathtaking view of the lake.
“Hey, beautiful,” he whispered in her ear as he drew her in for a lingering embrace, his lips dancing across her neck.
“This is amazing. You can see the lake, but also the band below.”
“It’s better now that you’re here.”
“No one can see. It’s privacy glass,” he said. “Follow me.”
His warm fingers curled around hers as he guided her through the kitchen and then into a small closet with a short staircase. “This is the entire reason I rented this place.”
“I don’t understand,” she whispered, watching his ripped arms as he pushed back a panel in the ceiling.
“After you.”
“I’m wearing a skirt,” she said.
“It’s pretty dark, and I promise not to look.”
“You’re a man. Not sure I believe that.” Tentatively, she gripped the small railings as she climbed the four steps. Her hair brushed across her face as the breeze from the lake rolled in. She looked to her right and gasped. A table with a dozen pink and white roses and a carafe of wine graced her vision. “Holy shit,” she whispered.
“Pretty spectacular, isn’t it?” His strong, protective arms wrapped around her body. “I’ve never had anyone up here before.”
“You can stop feeding me lines.” Cocking her head, she made room for his soft, sweet lips on her neck. “You had me at hello.”
He laughed. The warmth of his breath tickled her bare skin. “If you weren’t making fun of me, I’d think you just professed your undying love.”
“And here, we haven’t had any wine yet.” She wiggled, turning to face him, looping her arms around his broad shoulders and clasping her fingers behind his thick neck as if this were a normal date. “You want to kiss me.”
“I do,” he said. He lifted her chin slightly.
Holding her breath, she let the dizzying sensation float over her body, enjoying being in his arms and staring into his green-gold eyes, waiting for his tender kiss. His full lips ignited a fire deep in the pit of her stomach. Every inch of her skin sizzled in anticipation of his touch, while his tongue slowly twisted around hers, drawing it into his mouth