Bidding Wars (Love Strikes)(9)

“Can I take you to lunch?” He put his hands in his pockets.

“No. I need to get back to work. I haven’t even eaten yet. I really should go.”

“We can eat together then.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have time.”

“How about tomorrow?”

“It’s not a good idea.”

“Why?”

“It just isn’t.”

“Well, Ms. Harper, if you can’t give me a better reason, then I will be at your workplace tomorrow to take you to lunch.” He stood by the doorway.

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her mind was betraying her by not giving her some kind of excuse.

He grinned. He must have known he’d won. “I’ll see you tomorrow at noon then.”

She smirked and cocked her head to the side. “Not if I call out sick.”

He chuckled. “Good thing I know where you live.”



* * *





After Molly left, Luke sat at his desk and tugged at his pants, trying to rearrange his uncomfortable hard-on. He was trying to think of anything to get rid of it, but it wasn’t working. Somehow, his thoughts kept going back to Molly and the almost-kiss. He’d been so close to finding out how she would taste. She always had a faint fruity smell to her, and he was dying to know if she would taste as sweet he imagined.

He wanted her—badly. And he was pretty sure she was starting at least to be a little interested in him. He saw something in her brown eyes. It was like a switch went from sad to desire. He was the one she desired at that moment. And it was that look she gave him as she leaned up to kiss him that kept him rock hard.

“Sheriff.” Annie Thomson, one of the deputies, entered his office.

“What can I do for you?”

“Don’t forget that Officer Rogers needs your help transporting that prisoner today. I think it’s scheduled for two o’clock.”

He raked his hands through his hair. He’d forgotten. “Thanks for reminding me.”

Annie reminded everyone of where they needed to be. It was nice. If it weren’t for her, the station wouldn’t run as smoothly as it did.

“So who was that woman?” She pushed a dark lock behind her ear, a curious grin on her face.

“Molly Harper. And anytime she comes by, if I’m not with someone, you can direct her to my office.”

Annie smirked. “She’s a looker and rather feisty. It’s nice to see you moving on. Or at least, I assume you’re seeing her.”

He didn’t really know what to say. “I’d like to be.”

“Where did you meet her?”

“I don’t want rumors going around the office about me.”

She placed her hand over her heart. “You know I’d never do that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, well if this gets around then we know you did. I don’t want to talk about it. I’m afraid if I do, I will jinx it—and it’s already rocky.”

“She must be special then. So tell me, where did you meet her?”

There was no way he was going to tell her the whole story. The last thing he needed was anyone knowing he’d purposely given up the house for her. “Sammy got sick this weekend, and she was the nurse who helped.”

“Poor guy. Is he feeling better?”

“For the most part. I’ll call Leslie tonight to make sure and see if he went to school today.”

She leaned against the doorway. “You’re a great father…I’m jealous. My kid’s dad never calls.”

“He’s missing out.” He saw the emotion in her eyes. It had only been a few months since she’d split from her marriage, and from what he understood, Annie’s ex had only called their daughter once. What do you say to a child who doesn’t understand why her father has just left? Annie had her hands full.

Annie cleared her throat. “Well, you need to go get ready to help Rogers, and I have to get a file ready for court.”

Luke nodded. Once she left he took a few moments to check his e-mail and then went off to find Officer Rogers. Hopefully the moving of this inmate to the county prison wouldn’t be too bad. Every now and then you got one who liked to be difficult.





The drive home from county prison took him past the house on Maple Street. He pulled into the driveway and up to the house. He didn’t get out. The for-sale sign still sat there, making the home look as though it were still available to the public. When would the “under contract” sticker be plastered over the sign? In the reflection on his rearview mirror he noticed a red vehicle slowing down and a couple staring out at the house as they drove by.

Had he done the right thing? He had really loved this house. When he first walked inside, a wave of warmth surrounded his heart—it was as though he was where he was supposed to be. He could envision Sammy and him there. The side yard was a perfect place to put up a soccer goal. The driveway had an extra piece of slab; perfect for a basketball hoop.

He laid his head back on the rest. Was she worth it? He’d withdrawn his offer on a whim. He’d tossed the idea around and surprised himself by going through with it. However, when he thought about Molly, that same warm feeling around his heart always came back. It was as though she had a piece of his heart and this house.

Neither the house or Molly was a guarantee though. His offer might not have been as high as hers. He could have ended up losing them both. He had decided he would choose one of them, and he chose her. The only thing she had to decide now was if she wanted to be with him. And that he wasn’t sure about. She had a thick, solid wall surrounding her. It would take a while to break it down. The process would be slow—taking down the wall one piece at a time to earn her trust and show her he could love her.

Love.

How in the world had he gotten to that idea? He didn’t know the woman; he didn’t love her. He couldn’t get ahead of himself. That was how he’d gotten into the mess with Leslie. She’d been a damsel in distress, and he’d wanted to swoop in and rescue her. They’d moved fast, and the next thing he knew, she was pregnant and they were at the courthouse getting married.

He would take it slow with Molly. Very slow.

He took one last glance at the house and then put his car in reverse. He’d done the right thing. Choosing Molly had been the right choice. He couldn’t doubt that, and he couldn’t let the what ifs creep into his head. Besides, if he played his cards right, he might end up with the house as well.





Chapter Eight





Molly stared in the mirror as she applied her makeup. She never wore makeup to work. Never. And now she had her hair curled and more eyeliner applied than she meant to put on. Her eyes really stood out. She glanced down at her purple scrubs. The way she looked, she should have a ball gown on, not these super comfortable clothes.

She zipped up her makeup bag and tossed it in the drawer. Maybe she should call in sick and show that man she was serious about not going out with him. Hell, not only was he in her life constantly, but in her dreams. Only last night, as she tossed and turned, the scene in his office yesterday played out much differently.

She leaned up against him, her lips firmly pressed against his. Almost immediately, they both opened to one another, letting their tongues dart in. It was electric, and the need for more raced through her. She grabbed him, caressed him, and explored him eagerly. He did the same, hitching up her skirt to cup her bottom.

His two big hands lifted her up by her ass and carried her to his desk. While holding her with one arm, he used the other to toss everything off his desk. Luke then laid her down on the glazed wood. He took a full tour of her body with his mouth, teasing her by leaving all her clothes on. He’d made sure to take an extra long detour between her legs, soaking her panties not only from the inside, but the outside as well. Desire stirred through her. She needed him burrowed deep within her. Needed to feel a man inside her, heightening her senses—not a piece of plastic.

The next thing she knew, she was naked and so was he. Her legs were wrapped around his waist and he was plunging into her. She called out his name repeatedly as he gazed lovingly down at her. It felt astonishingly good. Every nerve in her body was on fire, as wave after wave of pleasure rocked through. She didn’t want the pleasure to ever end.

Her eyes opened, and she stared up at ceiling, panting. She pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her body was covered in sweat, and her breathing was short. As she caught her breath and cooled off under the fan, she couldn’t believe what had just happened. Luke had given her one of the best orgasms she’d had in a while—and he didn’t even know it.

Each time she shut her eyes, he was there again and they were kissing. And now he was taking her to lunch. She didn’t know if she could look him in the eyes.