Wanted: Wife

by Stella Bagwell

  But Jenny didn’t want it loose. Leaving her hair down would make it look as though she was getting relaxed and comfortable with him, and that was the very last thing she wanted him to think.

  “I’m…still in uniform,” she hastily replied as she twisted the thick curls into a bun and jabbed the hairpins securely in place.

  “But you’re not on duty,” he reminded her.

  The task with her hair done, she dropped her hands to her sides and drew back her shoulders to a stance of stiff attention. “I still have an image to uphold.”

  Lucas made a point of looking around the quiet room. “I only see you and me here. And I promise I won’t tell anybody I saw your hair touch your collar.”

  “You’re making fun of me now,” she said, frowning at him.

  He shook his head. “I’d never do that.” Motioning for her to follow him, he carried two plates to a built-in booth situated by a large-paned window. “Come on, let’s eat. I know you’re hungry.”

  “I was hungry,” she admitted, “until Captain Morgan ordered me to speak at your safety meeting.”

  He laughed. “Well, surely you’ve gotten your appetite back now. I’ve given you a reprieve. Besides, I’ve just made a fresh pot of coffee, and it’s cold outside. A cup will warm you up.”

  Jenny hardly needed warming up. She was already as hot as blue blazes. Thanks to him!

  But she couldn’t admit such a thing to him, and anyway she needed a few more minutes to make up her mind about the safety meeting. He’d given her an out. Was she going to take it and feel guilty about shunning her job, or do the job and endure another meeting with this provocative man?

  Reluctantly, she joined him at the booth and was immediately surprised to see that while he’d been whittling and whacking cheese and sausage, he’d made a plate for her, too.

  After unbuckling her gun belt, she slid onto the vinyl seat and set the weapon safely beside her.

  “Have you ever had to use that thing?” he asked, nodding toward her revolver.

  She expected to find distaste on his face. Instead she saw simple curiosity. “I’ve had to draw it a few times. But I’ve never had to fire it. And I’m very proud of that.”

  “I’m sure you are.” He reached for an insulated pitcher, then filled two thick cups with strong coffee. Pushing one of the cups over to her, he asked, “Cream or sugar?”

  She shook her head. “I’m a plain Jane. It’s easier that way.”

  Lucas wasn’t quite sure if she was referring to the coffee or something else. In any case, he decided now wasn’t the time to ask. She looked very uncomfortable, and he knew one wrong word would have her flying out of here as quickly as she had appeared.

  “Does it offend you to see a woman carrying a gun?” she asked bluntly.

  His brows peaked at her unexpected question. “No. Should it?”

  A sweep of soft color stained her cheeks. “Most men find it intimidating.”

  Lucas wondered if she liked that idea. Was she the sort of woman who liked to have the upper hand over a man, even if it meant she had to carry a weapon to do it? No, he didn’t think so. She didn’t seem full of herself. And she was obviously very, very serious about her job.

  He gave her a brief smile as he offered her a basket of assorted crackers. “I admire any person, man or woman, who works to protect the people.”

  “I think you really mean that.”

  He bit into a sliver of cheese. “I do. You sound surprised.”

  Everything, absolutely everything about him surprised Jenny. “We cops don’t often get a vote of admiration.”

  Lucas watched her cradle the coffee cup with both hands as she brought it to her lips. Her hands were small, the nails clipped short and unvarnished. She had the ivory pink complexion of a redhead, which only made her green eyes stand out that much more. There was something about those eyes, he thought, that hinted at hidden passion and broken dreams. And suddenly he wanted to know everything there was to know about Jenny Prescott. He wanted to know her loves and losses, her wants and wishes, and more than anything he wanted to know what it would take to put a smile on her face. A smile just for him.

  “Aside from the safety factor, hungry children get to eat Thanksgiving dinner and find a toy under the tree at Christmastime because of you and your fellow officers.” He shook his head. “You may not feel appreciated, Jenny. But those little children thank you a thousand times over.”

  It was hard to stay vexed with a man who got a soft glow in his eyes just speaking the word children. She couldn’t. And maybe he knew that. But for the moment she didn’t care. Having a little snack with the man wasn’t going to harm her. And it had been so long since she’d had a conversation with a man who wasn’t a fellow officer.

  Jenny picked up a round slice of summer sausage and squashed it between two crackers. “You really do like children, don’t you?”

  Smiling over the rim of his coffee cup, he said, “I love children.”

  “Have you ever wanted any of your own?” she asked, trying her best to make the question sound casual.

  His expression grew serious. “While I was younger I never really thought about it. But these past few years… Well, I don’t have any brothers or sisters or anybody. Maybe that’s why—” He broke off as his eyes traveled slowly around the room. “I’m beginning to think I’d like to have a family of my own.”

  Lucas Lowrimore seemed like the last man to be the fatherly sort. He had the looks and the money to live a glamorous life-style. Did he honestly want to be a married man with children, or was he merely saying that because he thought it was the thing a woman wanted to hear?

  Jenny, your cynicism is rearing its head again, she scolded herself. Lucas Lowrimore could be totally sincere. But then again, he might just be spouting words. Marcus had taught her to be very suspicious of men. Being a cop had taught her to be wary of people in general. If those lessons had made her a cynic, then she couldn’t help it.

  “That’s hard to believe,” she finally said.

  He laughed. “It doesn’t bother you to speak your mind, does it?”

  She didn’t smile. “I usually say what I think around a man. And I want him to do the same.”

  He cocked his head as he studied her face. “Hmm, well, if he always spoke his mind he might get into trouble.”

  A hint of a smile played around her mouth. “That depends on what’s on his mind at the time.”

  Reaching for his coffee cup, he continued to study her. “You don’t like men much, do you? Or is it just me you don’t like?”

  Suddenly Jenny laughed, and the unexpected sound caught Lucas totally off guard.

  “You sound like my friend Savanna. She calls me a man-hater.”

  “Are you?”

  She laughed again, although this time it was a tense, strained sound. “No. And I’m not a man hunter, either.” She lifted her eyes to his and held them there. “The roses you sent me were very beautiful, and I’ll keep them until they wilt. But please don’t send me anymore. You’d only be wasting your money.”

  How sad, Lucas thought, that she considered herself unworthy of flowers. “If you get enjoyment from them, then my money wasn’t wasted.”

  Jenny’s eyes fell to her plate. For not the first time tonight, his selfless attitude took her aback.

  “Well, I—” She broke off, furious with herself because she couldn’t make her heart quit pounding. Nor could she make herself look at him. “What I meant was…I’m not interested in romance. Short- or long-term.”

  Seconds passed and he didn’t make a reply. Jenny lifted her eyes to his and was surprised to see an amused look on his face.

  “Are you always so serious, Jenny Prescott?”

  No, normally she didn’t have trouble with a pounding heart or fits of emotions. Normally, she would have never dreamed of going to a man’s house and confronting him about a bouquet of roses! But then she hadn’t quite been herself since she and Orville had stopped Lucas on
the street and she’d watched him climb arrogantly out of his black sports car.

  “It pays to be serious, Lucas,” she said, then with a burst of frustration, she bit into the crackers and sausage.

  He liked the way she said his name with authority. She had a deep, rich voice full of strength and character. Lucas had often been told by acquaintances in Texas that his mother was a weak woman, and because of her weakness she’d lost her life. Lucas had only been two at the time she’d died, and even though he’d been too young to know her, he wondered if that was the reason he’d searched so hard to find a strong woman for himself, a woman who could stand up to him or anything life had to throw at her. Up until now, his search had been fruitless. But that had changed the moment Jenny Prescott had slapped a ticket into his palm.

  “How long have you been on the police force?” he asked.

  She relaxed a bit. This was something she could talk about without feeling concerned. “Ten years.”

  “That’s a long time for someone so young.”

  “It’s a long time for anybody.”

  Her frankness made him curve his lips in a faint grin.

  “What made you decide to be a policewoman? Was your dad on the force or something?”

  Jenny wanted to snort, but stopped herself just short of emitting the cynical sound. “I wouldn’t know. My father left my mother and me long before I was born,” she said, her voice a little caustic.

  “I’m sorry.”

  Jenny shrugged. “Don’t be. I can’t miss what I’ve never known.” She pushed an olive across her plate, then stabbed it with a fork. “As for wanting to be a policewoman, I thought I’d look good in blue.”

  Behind her flip words, Lucas heard something entirely different. She was a woman with a lot of pride. Pride that she wouldn’t sacrifice for anyone or anything.

  “You’re pulling my leg now.”

  A brief smile touched her lips. “Yes. I would have been a policewoman no matter the color of the uniform. Because I wanted to help people. To make a difference.” She looked at him, then laughed under her breath. “Corny, huh? I sound like a damn recruiter.”

  His dark eyes combed her face, cherished its soft, regal beauty. “I think it sounds nice. I think you’re nice, Jenny. Even though you want me to think you’re not.”

  Jenny reached for her gun belt and carefully strapped it around her. She had to get out of here. Lucas was saying things to her she didn’t want to hear, things she hadn’t heard in years that reminded her how lonely her life really was.

  “Well, thanks for the snack, Lucas. But I’ve got to get home.”

  Before he could say anything she slid from the booth. “I’ll do your safety meeting,” she told him. “Only because I think it’s important to educate drivers. Not because—”

  “Of me,” Lucas finished for her. Easing to his feet, he stood looking at her. “Yes, I know what you’re trying to tell me. There are no strings to be attached. You’re not in the market for romance.. Long- or short-term. You’re not a man-hater, nor are you a man hunter. You like roses, but don’t want a man to send them to you. Have I gotten everything right so far?”

  He smiled at her, and just for a moment Jenny felt a part of her weaken. He was so good to look at, so strong and vibrant and masculine. If she was a brave woman, she would be tempted to get closer to him. She might even be inclined to touch him, kiss him, discover for herself if being in his arms would be as good as she imagined it might be. But Jenny wasn’t a brave woman. She only pretended to be. And right now Lucas Lowrimore was scaring her to death.

  She’d come here in a fit of temper, determined to tell him that it would be a cold day in July before she’d set foot near L.L. Freight Company. Instead, she’d wound up eating his food and promising to speak at his damned safety meeting.

  “So it seems,” she said, more to herself than to him, then quickly started out of the kitchen.

  Lucas walked beside her, gently touching the small of her back as he guided her through the darkened rooms until the two of them eventually reached the front entrance of the house.

  At the door, Lucas gently took her hand in his and Jenny quivered like a snared rabbit.

  “I’m really glad you came to see me tonight, Jenny. I’ve enjoyed your company.”

  She hadn’t come to please him or give him company. But in spite of herself, she’d ended up doing both. And that made her feel extremely foolish.

  “I’m sure you never lack company,” she said, withdrawing her hand and quickly stepping away from him.

  She was right. He had more than his share of friends and business people stopping by the house. But none of those people were anything like Jenny. She was in a category all by herself.

  “You might be surprised about that, Jenny,” he said softly.

  She took another step backward and immediately the doorknob jabbed her in the middle of the spine. Jenny twisted around and grabbed for the brass knob as though it was a line to freedom. Once she was outside on the small enclosed porch, she let out a relieved breath.

  “Well, I’ll see you at the meeting then,” she said, as she turned to start down the steps toward her car.

  Suddenly Lucas’s hand shot out and grabbed her arm. Jenny’s head whipped around and she stared at him with wide, dark eyes.

  “What are you doing?”

  Her voice was sharp and full of warning. It took Lucas by such surprise that he immediately dropped his hold on her.

  “I’m…” His words trailed away as his eyes roamed her face in the darkness. She was afraid of him. The idea hit him like a knife in the heart. “I just wanted to tell you how much I appreciate you agreeing to do the safety meeting.

  It means a lot to me. And it will to my drivers, too.”

  Jenny quickly looked away from him and blinked at the hot moisture burning the back of her eyes. She felt like an idiot and knew he was probably labeling her as something even worse. It had been a long time, years, in fact, since she’d reacted so defensively to the touch of a man.

  But then it had been years since a man had made her heart beat fast, made her think of herself as a woman and caused her guard to momentarily slip like it had tonight.

  Glancing at him, she said, “You’re welcome, Lucas.”

  He stepped closer and took her hand. The moment his fingers curled around hers, he realized he’d never in his life felt such a need to comfort and reassure. He wanted to take her face between his hands, kiss the quiver from her lips and tell her she had nothing to fear from him.

  But words were oftentimes easily spoken, and he had the feeling that Jenny Prescott would need more than words to gain his trust. He’d have to earn it.

  “Friends?” he asked softly.

  She could never be a friend to this man, or anything more, Jenny thought resignedly. But for tonight it was easier to let him think they were friends.

  Nodding, she slipped her hand from his and sprinted down the steps and out to her car.

  As Lucas watched her drive away he realized that behind that badge of courage she wore pinned to her breast was a vulnerable woman, a woman who needed him. She didn’t know that yet. But sooner or later she would. He was going to make sure of it.

  As for her being a cop, well, Lucas didn’t want to think about that problem right now.

  Chapter Four

  The next morning, Jenny sat at the small dining table in her apartment and methodically went down a checklist of subjects she wanted to include in her safety lecture. Many of them were simple, commonsense driving skills and general safety precautions. If Lucas was expecting something more high-tech from her presentation, he was going to be disappointed.

  With an exasperated sigh, Jenny set the list to one side and rubbed her fingers across the furrows in her forehead. Darn it, she didn’t care what Lucas Lowrimore thought. It had been wrong of him to coerce her into his safety meeting thing, anyway.

  But he hadn’t really coerced her, she reluctantly reminded herself. He had
given her an easy out. She’d just been too spineless, too momentarily charmed by the man to say no.

  A knock at the door interrupted Jenny’s dour thoughts. She went to answer it and found her friend Savanna standing in the hallway.

  “Come in, honey! What are you doing out so early this morning?”

  With one hand clutched against her midsection, the petite blonde quickly stepped into the apartment. “I can’t— talk now!”

  Seeing the greenish white pallor on her friend’s face, Jenny instantly grabbed Savanna’s elbow and steered her toward the bathroom. “Go.”

  A few minutes later, Savanna emerged from the bathroom with rosy cheeks and a weak smile on her face.

  “Feeling better?” Jenny asked. She patted the couch cushion next to her. “Come here. I fixed you a ginger ale and found a couple of saltines, too.”

  Savanna sank gratefully onto the striped couch and reached for the cool drink on a low coffee table. “Thanks, Jen. I’m much better now. In fact, I wasn’t a bit sick until I ran into the janitor several doors back. The floor cleaner he was using smelled like dead rats. Ugh!”

  “I can’t imagine being nauseated every day for nearly four months,” Jenny said with a shake of her head. “And you still manage to keep smiling.”

  Savanna laughed, then sipped the ginger ale. “And eating.” Seemingly revived, she jumped to her feet, lifted the hem of her blouse and patted her slightly rounded tummy. “Look at this. Growing, don’t you think?”

  “I’ve seen grapefruits bigger than that,” Jenny teased.

  Savanna waved away her words and sank onto the couch. “Well, I don’t care what you say, I feel fat.” She smiled and sighed. “But Joe says I look beautiful.”

  “You do. And of course Joe says you look beautiful pregnant. The man is crazy about you.”

  The dreamy glow on Savanna’s face said she knew her husband loved her. For not the first time, Jenny looked at her friend and wondered about her own life.