something you desperately wanted tempered by the knowledge that you couldn’t possibly have it—and he’d wanted to howl in frustration.
In ten years, things had only gotten more complicated for them. There was still his job to consider—a job far more dangerous than the average cop’s—but she also had a daughter now. And he couldn’t forget he was here under false pretenses or that she was a potential target of Guapo’s, if not more. Plus, she obviously had a personal relationship with Judge Butler, which could only make things more complicated. After all, he hadn’t forgotten Joel’s implication that Judge Butler might not be on the up and up.
None of that, however, lessened the sizzling attraction that sparked to life whenever they were together.
She still wanted him and all he could think about was her naked and under him, pulling him into the cradle she’d make of her arms and breasts and thighs. He’d enter her and pleasure them both and then he’d stay with her. He wouldn’t get up and leave minutes after the deed was done, as he normally did with women these days. He’d hold her and caress her and play with her in a way he’d never allowed himself to play with a woman since their time together in college.
The yearning to have all that struck him so completely that he immediately flinched away from it. This wasn’t about some sick need he had for respite, but about Joel. About finding his killer and insuring that Judge Butler and his staff weren’t involved or in danger themselves.
He’d tried to be funny, but her response had only confirmed what he’d already known. Playing with Mattie could get addictive.
As they sat down, he tried to steer things back on track. “Was it a special occasion yesterday?”
She raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
“The judge got you a present, right?” And one for her brother.
She bristled. “If this is about the judge and me—”
“Has that been a problem for you in the past? People thinking you and Judge Butler—”
She shook her head and stood. “I should have known your offer wasn’t about dinner or wanting to be with me. You want fodder for the rumor mill, is that it? Well, forget it. You and every other jerk out there who wants to make insinuations about Judge Butler and me can just—”
“Mattie.” He put his hand on hers, sighing when she pulled it away. “Please don’t go. Obviously I know the judge has no problem with acting certain ways off hours. I don’t believe that about you and I never said I did. I was just curious, that’s all. Trying to find out more about you. I’m sorry my attempt was so clumsy.”
She sat down. “I don’t want to talk about work. Especially Judge Butler.”
“Okay. Tell me about you. For instance, I saw you talking to that suit in court today.” The memory made renewed jealousy fill his veins. “You dating?”
Her brows lifted in surprise before she glanced away. “He’s—interested.”
“And what about you? Are you interested in him?”
Her gaze whipped back to his. “Why wouldn’t I be? He’s handsome. Sweet. I’m open to something developing.”
Ah. The relief almost made him dizzy. He hadn’t realized, however, that he’d smiled until she snapped, “What are you smiling for?”
“Sorry. It’s what you didn’t say that I’m smiling about.” He leaned forward until his nose was just inches from her. “You didn’t say you were interested, Mattie. And if you were, you’d be more than ‘open’ to something developing, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re wrong.”
No, he wasn’t, he thought, but all he said was a mild, “Okay.”
She looked suspicious for a minute, then said, “How about you? Are you seeing anyone special?”
“No.”
“Well, that was a quick answer. Quick and firm.”
He shrugged. “My career keeps me busy. Besides, after you, I guess I never found another woman who even remotely made me think of settling down.”
She took a deep breath, looking
In ten years, things had only gotten more complicated for them. There was still his job to consider—a job far more dangerous than the average cop’s—but she also had a daughter now. And he couldn’t forget he was here under false pretenses or that she was a potential target of Guapo’s, if not more. Plus, she obviously had a personal relationship with Judge Butler, which could only make things more complicated. After all, he hadn’t forgotten Joel’s implication that Judge Butler might not be on the up and up.
None of that, however, lessened the sizzling attraction that sparked to life whenever they were together.
She still wanted him and all he could think about was her naked and under him, pulling him into the cradle she’d make of her arms and breasts and thighs. He’d enter her and pleasure them both and then he’d stay with her. He wouldn’t get up and leave minutes after the deed was done, as he normally did with women these days. He’d hold her and caress her and play with her in a way he’d never allowed himself to play with a woman since their time together in college.
The yearning to have all that struck him so completely that he immediately flinched away from it. This wasn’t about some sick need he had for respite, but about Joel. About finding his killer and insuring that Judge Butler and his staff weren’t involved or in danger themselves.
He’d tried to be funny, but her response had only confirmed what he’d already known. Playing with Mattie could get addictive.
As they sat down, he tried to steer things back on track. “Was it a special occasion yesterday?”
She raised a brow. “Excuse me?”
“The judge got you a present, right?” And one for her brother.
She bristled. “If this is about the judge and me—”
“Has that been a problem for you in the past? People thinking you and Judge Butler—”
She shook her head and stood. “I should have known your offer wasn’t about dinner or wanting to be with me. You want fodder for the rumor mill, is that it? Well, forget it. You and every other jerk out there who wants to make insinuations about Judge Butler and me can just—”
“Mattie.” He put his hand on hers, sighing when she pulled it away. “Please don’t go. Obviously I know the judge has no problem with acting certain ways off hours. I don’t believe that about you and I never said I did. I was just curious, that’s all. Trying to find out more about you. I’m sorry my attempt was so clumsy.”
She sat down. “I don’t want to talk about work. Especially Judge Butler.”
“Okay. Tell me about you. For instance, I saw you talking to that suit in court today.” The memory made renewed jealousy fill his veins. “You dating?”
Her brows lifted in surprise before she glanced away. “He’s—interested.”
“And what about you? Are you interested in him?”
Her gaze whipped back to his. “Why wouldn’t I be? He’s handsome. Sweet. I’m open to something developing.”
Ah. The relief almost made him dizzy. He hadn’t realized, however, that he’d smiled until she snapped, “What are you smiling for?”
“Sorry. It’s what you didn’t say that I’m smiling about.” He leaned forward until his nose was just inches from her. “You didn’t say you were interested, Mattie. And if you were, you’d be more than ‘open’ to something developing, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re wrong.”
No, he wasn’t, he thought, but all he said was a mild, “Okay.”
She looked suspicious for a minute, then said, “How about you? Are you seeing anyone special?”
“No.”
“Well, that was a quick answer. Quick and firm.”
He shrugged. “My career keeps me busy. Besides, after you, I guess I never found another woman who even remotely made me think of settling down.”
She took a deep breath, looking
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