Reduced to Ashes

by Kay Gordon

  We watched as the older man walked away and once he was out of sight, I turned back to the woman next to me. She was looking me up and down and when I quirked my brows in question, she just offered me a small smile.

  “You’re in a suit.”

  I glanced down at the rumpled white dress shirt I was wearing. My tie and jacket were long gone, abandoned several hours ago. The first button on my shirt was undone and I’d rolled my sleeves up my forearms. I still had my suit pants on and both my gun and badge on my hip.

  “I just left work.”

  “Oh.” She cleared her throat and met my eyes. “It’s a good look on you.”

  I stepped forward and traced the bit of her exposed collarbone with my thumb. “Yeah? I like this look on you. You’re fucking gorgeous.” A sense of satisfaction went through me when she sucked in a breath and I took a step back. “When do you work again?”

  She blinked at me for a second before shaking her head. “Sunday morning until Monday morning.”

  “That’s perfect. Take a nap when you get off Monday and I’ll pick you up at five. I absolutely love you in shorts but wear pants, okay? I’ll pick you up.”

  “Pick me up?” She gave me a confused look. “Pick me up for what?”

  I leaned forward and pressed my lips against hers softly. “Our date.”

  –––

  “Nice kick, Melinda!” Victoria clapped her hands as she ran along the sideline with the girls. The woman was like a machine and she never even looked out of breath. The best part?

  She was wearing shorts.

  Something about that made me want to pound on my chest proudly. She was willingly putting herself on display and I couldn’t help thinking she was doing so because she’d gained some confidence from either knowing I liked the shorts or because she knew I wouldn’t let anything happen to her. Whatever the reason, I wasn’t complaining.

  The bad part was that I wasn’t the only one who noticed. Melinda Wickman’s father couldn’t seem to peel his eyes from Victoria on a normal day but when she was wearing shorts? Let’s just say I wasn’t sure he even noticed that his daughter was playing in a soccer match.

  Kendra passed the ball to Grace in a maneuver that was almost too slick for a couple of little girls, but that didn’t stop my niece from kicking it towards the net. When the goalkeeper couldn’t get to it fast enough, it sailed over the line and our team threw their hands up.

  The girls ran over to the sideline and slapped Victoria’s hand before doing the same to mine and the rest of the players currently not on the field. When they were done, Victoria turned and held both of her hands in the air and I laughed before slapping them with my own.

  We stood next to each other for a minute while the refs got ready for the kick-off. I reached a hand up and squeezed her shoulder, causing her to flash me a small smile. The smiles were coming more frequently and they transformed her whole face. I felt a little responsible for those, too.

  Our girls dominated the game and ended up winning six goals to zero. When the whistle blew to signify the end of the game, everyone gathered in a huge group hug. Victoria let them celebrate for a moment and then ushered them out to shake hands with the opposing team. We waited until they came back and I smiled at all of the girls once they were quiet.

  “We’re super proud of you guys. You played like champs out there today.”

  Victoria nodded and tucked her clipboard under her arm. “Last game of the season is next weekend. I won’t be able to be here but no matter how it turns out, we’re pretty lucky to have a group like you ladies. I’ll see you all at practice this week. Go eat your snacks.”

  They ran over to where one of the moms had something for them to snack on and I glanced over at Victoria. She was looking back at me. Even though she wasn’t smiling, her green eyes looked happy.

  “Want to come over tonight? I have to be up early but we could have a sleepover.”

  The implication in her voice had my cock thickening and I shifted my feet. My shorts would do nothing to hide an erection and I was pretty sure that would make a few parents angry.

  “Damn, I wish.” I reached out and pressed my palm to the small of her back, loving the way she shivered slightly. “I have to go pick up Jade after this. I promised the girls they could stay the night tonight.”

  “Hmm. Another night then.” She lifted one shoulder up in a shrug and I flexed my fingers against her back.

  “Monday night, sweetheart. We’re definitely going to have a sleepover on Monday night.”

  She flashed me a quick smile and stepped away to head to the kids. I stayed where I was, watching the parents thank her before they left. Simon and Megan showed up and I said a quick hello to both of them before they took Kendra and left.

  Grace, Victoria, and I walked back to the parking lot. Victoria held up the equipment bag and gestured to her SUV.

  “I’m going to put this stuff away and I’ll come say goodbye.”

  I nodded at her and led my niece to the truck. Once I had her buckled in and the engine started with the AC blasting, I straightened up and looked towards Victoria’s car, immediately freezing when I did.

  Alan Wickman was standing by her car, across from Victoria, and I could tell she was uncomfortable by her body language. I waited and watched her take a step back, but Alan just took one forward when she did. I knew she could hold her own but when he reached out and wrapped both arms around her, I was done.

  “Stay here, Grace.” I reached across the cab and grabbed my weapon from the compartment I kept it locked in during practice and games. I locked my niece in the cab, tucked my gun in the back waistband of my shorts, and started making my way across the parking lot.

  I was about halfway there when Wickman slid his hands down to Tori’s ass and squeezed. She reacted so quickly that she surprised me and definitely surprised the asshole in front of her.

  She grabbed one of his wrists and twisted it in a way that looked incredibly painful. That was followed up by a knee directly to the balls and he crumbled to the ground when she released him, cupping his junk as he did.

  “I told you not to touch me,” she was saying to him when I stopped next to her. “My refusal was not an invitation and next time, I’ll knee you in the balls and call the cops.”

  “You okay?” I asked, reaching up to rest my hand on her shoulder much like I had the first time Alan Wickman had come near her.

  She nodded her head and glared down at the man in front of her. “He’s just one of those guys who thinks he can do whatever he wants.”

  “Whatever,” Wickman muttered as he stood up, still in obvious pain. “You’re probably boring as fuck in bed with how prudish you are anyway.”

  I was ready to punch him in the face but Victoria just offered him a wolfish grin. “You’d have to ask Evan if that were true. Evan?”

  “Best sex of my life, sweetheart.” And that wasn’t a lie. I smiled at her and then turned to glare on the man in front of us. “Go home to the wife and kid you don’t deserve before I let her at you again. It might be fun to record you getting your ass kicked before I arrest you for harassment.”

  “Fuck you both.” He tried to sound brave but he looked scared as hell at the prospect of Victoria coming at him again and he scurried off in the parking lot.

  Victoria linked her fingers through mine and we headed towards where my truck was running with Grace buckled in the backseat, reading a book. When we stopped next to the door, we both leaned against it casually.

  “Best sex of your life, huh?” Her green eyes were bright with humor but she didn’t smile. I nodded seriously and reached up to tuck a flyaway strand of hair behind her ear.

  “The very best.” I made sure Grace couldn’t see us from that vantage and then leaned in to give Victoria a soft kiss. “Will you actually answer the phone if I call tonight?”

  She rolled her eyes but a smile did break free that time. “I suppose. I’ll be up u
ntil about ten.”

  “Okay. I’ll call you in a bit then.” I tapped on the window and gestured for Grace to unlock the door. She did and I pulled it open. “Victoria’s leaving.”

  “Bye, Tori!”

  “Bye, squirt.” She smiled at the little girl and then stepped back. “Talk to you guys later.” She started to walk away but stopped and turned back to look at me after a couple of steps. “I know I said I can handle myself but I appreciate the back-up, Coleman. Thank you.”

  “Anytime, sweetheart,” I replied seriously and she just smiled before heading to her car.

  –––

  The rest of the weekend passed by slowly. I spent most of it with my nieces so it was a ton of fun but still slow as shit. Victoria and I had talked on the phone Saturday night for about an hour after the girls were in bed. The conversation wasn’t anything substantial but that made it perfect. I learned all sorts of little things about her that I hadn’t known before.

  She sent me a couple of texts throughout her work day on Sunday, most of them little tidbits about the guys she worked with. From the stories she told, they sounded more like her brothers than her co-workers and I was glad to know she had so many people to back her up.

  Becca was extremely happy to hear about my upcoming date with Victoria. When I dropped the girls off on Sunday, she immediately started peppering me with questions.

  “Are you taking her to a romantic dinner?”

  I shook my head and flipped Jade upside down so I could tickle her stomach. “I’m taking her to a hockey game.”

  “A hockey game?” Ruby looked at me with a scandalized expression on her face. “Evan Samuel Coleman, you cannot take her to a hockey game on your first date!”

  “Trust me, Ma. She’s going to love it.” I put my niece down and leaned in to kiss Ruby’s cheek. “She would hate a romantic dinner for our first date.”

  Dominic nodded his head in agreement and wrapped his arms around his wife. “Ev’s right. This sounds like something she’ll enjoy.”

  So, I left work at four the next day and stopped by my house to change into a pair of jeans, sneakers, and a t-shirt. I kept my gun in a concealed holster at my hip, slid my shield into my pocket, and put my hat on my head.

  I pulled up in front of Victoria’s house and blew out a long breath before getting out. Nerves hit me unexpectedly and doubt started to creep in. What if Ruby was right and she hated the idea of going to a hockey game?

  I rang the doorbell and stepped back, shoving my hands into my pockets as I did. About thirty seconds passed before the door was pulled opened and when it was, I almost swallowed my tongue.

  Victoria was standing there in a pair of dark jeans that were so tight that they seemed to be painted to her legs. She was wearing a pair of black and white Chucks and a black lacy blouse that was also really tight. The outfit hugged her body perfectly, showing off each curve and accentuating those mouthwatering breasts on her chest.

  That wasn’t all, though. Her blonde hair was left down and it fell in large waves down her neck. She also had make-up on, something I’d never seen her wear. It wasn’t a lot, but enough to make her green eyes pop.

  “Evan?”

  Her soft voice pried me out of my fog and I shook my head before meeting her eyes. She looked slightly unsure and I knew I’d do anything to bolster her confidence.

  “You look great, sweetheart.” I leaned in and pressed a kiss to her lips. “Doesn’t matter what you wear or how you style your hair, you are so damn beautiful.”

  A light blush stained her cheeks and she smiled almost shyly. “Thanks. You look good, too. Are you ready?”

  “Yeah, let’s do it.”

  I walked her to the truck and despite knowing she could do it on her own, I grabbed the passenger door for her and pulled it open. She gave me a look but I just raised my brows, causing her to chuckle before she climbed in.

  Fuck, it was going to be a great night.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Tori

  “Where are we going?” I asked as Evan maneuvered his truck onto the interstate. “And will there be food? I’m starving.”

  “There will certainly be food.” He reached over and dropped a hand to my thigh. “You can tell me if this is a stupid idea, but I thought we could head into the city and catch the hockey game.”

  I turned my head and stared at his profile, blinking several times as I did.

  A hockey game? God, could Evan Coleman get any more perfect? I half-expected him to be one of those guys who tried to impress me with a fancy dinner and some stuffy activity like dancing.

  A hockey game was something I could definitely get on board with. I hated the idea of going into Las Vegas for any reason but just the thought that I would have Evan by my side made me feel better about it.

  “Tor? What do you think?”

  I shook myself out of my stupor and couldn’t help the grin that spread across my face. “That sounds great. Think we can still get tickets?”

  “One of the partners in my stepfather’s firm is a season ticket holder for the Vegas Golden Knights,” he replied with a smile, squeezing my thigh once. “His son’s a good guy and the two of us worked together at my old precinct. He told me to hit him up if I ever wanted tickets because his father rarely uses them.”

  “Oh, wow. That’s awesome.” I stared at him for a moment before shaking my head. “Do you keep in touch with a lot of your old co-workers?”

  He nodded. “Just from my last precinct. We were a tight-knit group who had morals. Too many of the departments were in someone else’s pocket and on the job for the wrong reasons. Kind of like my mom was a parent for all the wrong reasons. I’m pretty sure she only got pregnant with me as a way to force my father to support her. When she realized he couldn’t live up the lifestyle she wanted, she traded up to my stepfather. I was just a pawn in the game.”

  “That’s horrible. I can’t even imagine growing up like that. Vincent and I grew up with the best parents.”

  “You think they’d still be married if…?” Evan asked and I nodded immediately.

  “I have no doubt in my mind that they would be. Dad never remarried, said she was the love of his life, but he never neglected us even when he was deep in his grief.”

  “I’m sorry, Tor. I bet she was a great woman.”

  “Yeah.” I placed my hand over the top of his. “She was. That’s why it’s hard for me to imagine growing up with parents who didn’t care.”

  He gave me a sad smile. “It just showed me exactly how not to parent when I have my own kids.”

  A small stretch of silence passed between us but I broke it up with lighter conversation. He told me more stories about work, never delving into anything too dark. I told him about the guys in my company and we compared stories from annual police and fire department baseball tournament that had ended a few weeks ago. Evan’s team was knocked out of the running for the championship the same week my team was.

  The traffic getting to the arena sucked but Evan managed to park us in the New York New York parking garage and we headed down to the main entrance. Once we were waved in, he led me right into their pro-shop and gestured around us.

  “It’s going to be cold in there. Pick a jersey or a sweatshirt.”

  I settled on a black hoodie that had the team’s logo and Evan grabbed a similar grey one. We pulled our new sweatshirts on and headed to the concession stands. I looked over the menu and shook my head.

  “I’m going to regret this tomorrow but I’ll take a slice of pizza and a beer.”

  He ordered the same and we walked into where the rink was. The game was just getting ready to start and I followed Evan down the stairs until we were at a couple of seats right along the glass. I looked over at him in confusion and he grinned before jerking his chin towards them.

  “Did I forget to tell you that they were amazing seats?”

  “Holy shit.” I shook my head and sat
in one while he took the other. “I don’t know much about hockey or the games but I know these kind of seats are a big deal.”

  Evan leaned over and gave me a sweet kiss. “Just remember this because the next time we come, we’re probably up in the nosebleeds.”

  It was amazing. I’d never watched hockey in my life but I was a fan before the first period was even over. Evan was patient with me, explaining the rules when I was confused. I was still trying to figure out exactly what icing was but felt like I was getting the hang of it otherwise.

  We stood and cheered with the crowd, high fiving random strangers when our team scored, and we groaned with everyone else when the other team scored. The buzzer sounded, alerting us to the fact that the period was over, and I dropped my head onto his shoulder.

  “Thank you. This is so awesome.”

  Apparently our seats even came with in-seat service. That was a bad idea, though, because Evan ordered us two more beers and nachos. I got up and ran to the bathroom, standing in line for ten minutes, and the intermission was almost over when I sat back down.

  “Is this your favorite team?” I asked, gesturing around us. Evan shrugged and draped an arm across my shoulders.

  “I’ve never had a team that I really rooted for. I’ve always just liked the game. This team was formed last year so it was easy to jump on the bandwagon and be a fan.”

  “I don’t know,” I murmured, biting back a grin. “The other team’s goalie is pretty cute.”

  He narrowed his eyes and moved until his lips were at my ear. “Have you ever been spanked, Victoria? Because you keep talking about how cute the goalie is and you’re going to be tonight.”

  I almost moaned at his words and the promise they held. He nipped my earlobe and pulled back, leaving me feeling completely bereft. I turned and raised my brows.

  “Promise?”

  “You’re killing me,” he muttered as he shifted in his seat and all I could do was laugh.