Running Free (Woodland Creek)(12)

Her laugh is one of those sneak peeks.

And I do what I can to make it happen as often as I can.

“Stay for dinner. I don’t have to be at work until nine,” I tell her.

She sits forward in the patio chair and pokes at the fire pit I made. “My shift starts in a couple of hours. Maybe another day.”

Another day my ass. I want to keep her here as long as I can. Each time the wind picks up and blows her hair around, I find myself itching to stroke the strands out of her face. Or when she talks, I find myself staring at her perfect mouth.

Jesus, I haven’t been laid in so long.

And Frankie.

I have to have her.

“I have an idea,” I blurt out and stand suddenly.

Her dark brows are lifted in question but she nods, gracing me with a smile.

I leave her to watch over the dogs while I gather some supplies. A short while later, I come out with a package of hotdogs and two coat hangers I shaped into sticks.

“Dinner,” I smirk, handing her a stick.

A grin tugs at her lips. “You’re a pushy one, aren’t you? Just don’t take no for an answer.”

Chuckling, I sit down beside her and open the package. “I’m just a very motivated man. When I see something I want, I go for it.”

Her eyes drift to the yard where the dogs play and she frowns. “A cop going for a bad girl. Hmmm.”

I don’t satisfy her with an answer and instead push the hotdogs onto each of our sticks. Once I have mine in the fire, I look over at her.

“You’re not a bad girl, Frankie. In fact, so far, I like everything I see.”

She snaps her head to mine and furrows her brows. “Yeah? Well, there’s more to me than meets the eye.”

I stew on her words but don’t have a comment. She’s the type of woman who won’t settle for words. Actions are what mean more to a woman like her.

“And I’m not some pretty face either. I have layers,” I tease. “Look, Frankie, I like you and I want to get to know you more.”

She doesn’t reply and sets to eating her hotdog once it’s cooked. Truth is, I’m comfortable sitting here in silence with her. It feels right. For the first time in several months, I’m beginning to feel like myself again. Carla did a number on my heart and right here… tonight, it’s starting to show signs of life again thanks to Frankie.

“Gunnar?”

I blink open my eyes and realize I must have drifted off in my chair. “Mmm?”

“Are you okay? You fell asleep. If you work the nightshift, when do you sleep? You spent the day with me,” she murmurs, taking the coat hanger from me.

I frown to see my hotdog charred to bits. She pulls it off and tosses it into the fire before putting a new one on the stick.

“I don’t sleep much,” I say, honesty dripping from my words.

Her concerned eyes meet mine as she cooks another hotdog. “Curly Sue and I will leave. You need some rest. I wish you would have told me.”

Shaking my head at her, I accept the stick with the now cooked hotdog on it. “Thanks. And, I don’t require much sleep.”

She watches me while I eat, our eyes never leaving the other. When I finish, I tease her to lighten the mood.

“You could always nap with me.” I flash her a naughty grin and her eyes widen. For a moment, I see it. Her mind took the dirty path mine did hours ago at the animal shelter. We’d be stupid not to acknowledge the mutual attraction between us.

Eventually she sighs and looks up at the darkening sky. The rain has held out but it won’t be long.

“Gunnar—”

“Call me Gun.”

Her smile is back. “Of course that’d be your nickname.”

“I’m a cop. Seems fitting.”

She giggles but it fades out when the wind picks up. “Gun, I can’t date you. We’re too different. You’re hot, I’ll give you that. But I’d just want to have sex with you and then move on. You seem like a relationship kind of guy. I absolutely don’t do relationships.”

Reaching over, I cover her hand that rests on the arm of the patio chair with mine. “Fine, let’s just go have sex then.”

She gapes at me and I chuckle. “Frankie, I’m kidding. But seriously though. I just went through a crushing divorce. Not a moment goes by where I don’t think about the betrayal of my ex-wife. I can assure you, I’m not eager to jump into a new relationship.”

Her frown is immediate and I wonder what upsets her. The fact that I was married before? That I don’t want a relationship with her?

“But listen,” I quickly add. “Just because I don’t want a relationship, doesn’t mean I’m okay with a one night stand. There’s a connection here. Don’t you feel it? It feels right being around you. For the first time in months, I’m smiling again. My body has woken up and I’m craving someone again. That someone is you. I think we’d be idiots not to see where this goes. Take it slow, I don’t care. I just want to have more puppy and hotdog playdates with you.”

Her lips twitch and she attempts to hold back a smile. “Gun, it won’t work,” she says with a sigh.

“Come here,” I mutter. “I need to show you something.”

With her lips pressed into a firm line, she nods and leans for me. I slide my fingers into her soft, messy hair and draw her to me. Her lips part and her eyes flutter closed giving me all the permission I need. Pressing my lips to hers, I take a moment to revel in the softness of the kiss. But as soon as our lips meet, a hunger that has nothing to do with food takes over and our mouths open, our tongues taking over.