Chapter 13
M ichelle pushed back the butterflies pounding for freedom in her chest as she stared at the light streaming through the glass of the door. “It was just dinner. Not a date.”
But he’d kissed her twice. All day she’d been circling back to that morning’s kiss. Soft and sweet. Well, she had her answer. The substance in the cookies had nothing to do with him kissing her.
She blew out a white cloud of condensation. Dropping her head to the side, she rolled her shoulders like a fighter going into the ring. Her neck popped.
“Okay. You got this. It’s a work dinner, that’s all. Heck, his daughter will be there.” Chaperoning. She’d make sure he kept his lips to himself.
She groaned. But she really liked those lips on hers.
“No. Don’t go there.” She straightened and rang the bell.
Soft thumps preceded the door opening. Michelle braced herself. It didn’t help.
Nick stood in the doorway in a gray Henley and faded jeans.
She blinked. Did an egg drop from her ovary? The man was gorgeous. All rugged, with a day’s scruff on his face. Her fingertips tingled just looking at him.
“Come on in.” He stepped back and motioned her inside .
Here goes nothing. Don’t inhale. Don’t. She held her breath as she passed.
She couldn’t hold it any longer. A scent that was all Nick enveloped her. Her knees wobbled. Damn pheromones. He smelled way too good.
“Let me take your coat.” She slipped it off, and he hung it on the rack behind the door. His eyes dropped to the weapon on her hip. “You’re packing?”
“Sorry, it’s like an extension of me.” She untucked her shirt and covered the hip holster.
“Dinner will be here any minute. Come on back. Can I get you a beer or water?”
While a beer sounded good, she needed to keep her wits about her tonight. No repeat of last night… or this morning. “Water please.”
She followed him into the kitchen. Her gaze zeroed in on the counter. The one she’d been thrust upon last night. Heat crept up her neck.
Nope, not going there. She shifted her focus to the rest of the room. She hadn’t paid much attention the night before. The cool gray walls, dark stained cabinets, and stainless-steel appliances would seem cold if crayon artwork wasn’t hung on the fridge. The artist herself sat at the table—crayons spread in front of her.
Michelle smiled.
Ava smiled back. “Hello, Officer Swenson.”
“We’ve baked together. You can call me Michelle.” She took the glass from Nick, careful not to touch him. She didn’t need a volt meter to know there was serious electricity arcing between them .
“Okay, Officer Michelle.”
Michelle smiled. Close enough. She sat next to Ava and looked at her drawing. “That’s good. I knew you had talent. Your cookie decorating was good, but this is truly impressive.”
Michelle picked up one of the crayons. Not your typical elementary supply. Nope, these were art store quality.
“Do you want to meet Bandit and Snowball?”
“Sure?” Michelle looked from Ava’s excitement to Nick.
“Ava, honey. After dinner. Why don’t you go wash up?” Nick pulled a few paper plates from the cupboard.
“Okay.” Ava scooped up her supplies and put them in the desk drawer at the end of the counter before running down the hall.
“Who are Bandit and Snowball?”
He paused, then said, “Her pets.”
Pets? Michelle envisioned Nick with two big dogs. Labrador Retrievers or a Bernese Mountain dog. She glanced around. No bowls or leashes.
Did the tips of his ears turn pink? Something told her that Ava’s pets weren’t going to be something Nick picked.
“What? Put your brow down. Ava fell in love at the pet store. I caved.” He shrugged.
“You’re a big softy.” Then again, he always had been a marshmallow on the inside.
When she heard the water running, Michelle asked, “Did you have any luck on the paint?”
He shook his head. “I learned red paint sales are high in December. Do you know how many places sell paint in this town alone? Not including the neighboring towns.”
She grinned. She knew exactly how many. She had to track down paint a time or two. “How many? ”
“More than I thought. I asked them to email you the lists, but I did get copies.” He pulled out a file folder from his work bag and handed it to her. “You can keep those.”
Michelle’s eyes bulged at the list. “Wow.”
“And that’s not the cash sales.”
She scanned the names. None jumped out at her. Crap.
The doorbell rang. Nick glanced at the app on his phone before picking up the cash on the counter and going to the door. Two minutes later, he set two large pizza boxes on the table.
Her stomach growled.
He flipped the lid up. “Dig in.”
Ava slid to a stop at her chair. “Did you get cheesy bread?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Nick still held the second box. “But I think we should let our guest have first crack at it, if you don’t mind.”
“I’m good. Ava can go first.”
“No, she’s my child. She can eat her weight in cheese bread.”
A little laugh escaped from Ava. She slapped a hand over her mouth.
“That can’t be.” Michelle’s gaze bounced from Nick to his daughter. “I think I need to see this. No way this little person can eat more than one piece.”
Ava giggled.
“You just issued a challenge.” Nick put two pieces and a slice of pizza on Ava’s plate. “This girl could live on pizza and cheese bread.”
Over the next twenty minutes, Michelle watched the little girl not only eat everything on her plate, but an extra piece of cheese bread.
“She’s a girl after my own heart.” Michelle took a bite of her second piece of pizza. She, too, had devoured two pieces of cheese bread.
“I’m done. Can I be excused?” At Nick’s nod, Ava placed her glass in the sink and her plate in the trash .
Ava bounded up the stairs, singing a song Michelle had heard her nieces and nephews sing. A minute later, she was back with a slinky animal draped over each arm.
“This is Bandit and Snowball.”
“Wow.” Michelle turned from the critters in Ava’s arms to Nick. “Ferrets. I didn’t see that one coming.”
He shrugged.
“Do you want to hold them?”
Before she could answer, a white furball was shoved into her lap. “Well. Hi there, um, Snowball.”
It didn’t take more than a few minutes for Michelle to see why Ava loved these two. They were cute and soft, and when they set them on the floor, they played and played. She even caught Nick chuckling at the antics of these two.
Now that Ava and the ferrets were in the living room watching a movie, Michelle was acutely aware that she and Nick were alone at the table. Mere inches apart. His eyes moved from hers to her mouth.
The look on his face said he was hungry for more than pizza.
She swallowed.
His gaze floated back to hers. He reached out. A gentle touch at the edge of her lip. Then he sucked the finger into his mouth.
Her heart pounded.
“You… had sauce.”
She picked up the napkin, but instead of wiping her face, she just stared at him. “Is it gone?”
He leaned in. His breath, pepperoni and spices, mingled with hers. Her eyelids fluttered closed as his nose brushed hers.
“There’s a little… here.” His mouth touched the side of her lip.
A breath shuddered out.
Then slowly, he moved to the other side. Again, a soft kiss on the edge of her lip.
“Did… um…did you get it?”
“What?” His chest brushed hers.
Her nipples tightened, begging… longing. This is… wrong? She should move back, stop. But it was Nick. Her Nick.
In a minute. She needed to see what he’d do next.
His mouth hovered so close she couldn’t slip a candy cane between them. She opened her eyes. Blue irises searched hers.
“Mickey.” His voice a whisper.
Her insides melted. Just the one word, her name on his lips, had her core temperature rising. She would have steam coming off her if she were in the snow.
His gaze held so much. With each blink of his ridiculously long eyelashes, the cracks he’d left in her heart years ago fused, cell by cell.
His brow rose.
“What?” She’d totally forgotten what they were talking about. She just wanted his lips on hers, even though she knew it would be a mistake.
Nick flashed a grin a second before his mouth covered hers.
Yes. This was so right in so many ways. Her heart begged to pull him closer. But her mind shouted for her to push him away, protecting her traitorous heart.
Before she could make a choice, he pulled back. Cold air rushed between them.
She blinked.
“Daddy?”
Ava. Nick must have heard her.
Well crap. Not one of her cop senses came to her aid at that moment. She hadn’t even heard the television sound had stopped until Ava was standing next to them. Or feel the paws of the furry creatures that now slinked around her legs. Way to go, girl.
“Yes, honey.” Nick spun to face his daughter. His hand wiped his mouth.
“Can we have ice cream tonight?”
“How can you have room in your belly for ice cream?”
“I do.” She rubbed her hand over her flat stomach. Michelle couldn’t see where she put all the pizza.
“Not tonight. But you can grab one of the cookies, then it’s time to get ready for bed.”
Ava grabbed a cookie from the box then scurried into the living room, back to her movie.
Michelle had seen the same gleam in her niece and nephew’s eyes. “You know that’s what she wanted all along?”
Nick looked over his shoulder at the entrance to the living room. “Yeah, I picked up on her little trick a couple of months ago. She does the diversion tactic. Asking for something she knows she can’t have, knowing I will counter with the thing she really wanted. The kid’s good. She could work in Army intelligence someday.”
“You’re a sucker. My dad used to just say no.”
“Yeah, mine too.” He glanced toward his daughter again.
Michelle didn’t need to be a psychologist like her sister-in-law to know Nick was coping with a lot. He was raising a grieving child alone while dealing with the guilt of being an absent father for most of Ava’s life. Sure, he wasn’t a deadbeat dad, but he was away most of the time. She imagined that wasn’t easy on him, either.
Nick’s phone rang. He glanced at the name and clicked the speaker button. Gone was the playful ex-lover from a moment ago. In his place was the military operative with an objective to complete. “Abe. You’re on speaker. Officer Swenson is here. ”
“Hey, man. It was good to get your email. I played with the vehicle image you sent me.”
Image? Sent? She didn’t realize Nick had sent the van image off to someone else. Ryan hadn’t been able to pull anything from the license plate yet. He thought he had a couple numbers, but they didn’t match with anything in the system.
“And…?” Nick leaned in. Intense eyes searched hers, no doubt looking to see if she was upset over him pulling in non-law enforcement.
Was she? A little. He should have told her. But, if this Abe found something, she would be grateful.
“It’s as clear as the air after rocket launcher training. That being said, I got three letters on the plate. E. D. M. Sorry I couldn’t get more, dude.”
“How sure are you of these letters?” Ryan got the E but thought the D was an O. She’d have to run these letters.
“Not to brag, but… I’m the best. Sending you the cleaned-up image now.”
Nick’s phone pinged. He pulled up the JPG file and a closeup of the license plate filled the screen. He set down the phone and slid it closer to her.
“Wow. You are good. I’ll run these in the morning and see what hits.” She didn’t know what type of hardware he used, but his system was loads better than what the department had. Ryan would be salivating to get his hands on it.
“Thanks, man. I owe you.”
“Hell, I was the one who owed you. But… If you really want to repay me, come work with us. I know you love the mountains. So would Ava.”
“Not the time.” Nick dropped his gaze and picked up his phone .
“Well, the position is yours, if you change your mind. And Nick.” Abe’s voice turned from light to serious. “Don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”
“Will do. I’ll chat with you later.” Nick disconnected the call.
Michelle’s mind spun. He turned down a job to stay here in Ashwood.
“I’ll be right back.”
She watched as he went to check on his daughter.
He chose Ashwood. But that didn’t mean he would stay.
***
Nick closed Ava’s door. His mind had already shifted from his daughter, on her way to slumber, to the woman downstairs. What the fuck had he been thinking kissing her?
Okay, he hadn’t been thinking. He’d been feeling. All the old emotions and attractions that he thought had died when she refused to share his life.
“What a cluster.” He was still figuring out this parent thing. Some days, he and Ava were tight as soldiers in a bunker. The next… he had no clue what he was doing. She was just as opinionated at eight as her mother. Or… Mickey.
He swore under his breath. After twenty years, he just realized he had a type. Strong-willed, stubborn women, and the mold was sitting in his kitchen right now.
He straightened his shoulders. Hands off. She chose her life, and it wasn’t him. Mickey wasn’t the type of woman you hook up with for some fun and forget .
When he reached the kitchen, he paused. She was tying up the trash bag.
“Hey, you don’t need to do that.”
“I know, but it was full and I don’t mind. You were doing nighttime stuff with Ava.”
He pulled the bag from her hand. This woman baffled him. The old Mickey peeked through this tough as nails cop. Maybe? No.
“What? You have that look.”
He frowned. “What look?”
“You know. Like you are trying to figure out a puzzle.”
“You are a puzzle, Mickey. Always have been.”
She dropped her gaze to the trash bin. “Not really.”
He tipped her chin up with his finger. “Bullshit. You were to me.”
She shook her head. “Well, I hear mysterious women are hot.”
“I don’t know about other women, but you are.”
A blush swept across her cheeks. She busied herself by replacing the trash bag in the can. She mumbled, “Not hot enough.”
Nick dropped the bag he was holding and pulled her up by the shoulders. “Stop talking shit. I asked you to marry me and you shot me down.”
“I shot you down? Now I call bullshit.” She pulled back. Her hands fisted on her hips.
“I asked you to come with me. I could get housing.”
“That’s not a proposal.”
“Only married servicemen get base housing.”
“How would I know that? Besides, you hated the idea of me becoming a cop, and you knew that was my dream.”
“I still hate it. You know why.” Nick picked up the bag, opened the garage door, and dropped it outside. He’d take it to the outside can in the morning .
A hand rested on his back. He braced.
“Nick. I’m not your mother.” Her voice softened.
He turned. The emotions in her eyes had him wanting to shut this conversation down. They had it before and the end was always the same. What he wanted didn’t matter.
“Hey, don’t shut down on me. Not this time. This is overdue.”
“No, it’s old news. You didn’t want me enough to come with me.”
She stepped back. Shock on her face. “That’s what you thought?”
“That’s what I know.”
She turned her back to him. Her head dropped. “I should go.”
She probably should, but he didn’t want her to. He slid his hands over her biceps. “Mickey.”
Turning her head, her gaze connected with his over her shoulder.
“Can we put the past behind us and start over?” Those might not be the right words, as a lifetime of attraction for her still simmered in his gut.
A second passed. Two. Then she nodded. Tears welled in her eyes.
He turned her, wiped the moisture from her cheek with his thumb, then kissed her.
Her breathing changed, and his whole body was charged with a rush of adrenaline, like he was infiltrating an enemy compound. Something about Mickey heightened his senses, stirred his blood, and had him teetering on the edge.
Her hand stroked his back, starting with the dip above his jeans. She maneuvered under his shirt. Each touch of her hand on his skin ratcheted his pulse up a notch. By the time she reached the top, the blood was whooshing so loud in his ears, it sounded like a helicopter.
Without breaking the kiss, he scooped his hands under her thighs and lifted her to the counter.
Her long legs snaked around his hips, fastening him to her .
Yes. Lock me in for safety, baby.
They were going for a ride.
He tipped her head to the side and traversed the side of her neck. He counted the rapid-fire flutters under his lips all the way down the long, lean slope. He nipped the edge of her collarbone, pausing momentarily before working his way to the opening of her shirt.
God, she was beautiful. Responsive. Sensual. So, fucking right.
He cupped her breast. Perfect. It always had been.
Her head rolled back, and she groaned as he worked the tip to a stiff peak.
He raised her shirt, inch by inch.
She stiffened. Her eyes cut to the stairs. “Ava?”
“She sleeps like the dead.”
“Like someone else I know.” Her eyes sparkled with mischief. Without another word, she lifted her arms for him to remove the article of clothing. They were in tune. He had missed this… missed her.
This high he was feeling wasn’t because he had been celibate for over a year. No, it was all because of her. Mickey.
With slow, appreciative hands, he journeyed down the curve of her breasts, over the soft ridges of her ribs, to the smooth skin of her belly. He enjoyed each dip and valley until his fingers touched the cold metal at her waist. He halted. His gaze dropped to the black gun.
“Huh?” Her voice husky, she glanced to where he was looking. With deft fingers, she released the holster and set it beside them. “We good?”
The sight of her gun should have chilled his lust, but it didn’t. At this point, her being a police officer was the opposite of a turnoff. Her strength. Her determination. Her intelligence. All the things that made her a good cop fed his lust for this woman .
“Oh yeah. We’re more than good.” He flicked the clasp of her bra. It slid to the floor.
The pep talk he had given himself had obviously gone out with the trash.
Mickey’s chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm as she watched him.
He held his breath, waiting for her reaction. Was she rethinking this? It would kill him, but if she wanted to stop, he would. He’d have blue balls until Christmas, but he’d do it.
“Shirt. Off.” She tugged at the hem of his Henley.
“Yes, ma’am.” He exhaled with a grin. In one smooth move, he reached over his head and pulled the shirt free.
Her hands were immediately on his chest, running through his hair, grazing his nipples. It. Felt. Amazing. To have her hands on him, her lips. He could never get enough of her.
A second later, those long, slender fingers were undoing his belt. With a flick of his jeans’ button, his pants dropped to the floor. He kicked them off.
“Turnabout’s fair play.” He unfastened her pants, and she lifted her hips. A moment later, she was gloriously naked on his counter.
“What about those?” She pointed to his boxer briefs and the evident erection behind them.
“Do you want them?” He’d gladly give them to her. Both the underwear and his throbbing dick.
“Yes, please. But lose the undies first.” She licked her lips.
“Fuck.” He didn’t think he could get any bigger, but the sight of her sexy pink tongue had his cock swelling with need. He dropped the boxers and pulled her close. The kiss was hotter than anything he could remember. It was a dance between partners who knew the moves but still brought new twists to the floor.
“Nick. Condom. Now.” She squeezed his shaft, and he groaned .
He grabbed his wallet from his pants on the floor. Oh God, please don’t let it be expired. He didn’t even look, just suited up.
He was at the entrance to heaven, and he paused. She understood and guided him home.
Wet velvet surrounded him as he stretched her with slow, long strokes. Her fingers bit into his hips, spurring him on. Increasing the pace, Nick watched her pleasure rise. He bit back his own growing release. “Come on, baby. Come on.”
“Oh, yes, yes.” She whispered as her face flushed and a sheen of sweat covered her body.
Nick had dipped his head and tasted the salt of her skin. His teeth grazed her tip, and she flew over the edge of her orgasm.
A smile crossed his lips as he pumped, letting his own release flow.