"Gwen Russo is a silent partner. The shop belonged to her family, and she took me in when my parents died." Amelia could feel Asher looking at her, as she mentioned her dark past, but she didn't need to give any more detail than necessary.
"We will speak to your neighbor about this, but without any evidence, there is only so much we can do." She tried to keep her attention on the senior partner as Asher cleaned up the glass around the window after taking a few photos.
"I understand.”
"Any further issues, you call us immediately, that way, there will be a paper trail in case you have to go to court."
"I'm sure it won't come to that," Amelia told him, and Asher huffed at his partner's side. "I'm sure it won't," the senior officer smiled meekly, closing his notepad.
"You'll need to get that fixed," Asher said, looking at the window. Great another thing that needed fixing.
“I'll get right on it." Amelia went to stand, but Asher moved closer, and she noticed Asher's partner raise his eyebrows.
"We will let you get some sleep. If you think if anything else, please don't hesitate to call." He took the evidence bag from Asher. "Go ahead Marty. I'll tape up the window since she was cut."
Marty left with a simple nod while he lingered behind still looking at the open window. "Is there someone you can call to stay with you," Asher asks, and Amelia shook her head. "I'll be right back," he said, leaving once again to rummage around her small apartment.
Gwen would never believe he was here. Running her hands through her hair, Asher returned with a plastic wrap we used for the flower baskets and began taping up the window. She watched the muscles of his arms and shoulders as he worked. Averting her gaze as he looked back at her and noticed her watching him.
With the window sealed, she felt a sense of relief. Least she wouldn't freeze to death. "Thank you," she told him, and he looked at the armchair beside her bed. "You should get some sleep," Asher said, and she looked to the bedroom door.
"I need to lock the door after you," Amelia said, and he shook his head. "No need, I already locked it after Marty," he said, dropping into the armchair removing his utility belt and placing it on the floor beside him.
"You can't stay here," she told him sitting up, and he shrugged undoing the top buttons on his shirt, "What are you doing?" She asked, looking away, but she heard him chuckle. "Don't worry, I'm not going to take advantage of you," he sank deeper into the chair.
"That reassuring, now please leave."
"You have a broken window and an unknown threat."
"You're on duty; you can't stay here."
"If I think you are in danger, I can." Asher leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. "You were the last call. I was on my way home when the call came in."
"Why did you answer it?"
"I was curious," he started to remove his boots. "About what?"
"You."
Amelia got up suddenly, and he shot up from the chair. "You're going to open your cut," he snapped standing in front of her as Amelia wobbled on one foot.
"I'm showing you out," she said, and Asher ran his hand through his hair. Amelia looked to her throbbing foot smiling as she noticed Asher is wearing only one shoe.
"I'm staying, and in the morning, I'll be gone, and you can get the window fixed." The authority in his voice awakening something in her.
"Who are you to give me orders?" Amelia snapped at his commanding tone, and he moved closer, her heart racing as he towered over her. "I want you safe," he said, and she couldn't argue. "It could have been next door trying to scare you, or it could have been attempted robbery, I'm not leaving you."
"You don't even know me." That might have be true, but she could feel something between them — an energy, a pull that deep down she wanted to explore.
"It's my job to protect people I don't know."
Was that all this was? Him doing his job but as his face inches from hers, she needed to know if he felt it too.
"Your job?" She asked, placing a hand on his chest, and his eyes went to her hand. Asher nodded, but as she felt his heart race underhand, she knew he wanted more than to protect her. Amelia closed the distance between them, reading his confusion in the crease of his brow as he wondered what she was doing.
Removing her hand, Amelia suddenly felt cold. She reached up on her tiptoes only to gasp at the pain in her foot. Amelia fell forward only to be caught in his embrace. His sharp intake of breath as her curvy body pressed against his made her shudder. Asher clasped her waist. Just when she feared he might let her go, his arm clutched her to his body.
"Still want me to leave?" Asher asked his eyes lingering from her eyes to her lips. Her hands on his arms, she could feel the tension of his muscles as she arched her back away from him. She opened her mouth to speak, but as she felt the heat of his body against her, she couldn't lie.
Amelia pressed her lips against his. Asher’s look of surprise thrilled her as he leaned back, searching her face only to crush his lips to hers once again. Hungry and searching, the sensation made her delirious as he wrapped his arms around her body, pulling her closer and Amelia thought her back would snap if he held her any tighter.
Amelia pulled back as his lips fell to her cheek, her ear and she bit her lower lip as he moved to her throat. Her hands at the back of his neck, she dug her nails into his shoulders as he nipped at her skin, the sensation travelling through to her body. She groaned as his lips claimed hers once again.
The cold of the room mixed with the heat of his body through her off balance as his tongue slipped in between her lips. She had never felt such all-consuming lust before. Her hands roamed his uniformed body, desperate to explore more of him. The taste of his mouth and the sting of his hands gripping her hair drove her wild.
As the wind ripped through the makeshift cover, Amelia snapped back to reality. She tried to push his solid frame away, but he ended up on top of her, his eyes roaming her body as he hovered over her. She leaned up on her elbows, confusion on his face as she held up a hand.
"We can't," Amelia huffed, lust taking her breath. "Why not?" Asher panted leaning over her his hands on either side of her waist, and she wanted to pull him on top of her, but he was here for a job.
"I don't want this to affect any investigation," Amelia said, grasping his shirt in her hand as his eyes searched her. Asher groaned, and she could feel his hard length against her thigh, and it was enough to make her mouth water. Dropping his head, she released her grip on him as he straightened up. He brushed back his hair and looked towards the window as if he was cursing it for interrupting and she couldn't help but smile.
"I'm still not leaving," Asher said, fixing more tape to the window, and Amelia covered herself with a blanket, her thin t-shirt exposing her hard nipples. She didn't want him to see the effect he was having on her. Amelia didn't want him to leave, but if Asher didn't keep his distance, she wouldn't be able to contain herself from pouncing on him.
"Fine, just stick to the chair," she compromised as his eyes drifted to the space beside her. Amelia tossed a pillow at him, and he stifled a laugh and took a seat in the armchair. Asher placed the pillow behind his head and settled more in-depth into the chair, and Amelia leaned back on her pillows trying to get comfortable.
*****
The whole night she tossed and turned, and when she woke up, the room was chilled, and Asher was gone, there was a sticky note on the bedside table telling her to fix the window. Collapsing into her pillows, she crossed her arms over her face, remembering all that he had done to her last night. A part of her wanting, needing it to happen again.
With the shop open and the first stream of customers satisfied with their orders, Amelia went into the back to find the number for a window repair service.
"Morning," Gwen said, opening the delivery bay and Amelia limped to her and squeezed her. Gwen held out her arms, looking at her foot.
"What happened to your foot?" Gwen's eyes widen with concern.
"A rock came in
my window last night," Amelia said, and she could read the panic in Gwen's eyes. "Are you ok? Did someone try to get in?"
"I'm fine and that police officer from yesterday was already here. I cut my foot because I got too close to the shards."
Gwen cocked an eyebrow, "why were the police here?"
"Another complaint? And then the rock? This has to be Ludlow up to his dirty tricks."
Gwen was fuming; her nostrils flared as Amelia limped after her. "Where are you going?" Amelia called. "To put an end to this, he won't intimidate us, and I'll burn this place to the ground before he gets his hands on it." Amelia had never seen Gwen so enraged.
Amelia placed her hand on her shoulder as Gwen reached the front door. "The officer took my statement, and they are looking into it. Going over there now is only going to give him what he wants."
Gwen isn't the type to cause a scene, and as she looks at Amelia's foot, she could tell Gwen was starting to see reason. "One more complaint and I'm whooping his wrinkled ass." Amelia let out a howl as Gwen squeezed her.
"I'd pay to see that," Amelia said, opening the door for the customer they were blocking entry to.
"You have a wedding to get too!" Amelia said, noticing how late it was. The wedding wasn't until two o clock. So Gwen had plenty of time to get there.
"Are you sure you can manage alone?" Gwen asked, and Amelia hobbled around the counter. "I'm sure! Now, where's the number for the guy who did the front window?" Amelia asked as she flicked through the papers in the cluttered desk drawer.
"Check my notebook," Gwen replied, walking into the office.
Amelia found the number in the index at the back and walked through to the front of the shop to grab the phone, but as she reached for it, she noticed Asher standing at the counter.
"Hi," he said, and Amelia could feel Gwen watching them. She glanced at her partner, and Gwen disappeared into the office.
"Hi," she replied, taking the flowers on the counter and wrapping them in a pale lilac paper to bring out the yellow in the petals. Was hi the best he could do? Who were the flowers for? A girlfriend? No boyfriend would buy yellow roses. Amelia tried to shut up her inner dialogue as Asher searched her expression.
"It's my mother's birthday," Asher said as Amelia drew the string around the bunch of yellow roses. "I'm sure she will love them," Amelia said, trying not to sound awkward.
"Did you get the window fixed?"
"I'm sorting it," Amelia said, taking his card and running it through the machine. "I'm sorry about this morning. I got a call."
"You were only doing your job," she faked a smile and Amelia could see the confusion in his eyes. "About the rock, I took the surveillance tape for the side entrance before I left."
"Did you get to look at it?" She asked, and he shook his head. "No, Marty is dealing with it, but you were saying about your neighbor…"
"Ludlow," Amelia said loudly hoping Asher wouldn't be heard as Ludlow entered the shop. Asher froze seeing the look of panic on her face. "Officer," Ludlow said, extending his hand and Asher took it without hesitation putting Amelia at ease. She didn't want to create any more tension.
"Mr. Ludlow, you own the shop next door?" Asher asked, standing taller his height exaggerating the difference in the two men. "Yes, I do," Ludlow said proudly squaring his shoulders. "Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?" Amelia wondered where he was going with this.
"Last night, a rock was thrown through the window on the upper floor of this shop," Asher started, and for a split second, there was a flash of shock on Ludlow's face before his expression returned to stone. "A stone? That doesn't tend to happen in this area. Such vandalization doesn't often occur here."
"Did you hear anything or perhaps your cameras picked up the vandal leaving?" Asher pressed, and Ludlow gripped his belt puffing out his chest. "Must have been a youngster," Ludlow's gaze drifted to Amelia. "Yes well, your cameras might have caught something…
There was an awkward pause as Ludlow's eyes moved towards the door. "I'm sure you have surveillance cameras, carrying such rare books?" Asher pushed, and Ludlow cleared his throat.
"I'm afraid to tell you, Officer, that the footage deletes itself every 24 hours."
"Good," Asher smiled, tapping Ludlow hard on the shoulder. "Twenty-four hours have yet to pass since the incident."
"I'm afraid I cleared the tape this morning," Ludlow seemed to grow smaller under Asher's gaze.
"Well, that's disappointing. I'm sure if anything else comes to mind, you will let us know?" Asher could see the way Ludlow was looking at Amelia, and he didn't like it one bit.
It was the shop Ludlow was after not her, Amelia told herself as Ludlow's deep-set eyes looked over her.
"Of course, neighbors have to look out for one and other," Ludlow's hand went to Amelia's arm, and Asher watched as she discreetly brushed it off.
"If you think of anything, here is my card. Wouldn't want someone to vandalize your shop now, would we?" Asher said as Ludlow took the card from his hand. "Thank you, Officer," Ludlow placed the card in his shirt pocket.
'Did you come in for something?" Amelia asked as Asher picked up the flowers from the counter and Ludlow shifted uncomfortably.
"Well…" he started to look towards the window and Amelia guessed he was going to ask once again for the buckets to be moved. However, as Asher stood beside her, watching, Ludlow smiled meekly and shook his head.
"No, just popped in to say hi," he said, and Gwen appeared at the counter.
"That was nice of you," Gwen said glaring at him as he rocked back and forth on his heels backing away towards the door.
"I'll leave you to your customers," Ludlow said, opening the door and Amelia was glad to see the back of him. Wishing he had caused an argument in front of Asher. She just hoped he would appear on the cameras and the harassment would stop.
"Does he stop by often?" Asher asked, and Amelia shook her head. "No only when he wants to start an argument," Amelia's shoulders dropped with relief now that he was gone.
"Make sure you replace the tape I took this morning," Asher warned, and Amelia looked to Gwen. Amelia nodded, and she could see Gwen had her coat on.
"You should get going," Amelia said, reassuring her it was ok for her to leave her alone. "Be safe," Gwen said, looking between Amelia and Asher before leaving them.
"Keep your distance from him," Asher said, looking at where Ludlow's hand had been on her arm.
"I don't think it's the shop Ludlow has his eyes on.” Amelia felt a wave of nausea move through her and prayed it was just Asher being jealous. The thought stirring a different type of emotion. "At least until we get confirmation that he didn't try to break in."
The squad car outside honked and Amelia took a step back from Asher as a customer waited at the till. "You should get back to work," she said, and he nodded, "I'll see you later," he said gently placing his hand on her lower back, and she wanted to wrap her arms around him. To feel the safety of his embrace.
"I'll be back when I have more information." Amelia watched as he walked towards the door, admiring his strong posture.
"Wait,' Amelia said, snapping out of her trance. She grabbed a birthday card from the rack by the till as he paused at the door, his eyes on her hand as she offered him the card.
"How much…" Asher started, and she shook her head as he tried to offer her money.
"Don't worry about it," she smiled, holding up her hands, refusing the outstretched note. To her surprise, Asher chastely kissed her cheek and winked before disappearing outside. The blush of her cheeks made her feel like a girl again. What is this guy doing to me?
THREE
Amelia finished with the last customer of the day when she noticed Ludlow peering in the front window of the shop. Maybe he had nothing to do with the rock? The streets are empty this late in the evening. What is he up to now? She wondered untying her apron as the last customer left with her arrangement. Taking her keys from under the desk, she went to the front door and
noticed Ludlow moving the buckets. "Can I help you?" She asked as he was caught red-handed. His cheeks beetroot as he gripped the edges of the full bucket.
The water darkened the pavement as it spilt from the tipping bucket. "Amelia is Gwen around? We have something to discuss," he says straightening up his belly poking over his belt as he looked inside the window for Gwen.
"She has already gone home for the evening, but I'm sure I can handle whatever it is that you have an issue with."
Ludlow crosses his arms, staring at her like she was a child to be seen and not heard. "The property line," he points to the buckets and Amelia tried to keep her expression neutral. The urge to roll her eyes was all consuming.
“Yes, the officer already informed us of your complaint, but I assure you that we won't cross onto your property," Amelia tried to remain calm as he walked closer to her and she could smell his heavy aftershave.
Protecting Amelia- Alpha Officer Page 2
