Chapter Seven
It was Jeremy’s day off, several days later, and he had cause to celebrate.
He’d made it through two more shifts of forced proximity with Elle without any incidents—physical, or mental.
But if he thought spending over eight hours with the bewildering woman had been trying before their kiss—and it had—then the tension between them since the kiss had doubled. Tripled.
Exploded.
It was his own damn fault. He should’ve kept his mouth and hands off the woman, but the fire in her eyes and challenge on her lips had led to his undoing…and one hell of a kiss. Her response, her taste, and the way she melted into him were not things he was likely to forget.
But pushing that memory aside was a must. His only saving grace was his uniform. No matter how much he wanted another round with Elle, he would never cross that line while on duty.
Which meant he needed to make sure they didn’t run into each other when he was off duty, like today. Considering he’d barely run into her from last October to this week, Jeremy felt certain he could pull it off.
With that in mind, instead of jogging through town, he was jogging around the three-mile lake at the Wyne Resort with his running partner, sparring partner, and exercise buddy, Nico.
Scott sometimes joined them too, but not today.
The guy had to take his grandmother for a check-up after her knee surgery.
Jeremy was getting a good workout today, though. He could always count on it with Nico. Both needed to be in top shape for their jobs, plus they were good at pushing each other to their limits.
It’s why they’d turned one lap around the lake into two and were nearing the end.
A third lap would be fantastic, but he didn’t have it in him.
Before meeting Nico here, he’d already cut his sister’s grass and his own, and would’ve done his mother’s, but two years ago, she’d insisted on doing it herself…
so he’d insisted on getting her a riding mower.
It didn’t sit right, letting his fifty-eight-year-old mother cut grass, but he sure as hell wasn’t going to let her use a push mower, even though he knew she loved yard work.
Jeremy and Nico were three-quarters of the way around the lake when that limit of his was creeping up on him.
He wasn’t an exercise freak, but he understood the merits, so he jogged on his days off and hit the gym either before or after each shift. Given a choice though, Jeremy’s favorite form of exercise was when he was balls-deep in a woman, which had been way too long ago.
Not many women wanted a long-term relationship with a cop, and although he was fine with short-term, he wasn’t currently in one.
“Damn, do you see what I see?” Nico asked, nodding toward a group of women practicing yoga on individual mats in a large clearing in front of the dock. “Time to get a closer look at the scenery.”
With that, the guy took off in a sprint toward the women. Jeremy followed, but still at a jogger’s pace, telling himself the only reason he’d followed was because they left their backpacks on a bench by the dock with their shirts and water bottles inside.
It had nothing to do with the glimpse he’d caught of a familiar, gorgeous author, with her hair in a ponytail and body clad in black, cropped yoga pants and a black sports bra with an oversized, sleeveless gray sweatshirt over top.
Definitely had nothing to do with that, because that would be stupid. So was watching her while he drank his water.
He did it anyway. He couldn’t help himself.
She had her back to him and was posed as if sitting on an invisible chair, with an ankle resting on her other knee, while her hands were in a praying position.
He had no idea how she or the others didn’t fall.
As she straightened, she kept her hands in the same praying position, her ponytail swaying from the movement.
Elle bent a knee and pressed the bottom of her bare foot to her upper thigh.
Damn, the woman had incredible balance. And form. Her shoulders were straight, body was lean and fit, and she had one hell of an amazing ass.
Granted, there were a lot of nice butts in front of him, but it was Elle’s that held his attention and had him half cocked, as she changed position to bend the other leg.
But when she planted both feet on the mat then bent forward at the waist to place her palms flat on the mat in front of her feet, his half cocked status switched to fully loaded.
Nico’s muttered oath caught Jeremy’s attention, and he was oddly relieved to find the guy’s gaze glued to the cute butt next to Elle. The one belonging to Faith.
Those two had been circling each other since high school. Jeremy had no idea what was stopping Nico from making a move, because it was only a matter of time before Faith stopped waiting.
He returned his gaze back to Elle, mesmerized by the fluid movements of her sleek body.
She eventually turned toward him, stretching one leg back and the opposite arm toward him.
The only evidence that she’d spotted him was a slight widening of her eyes and a pretty blush creeping into her face.
But she didn’t falter. She held her pose and his admiration.
A few seconds later, she bent over backward with her palms flat on the mat and raised a leg straight in the air, which Faith grabbed with one hand, while lifting a leg up past her head and reached behind to grab with her other hand.
This time, Nico groaned. So did Jeremy.
Everything inside him tightened at once.
“Fuck this,” his buddy uttered, dropping his water bottle back onto the bench. “Time for another lap around the lake. You in?”
Jeremy sucked down the rest of his water and nodded. “Hell, yeah.”
Actually, he was ready for a lap in the lake.
But he dropped his empty bottle in a designated recycle bin nearby, then fell into step with Nico, and together they completed another three miles. By the time they finished, their frustration was gone, and so were the women.
Jeremy pulled his shirt on, telling himself he was more relieved than bummed. After downing his second bottle of water, he threw it away, then grabbed his backpack on the way to the parking lot.
“That was a hell of an interesting jog.” Nico chuckled as they walked through a wooded trail.
It was one of the unusually warmer spring days, so Jeremy enjoyed the cool breeze and brief respite from the sun.
He grunted. “Not sure interesting is the correct word.”
“True.” Nico smiled.
“Did you have any idea those girls were so flexible?”
Jeremy swallowed a groan. “No, and I wish I didn’t know.”
He’d never get the image out of his head of Elle’s graceful body bent over backward. There was a better than great chance it would forever plague his dreams.
“I hear ya,” Nico said. “But still…damn.”
Jeremy nodded as they left the woods and followed the trail over a manicured lawn to a sidewalk that led to the day visitor parking lot. It was different than the one the overnight guests used for the resort.
“Oh, man. Sorry, pal,” Nico said, slapping his shoulder. “Looks like your torture isn’t over yet.”
Jeremy swallowed hard but remained silent as he and Nico headed to Elle who was bending over the open hood of her car.
“Need any help?” he asked.
She turned around and blinked at them. “Oh, hi. Thanks, but no. Unless you can recommend a good garage. I think it’s either my battery or alternator.”
He did his best to hide his surprise over the fact that she knew those parts of a car.
“I’m sure Jeremy won’t mind giving you a jump,” Nico said with a grin, and Jeremy clenched his fist and had to resist the urge to use them to wipe it from his face. “You know, to see if your car starts.”
Elle blushed but laughed. “You are so gracious to offer your friend’s help.”
Still grinning, Nico shrugged. “We both know he’s a Good Samaritan. I’d help, but that extra lap around the lake made me late. I need to grab a shower and get to the restaurant. They’re delivering a new pizza oven this afternoon. See you two, later. Behave…or not.”
With that, the asshat jogged down the parking lot to his car. Luckily for Elle, they’d arrived in separate cars, and she was parked facing the aisle.
“My vehicle is over there. I’ll be right back,” he said, making haste to his Jeep Grand Cherokee, and in less than two minutes he returned, parking with the front end of his vehicle next to hers.
She whistled. “Nice ride. Looks like it can handle the amount of snow and ice we get in a northeast winter.”
He nodded, opening his hood, admittedly surprised by the practical side of her mind. There was more to her than creativity and the need to torture him.
Keeping his mind on her car and not her ass, he dug jumper cables from the back of his vehicle and attached them to both of their batteries, but when she tried to crank hers over, it just clicked.
“You’re right,” he said, unhooking the cable. “Seems like your alternator. Sorry.”
She sighed. “It’s okay. Thanks for trying. So, can you recommend a garage? And a tow truck?”
He already had his phone out and a number dialed. “Yes,” he said, before his mechanic friend, Archie, answered. Jeremy explained the situation, and the guy told him he’d send the truck right out but wouldn’t get to work on it until tomorrow.
He relayed the information to Elle while they waited.
“I’ll catch an Uber home,” she said, pulling her phone from a flowered backpack on her front seat. “And another to the precinct in the morning.”
“That’s not necessary,” Jeremy said, stilling her hand. “I can take you home now and pick you up in the morning.”
He didn’t know why the hell he offered, but he felt good about it.
She blinked, phone still in hand. “I don’t want to put you out. It’s okay. I don’t mind using Uber.”
But he did. Especially with her living by herself out in the boonies.
“I only live ten minutes from you.” He knew this because he’d been to the cabin for many barbeques when Ryder had lived in it. “It’s not a problem.”
She blinked, indecision clouding her gaze, but she nodded and put away her phone, then grabbed her backpack as the tow truck arrived.
Twenty minutes later, Jeremy pulled into Ryder’s old driveway and debated cutting the engine. It wasn’t because she’d asked him in, but because he couldn’t allow Elle to go into her cabin without letting him check it first.
He turned off the ignition and got out.
She followed, frowning. “What are you doing?”
“Checking your place out before you go in,” he replied, walking onto the tiny front porch.
“That’s not necessary,” she said, right on his heels. “I’ve been going in on my own for almost a year now.”
He glanced at her and shrugged. “But not when I took you home.”
She snorted. “This is the first time you’ve done that.”
“Exactly.” He held her gaze and waited.
After several long seconds, she sighed and handed him her keys. “Knock yourself out, Officer Mercer.”
Ignoring her derisive tone, he unlocked her door then glanced sideways at her. “Stay here.”
Amusement lit her eyes. “Yes, sir.”
Jeremy ignored her again, and made a quick sweep of the tiny cabin, returning less than a minute later. “All clear,” he said, exiting the cabin and shutting the door to keep his ass outside.
Still grinning, she took the keys he handed her and dropped them in her backpack. “Why thank you, Officer Mercer. What would I ever do without you?”
He had a few suggestions of what she could do with him, and the image of her in that hot, backward bending pose flashed through his head…except she was naked.
She must’ve seen something in his eyes because she inhaled and her gaze darkened. “What are you thinking about?”
Everything he shouldn’t. “You don’t want to know.”
“Oh, you’re wrong. Now I really want to know.” And as if to prove it, she stepped closer. “You aren’t looking at me like a Good Samaritan, or even as Officer Mercer.”
He gave her a single head shake. “That’s because there’s nothing valiant about my thoughts of you right now, Elle.”
She moved until they stood toe to toe. “I think I need you to tell me in great detail.”
Unable to stop himself, Jeremy lifted a finger to lightly brush the sexy freckles on her cheek.
Heat flashed in her eyes, and an answering heat took over.
He nudged her backward until she bumped into the door, and he skimmed his mouth over her jaw, then her throat, grazing her skin with his teeth as he pressed a thigh between hers.
She said his name on a gasp and clutched his shoulders.
He brought his head up and kissed her, long and deep and thorough, before he drew back and met her gaze.
“We probably shouldn’t be doing this,” she whispered, sucking in a breath.
He nodded. “I agree.”
A smile curved her sweet lips. “Then we definitely shouldn’t do it again,” she muttered, pulling his mouth back down on hers.
This kiss morphed from exploring to crazy and more demanding, with their hands all over each other.
His thumb was under her sweatshirt, stroking the smooth, hot skin of her trembling belly, while she had a hand under his shirt, palming his chest, before grazing his ribs, abs, then slowly stroking south… when his phone rang.
Shit.
He released her and drew back, sucking in air as he pulled out his cell.
It was his mother.
“Everything okay?” he asked, hoping she didn’t detect his lack of air.
“Yeah, and I hate to bother you on your day off,” she said, sounding disgusted. “But the stupid mower won’t work, and you told me to call if that ever happened.”
“No problem, Mom. I’ll be right there,” he said, before hanging up. Last thing he needed was her trying to tinker with it. He met Elle’s gaze. “Got to fix her mower.”
Elle smiled as she still worked to catch her breath. “You’ve certainly got mine revved.”
He choked out a laugh, and her gaze focused on his mouth.
Jeremy could tell she wanted it on hers, and for once, they were of the same mind.
Completely off his damn rocker, he kissed her again, another wild, tongues tangling, out-of-this-world kiss that left him jarred and her apparently at a loss for words as they tore apart for air and waited for the axis to right itself.
Didn’t happen.
She was breathing hard, and he stared at her mouth now, still wet from his, and just barely managed not to drag her close again.
It took a hell of a lot more control than he thought possible.
While he was on a roll, he nodded to her, then forced himself to climb back into his Jeep and drive away from a very good but bad idea.