Law Man (Dream Man #3)(63)

Oh my. Gentle Mitch.

Um…yum.

“I, uh…” I started but stopped when his lips touched mine.

“I’ll go gentle, baby,” he whispered against my lips. “I promise. You’ll always be safe with me.”

Oh. My.

“Mitch,” I breathed.

His soulful eyes held mine captive as he repeated firmly, “Always.”

I stared into his eyes and he stared into mine. His were warm but serious. Mine were probably terrified.

Then he prompted, “Yeah?”

“Uh…yeah,” I whispered.

“Good,” he whispered back, dropped his head, veered left and kissed the hinge of my jaw. Then he let me go, saying, “I gotta jump in the shower.”

“Um…all right,” I mumbled and executed a hasty exit because Mitch was headed to the shower and my brain was headed to visions of Mitch in the shower. I didn’t have time to melt into a steaming puddle at the thought of Detective Mitch Lawson na**d in the shower or any other thoughts that crowded my mind after all that Detective Mitch Lawson had said to me.

I had kids to get ready for school.

Chapter Fifteen

He’s Six Foot Three and Never Misses a Workout

“Excellent,” I said, handing the receipt to my customer who just purchased our second highest end model, the Slumber Excelsior. “Delivery is scheduled between ten and twelve on Saturday. This is guaranteed and your delivery men will be…” I clicked the computer keyboard a couple of times, checking the monitor, then smiled back at my customer, “Luis and Paul.”

“You even know their names?” the customer asked.

“Sure,” I replied as, out of the corners of my eyes, I saw Roberta wandering our way. “Luis has been working with us for six years. Paul started two years ago.”

“This really is a family place,” the customer mumbled.

“Absolutely!” I declared brightly as Roberta got closer, the customer looked over his shoulder at her then back at me quickly.

“Um…can I ask…” he started, I leaned in, raising my eyebrows encouragingly. “What are you doing Saturday between ten and twelve?”

I leaned back and stared at him.

I hated when this happened and it happened a lot.

“Just that…” he grinned, “you might want to come over and have coffee. You know, make sure they get there all right.”

“I’ll be taking care of my two children,” I blurted a semi-lie, he blinked and Roberta audibly choked down a laugh. His eyes shot to my left hand then back to my face.

“Yes, she and her police detective boyfriend will be having coffee at that time,” Roberta chimed in, I turned wide eyes to her and she joined me at the counter. “He’s six foot three,” she added. “And never misses a workout,” she finished.

“Right,” he muttered.

“Um…” I mumbled. “Still, enjoy your mattresses and if you ever need anything else in the, uh…bedroom…” God! Ugh, I hated this. “Remember Pierson’s.”

I smiled gamely at him.

He nodded and took off just as the door opened and LaTanya of all people walked in, eyes on me but I didn’t have time for a surprise visit from LaTanya. I turned to Roberta.

“Bobbie, what on earth? Mitch isn’t my boyfriend!” I hissed.

“You’re sleeping in his bed,” Roberta pointed out and I lamented my sharing earlier that day about what had gone on the night before.

“But –”

“And Mitch is sleeping in his bed with you,” she went on.

Now I really lamented sharing my evening with Roberta but mostly I lamented how much I’d shared. However, what Mitch said about lying to my friends rankled so I shared. Now I was reminded why I didn’t.

“Mitch slept with you?” LaTanya cried loudly, my eyes darted toward Mr. Pierson’s office as I vowed never to share again.

“Yes –” I started to explain but could get no further.

“Oh my God!” LaTanya exclaimed.

“I know!” Roberta exclaimed right after her.

“Calm down!” I hissed, leaning forward to push LaTanya’s shoulder at the same time looking over mine toward Mr. Pierson’s office again. When I saw the coast was clear, I looked back at LaTanya. “It wasn’t that big of a deal. Billie was in it with us. She was scared and she wanted Mitch close.”

“Unh-hunh,” she nodded, crossing her arms on her chest, a huge white smile on her face.

“The whole situation is extreme,” I explained. “And Mitch is just being nice,” I lied because from what he said that morning (something I, fortunately, did not share with Roberta – I had told her about my evening, I had not told her about my morning), he wasn’t being nice. He was being something else entirely.

“Mitch is a nice guy,” LaTanya agreed. “So nice, he’d crawl into bed with a six year old…” she paused, leaned forward, her smile got even bigger, Delight shining through, “and you,” she went on. “Not that there’s anything weird about that.” She leaned back, shaking her head, her sparkling with Delight eyes going to Roberta. “No, nothin’ weird, seein’ as you two been dancin’ around each other for four years, you barely make eye contact with the guy then one night he fixes your faucet and bam!” Her arms suddenly uncrossed so her hands could clap loudly and I jumped. “You’re all but moved in with him.