Silver Bracelets: A Loveswept Contemporary Classic Romance by Sandra Chastain Page B

in the county park.
    The autopsy was underway now. Ballistics experts were checking the bullets that had been fired into the body before it was thrown in the lake. Fingerprints were being run through the FBI headquarters in Washington and the victim’s clothes were being examined in the lab. Until the reports were in, Asa had been instructed to man the pot of peas at the festival.
    He finally figured out that part of his reservations was because he wasn’t doing his job, and part of them was because he was tired of sharing Sarah with the world.
    “What’s wrong, Deputy? Are you hot?” Sarah had moved closer to Asa, concern marring her sunny expression.
    His gaze followed a bead of perspiration trickling down her neck, rolling past her collarbone, disappearing into the body-hugging stretch top she was wearing.
    “Yes, I’m very warm,” he said.
    “Then I think it’s time we had a break. Hey, guys,” she called to the officers kibitzing behind them. “Time for a shift change.”
    Sarah picked up two cups of lemonade and managed to avoid drawn out conversations with festival-goers as she and Asa sipped the cool drinks and made their way through the crowd.
    The city square was filled with people: Craftsmen with their wares and locals who enjoyed the food and activities. Asa couldn’t imagine where the two of them were heading until Sarah dropped their cups in a trash can, took his hand, and led him across the street.
    “Where are we going?”
    “Don’t ask questions. Just follow me.”
    He did.
    They ducked into an alley behind the row of buildings on the north side of the square. When they reached the last building Sarah fumbled with a panel beside a small side entrance. When the door swung open she jerked Asa inside and closed it behind them. The room was cool and totally dark.
    “Where exactly are we?” he asked.
    “We’re on the stage of the old Strand Theater, behind the curtain.”
    “A movie theater?”
    “Well, it isn’t a movie house anymore. It’s being used as a theater.”
    Asa whistled. She’d done it again, caught him off guard. “How’d we get in? Wasn’t it locked?”
    “Yes, but I put the lock in and I know the combination. The owner left my code in the alarm, in case I ever had to make a service call.”
    “Then we’re not trespassing?”
    “Oh, I didn’t say that. Come on.” She took his hand and pulled him forward. Trying to see was impossible and after slamming into two pieces of equipment, Sarah finally pulledhis arms around her so that they were curled together like two spoons as they walked.
    “Now stay with me,” she said.
    “Are you sure we’re alone here?” Asa asked, concerned about the growing evidence of his reaction to her nearness.
    “Why, Deputy, you want to fool around?”
    Sarah twisted around in his arms and pulled his face down to meet hers. “Do I embarrass you, Asa?”
    “No! Yes! Hell, I don’t know what you do to me. I just know that I’ve broken into a building and I’m standing here in the dark making out with a woman who doesn’t have any idea what she’s inviting!”
    “I think I know,” she said in a voice that was throaty with desire. “I’m inviting you to kiss me.”
    “As I recall, you were taking me someplace to get cooled off.”
    “Not true. I asked you if you were hot and you agreed. I figured that I’d never get a better shot at taking advantage of you.”
    He groaned. She was right. He wanted badly to kiss her. Just one quick intense little kiss wasn’t going to make things any worse than they already were.
    “Asa?”
    “I like the way you say my name, Sarah. I like the way you smell, the way you feel.” He pressed a hand against the small of her back. He planted the other on her bare skin just below the swell of her breasts.
    “Asa,” she whispered, and rose up on her toes.
    Then he covered her mouth with his in a hard, possessive kiss, parting her lips, plunging his tongue deep inside as he pulled her even closer.