Dog Collar Knockoff by Adrienne Giordano Page B

and Frankie had broken up, there’d been a feeling that it wouldn’t last. They were magnets in the same force field. This time, she honestly wasn’t sure.
    She reached out and touched his arm because it felt right and easy and she wanted the connection.
    “Tim, all I can do is tell you what I know right now. Frankie and I have been apart three months. There’s something different this time. Something I can’t figure out. I do know I really like spending time with you. It feels new and fun and… freeing. And I like that.”
    He smiled at her, that lightning-quick one that sent her hormones all a-flutter. “Good enough.” He turned, slid his hands from his pockets, threw his arm over her shoulder again and started walking. “Lucie Rizzo, let’s see where this goes. I have a feeling it’s going to be a great ride.”
    *
    Lucie strolled up the walkway toward her parents’ front door with Tim just behind her. As she walked, she tilted her head up to enjoy the kaleidoscope of stars on a perfect summer evening. She breathed in, let it out slowly, and tried to forget her mother was sleeping upstairs. Living with one’s parents might be the best birth control going. Not that she’d sleep with him. Hunky as he was, she wasn’t ready for that. Not a chance. She’d slept with three men in her lifetime and Frankie had been the only one in four years. Casual sex may have worked for some, but she couldn’t do it. She needed the emotional attachment and commitment that came with making love.
    The hormones would have to deal.
    When she reached the stoop, the porch light flicked on. Ah, the joy of motion sensors. Couldn’t get away with a thing. And if it weren’t nearly midnight, Lucie knew the neighbors would have their noses pressed up against the glass to see why the light flipped on. Everyone in this town was fascinated with the Rizzo family.
    She reached the top step and turned. Tim was still two steps lower and she was nearly eye-to-eye with him. Tall man. Big man.
    Oh.
    Boy.
    “I had fun tonight. Thank you.”
    He nodded. “Me too. I’ll call you this weekend. Maybe we can get together on Sunday for a while? If it’s nice, we can go to the beach.”
    With his fair skin, he wanted to go to the beach? “I love the beach.” She twisted her lips. “We’ll need five gallons of sunscreen for you.”
    “Six,” he corrected.
    And, oh my, how she loved a man who could poke fun at himself. She shook her head. “I’ll say this for you, Tim O’Brien, you know how to make a girl swoon.”
    Under the glare of the porch light, Lucie’s gaze moved to Tim’s mouth and that perfect lower lip. His mouth had a fullness to it. So sexy.
    After a second, those lips slid into a knowing grin and heat stormed Lucie’s cheeks for what had to be the millionth time tonight.
    Her thoughts were just plain wicked!
    “I do my best,” he said, still grinning.
    And then, finally, he did it, what she’d been waiting all night for, he moved closer. She knew what this was. Yes. Bring me those lips, baby! She wanted those lips.
    “Hey.”
    Gah! Lucie jumped backward, her arms flying as she almost fell flat on her butt on the stoop. Tim grabbed hold before she went over.
    Here she was about to lip-lock with the hunky detective and up walks Joey Big Ears.
    “Hi,” Lucie chirped, guilt flying off her like spurting blood.
    Tim grinned, clearly amused that they’d been busted. But, ace that he was, he turned, waited for Joey to step closer, and held out his hand. “Tim O’Brien.”
    Joey slid a hard glare at Lucie then went back to Tim, grudgingly shaking his hand. “Joey Rizzo.”
    The two had quasi met a few months back when O’Brien had been investigating Lucie’s dognappings. She didn’t recall any words actually being exchanged, but there’d been a load of posturing on her brother’s part. All she remembered was Joey doing the silent don’t-screw-with-us routine. Total charmer, her brother.
    But hey, at least this time