To Protect and …Seduce? by Deirdre O'Dare
www.amberquill.com/AmberHeat/ProtectSeduce.html
"Come on, Angie. Everything's arranged. I've got a sitter for the kids and reservations at Curly Bill's Steak House. I owe you–you've been watching Jenna as much as my regular sitter lately. A mere dinner isn't enough, but it's a start."
Amy knew she ought to say no, firmly and with finality. She couldn't. It had been too long since she'd enjoyed a few hours of masculine company without C.S. watching her every move, or without worrying how the evening would end. Would
"I don't have any dressy outfits," she stalled. "How fancy is this place?"
Jack laughed. "Fancy is one thing Curly Bill's isn't. There'll be folks there in shorts, jeans, whatever's comfortable. You look fine just the way you are." His bright gaze swept from her head to her pink-painted toenails in her worn brown sandals. His eyes held admiration, appreciative warmth that heated an answering spot in Amy's depths. She was flattered to be looked at that way again. It had been so long.
No use being coy. She wanted this as badly as a child wanted Christmas to come. "Okay. I haven't been buying much steak lately, I must admit. Not only the cost, but C.S. prefers pizza, hamburgers or hot dogs and it's too much trouble to fix different meals for the two of us."
At first Jack's use of "Angie" had sounded odd, but Angelica was her middle name and Angie came naturally from that. She'd even used it off and on, just not recently. Sooner or later she'd have to explain. If she stayed here that long, if she and Jack got that close. For now, Amy A. Maxwell did not exist. Cochran was her mother's maiden name, one she felt comfortable with, and one that
She let Jack take her arm to lead her around the building to his big pickup. He opened the passenger door, then gave her a boost into the high cab. Every touch sent tingles of awareness zinging through her body. She was sure she had never been so turned on by simple, almost impersonal touches. It was scary. It was wonderful. It was the wrong place and time but still, it felt so damn good!
On a Thursday evening the steak house, though a popular place, was not crowded. Jack laughed when he explained that odd days off did have their benefits. His weekend was normally Wednesday and Thursday. Regular weekends were generally too busy for a small town cop to be off.
"Saturday night this place is normally packed. They'll have a live band in the bar and people waiting for tables to empty. I could've got by tonight without a reservation, but I wanted us to have a good table. It's been awhile since I was out with a pretty lady. If I don't do everything just right, I hope you'll forgive me."
"I haven't been on many–er–out too much lately either. As far as I can tell you're doing fine."
Under the table, which was a bit small, their knees bumped. Amy tried to draw back, but there was really nowhere to go. Jack's long legs simply took up most of the available space. A few minutes later she realized both her knees were neatly trapped between his. The intimacy of that sensation shot darts of heat through her whole body, heat which settled low in her belly and started a flow of moisture between her legs. What is it about this guy? He's got me ready to go up in smoke!
The food was delicious. Ordinarily Amy would have totally enjoyed the meal. She did now, but that pleasure was tempered by her keen awareness of her companion, by the increasingly intimate gazes Jack sent her way and the deepening of his voice as he spoke. He shared some amusing anecdotes of funny, silly things that had happened during his law enforcement career. He even managed not to ask a single prying question, although curiosity shone in his eyes as he studied her.
"You keep looking at me." Her voice sounded unusually high and breathless. She had blurted the comment without thinking.
"You're mighty nice to look at, Angie. You can't blame a guy for enjoying it while he has the chance."
A hot flush of embarrassment crept up her cheeks. She'd asked for that, walked right into it, if not actively soliciting the compliment. Although she might not be the most worldly wise, she was not normally gauche! This edgy feeling was both exciting and disturbing. It had her totally off balance.
They finished off the meal with a sinfully delicious deep dish apple pie topped with ice cream and a cup of strong black coffee. Amy wasn't sure whether she was more relieved or reluctant when the time came to leave. Again Jack took her arm and guided her smoothly out of the restaurant. This time he went straight to the driver's side of the truck where he helped her climb in.
She knew she ought to scoot over a little more to leave a small space between them, but the solid heat of Jack's body felt too good. She could not deny herself the comfort of his thigh pressing against hers, the scent of his juniper-tinged aftershave tingling in her nose. His size and strength created a sensation of being vulnerable, yet protected. The drive up to the apartments seemed much too short.
When they got out, Jack caught her by the waist to swing her down. Then, instead of taking her arm, he kept one arm around her, holding her close to his side as they strolled into the courtyard and across it to her door.
They halted in the shadowed alcove just outside Amy's apartment.
"I hate to see this evening end. I could get used to your company real quick." With his hands just above her hips, he turned her to face him, then held her gently with both arms around her waist.
"I–I don't know how long we're going to be here," Amy squeaked. "It might be a mistake to get too close. I'm already worrying about the kids, how difficult it will be for them when the time comes…"
"Why would you leave? Isn't this a nice place, a good, quiet town where you can raise your boy? Don't you like it here? I know I could make more money working in
Amy shook her head, struggling against blurting out her whole sordid tale. "I'm just worried about my ex finding us and causing problems. I'm sure he didn't think I'd dare to leave, that I could survive on my own. When we don't come crawling back soon, he'll start searching. With modern technology, it isn't hard to find people, even if they don't want to be found."
She felt the sudden subtle tension in Jack's body. Although he held her loosely, she was still close enough to feel the tightening of his muscles.
"Nobody will harm you here, you or the boy. I'll see to that. Anyone comes around asking questions, I'll hear about it. That's another thing about small towns–no secrets, especially from the cops. I guess we're the biggest gossips around, but most of us are curious, interested. Information is our stock in trade."
Amy hesitated, took a slow breath and released it. "Let's just take it a day at a time."
"We've got today then, and tonight."
Was kissing really safer than talking? Probably not, but that was what Amy told herself as he drew her closer, started to bend down. Although he was giving her ample time to draw back, she didn't. She couldn't.
His warm lips tasted of coffee and cinnamon, as sweetly tempting as sin. There was no way in hell she could resist. She opened to him, savoring the invasion of his tongue, the erotic deepening of a simple kiss into something much more intense and intimate.
She wanted this and so much more. Long denied needs erupted like lava bursting from an inner cauldron of heat. She tunneled her fingers into the short, crisp hair at the back of his neck, answered his tongue with thrusts of her own. The mindless hunger of pure lust swept over her, wiping out cautions, fears, even modesty.
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