by Cathryn Fox
Dedication
To all the heroes in our lives.
Chapter One
With the tip of her metal laser, Allison Cooper tapped on the whiteboard and summoned the attention of her marketing team.
“So what do you think?” She stepped up to the window and opened the dark shades to allow the warm morning sun to filter in.
Her strategists all spoke in unison, and a smile touched Allison’s mouth. Not only did Allison love her career—it wasn’t just her passion, it was her life—it gave her immense pleasure to see each and every member of the team she’d recently acquired share in that enthusiasm.
As a new energy filled the room and their minds brimmed with fresh promotional ideas, Allison felt a real sense of gratitude, especially since she’d been so reluctant to step into the coveted role of project manager. Taking over midcampaign wasn’t her biggest problem, however. What concerned her most was working closely with the Hot Men of Summer. Well, one hot man in particular.
Mr. July.
Thinking about him sent a barrage of mixed emotions rushing through her bloodstream, and she suddenly felt like she was free-falling—without a safety net.
She gripped the edge of the table for balance and reminded herself that now was neither the time nor the place to be dredging up painful memories that were best left buried. It was the time to stay focused and concentrate on the events planned for the next three months. She’d worked hard for this position, and she was determined to prove to the upper management at J.T. Public Relations firm that she had the skills to lead her own marketing team and the ability to achieve remarkable success in the process.
Redirecting her thoughts, she listened to her group tap away on their keypads, and for the first time since the firm had handed her the lead role in the Boys of Beachville campaign—a fund-raising calendar featuring an eclectic group of local heroes—she felt a tingle of excitement.
Allison didn’t have anything against a campaign that featured half-naked men. Far from it. She thought the charity calendar showcasing the Boys of Beachville was an excellent idea. Not to mention that on a professional level it was just the project to help her turn this temporary position into a permanent one. Unfortunately, on a personal level, taking over as project manager and working side by side with Mr. July ranked right up there with having a root canal minus the novocaine.
A scuffling noise outside the boardroom caught her attention. Startled, she turned in time to catch a glimpse of Carter James as he walked past the glass door, his dark, sexy gaze brushing over hers with intimate familiarity. He stopped for the briefest of seconds, and when a lazy grin turned up the corners of his mouth, it was all she could do not to throw her metal pointer at him.
Cripes, leave it to her ex-lover to toss her one of his infamous, panty-soaking smiles while she was in the middle of a meeting, causing the heat in the room to crank up a few degrees and her body to warm in all the wrong places.
Damn you, Carter.
“Was that Carter?” Julia Shay asked, her voice rising an octave as she blinked dark lashes over lascivious blue eyes. As Allison watched her print and media specialist tuck a pretty blonde curl behind her ear, it occurred to her that there was something about Carter that could reduce even the most professional woman to a preening schoolgirl.
“Yes, that was Carter,” Allison responded through gritted teeth. Carter James, aka cop. Hero. Local bad boy.
Mr. July himself.
Tanya Leeds, the youngest member of Allison’s team, started to pack up her papers, shoving them into her briefcase and spilling them onto the floor as her cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. Allison shook her head as her glance went from Julia to Tanya to Drake Drummond, the staff photographer. What the hell was it about Carter that had every woman—and a few of the men, judging by the dreamy expression on Drake’s face—in the town of Beachville tripping over their tongues?
Allison gave a long, slow sigh. She didn’t need to voice that question because she already knew the answer. Lean and chiseled, Carter was a rogue, a risk taker, a fierce protector with the strength and attitude to back him up. He was a guy who would run into a burning building to save a dog, a guy who would fight to the death to protect the woman he loved. And if the grapevine was correct, and Allison could only assume it was, he’d been doing an awful lot of that loving as of late.
Allison’s stomach punched into her throat, but she quickly swallowed it down, refusing to let her ex throw her off her game. She was a professional and she was damn well determined to act like one, especially in front of her staff.
Putting him out of her mind, she addressed her team, who all seemed distracted. “Drake, make sure everything is set for the shoot and the area is secured. And Julia—”
“I’d better get going,” Tanya said as she rushed out. “I need to get Carter’s wardrobe ready.” Allison didn’t miss the urgency in Tanya’s voice, nor did she miss the way her glance kept darting to the door like she was hoping for another glimpse of Carter.
“That’s not for hours,” Allison responded hastily, annoyed that her ex had the ability to rattle a room full of professionals without even trying.
Tanya stopped where she stood. Every set of eyes turned on Allison. Waiting.
“Fine, meeting adjourned.” Allison gave a resigned shake of her head. “We’ll reconvene Monday.”
While everyone gathered their items, Allison unplugged her laptop from the overhead equipment and thought more about the man who made her equal parts crazy, equal parts aroused.
Why exactly had they broken up again?
Oh yeah. Now she remembered. They were very different people. She was a by-the-book kind of girl who cared about image. Carter, on the other hand, was a rogue cop, one who took police matters into his own hands, lived by his own set of rules, and constantly went against protocol.
Allison shoved her research papers into her open briefcase, hating how the media always twisted the story and tarnished his reputation. The truth was, Carter was a good man, a dedicated cop, and Allison hated to see him throw it all away. They might have fought nonstop and split because of irreconcilable differences, but that didn’t mean she didn’t still care about his well-being.
“Finally, a productive meeting,” Drake commented. When she turned to face him, he added, “We really got the ball rolling today.”
“Thanks,” she answered absently and snapped her briefcase shut with more force than necessary.
Drake gave her an odd look. “You okay?”
She straightened her shoulders. “Of course. I’m just thinking about the million things I have to do before the end of the day.”
With that Drake went back to his own business, and she gathered the rest of her supplies. As Allison tucked her computer into her bag, her team began to exit, filing into the hall one by one. As much as she’d like to hang back until Carter left, she had to face him sooner or later. If she wanted to prove herself on this job and open her own agency some day, she certainly couldn’t let personal matters interfere with professional ones.
The receptionist and her friend, Jamie Saunders, poked her head into the room.
“Carter wants to see you.” When Allison went quiet, Jamie gave her a concerned look. “Everything okay?”
“Yes, everything is fine,” Allison assured her friend.
“Carter says it’s urgent.”
“Carter thinks everything is urgent. Can you please show him to my office. I’ll be right with him.”
“He’s already in there.”
Allison rolled her eyes. “Of course he is.”
“I tried to stop him but you know Carter.”
Oh yeah, she knew Carter all right.
Picturing him waiting in her office had Allison’s body reacting with urgent need. Despite the fact that they’d broken up, Carter still had the ability to get under her skin.
Fully aware that Jamie was watching her, she twisted back around and said, “I’m fine.”
“Okay,” Jamie dropped the subject for the time being. “We still on for lunch?”
Allison smoothed down her white, knee-length pencil skirt and tried to sound casual. “Koko’s?”
Jamie raised a brow. “We haven’t been there in a while.”
Allison shrugged. “I’m in the mood for noodles.” She was almost positive her choice of restaurant had nothing to do with Carter, or the fact that they had met there a little over a year and a half ago and it had been their favorite spot to dine ever since.
“Okay,” Jamie said. “I have a few errands to run so I’ll meet you there.” She tossed the words over her shoulder as she disappeared from the doorway.
Allison followed Jamie into the reception area and tried to get her nerves under control as she made her way down the long hall.
When she approached her office, she wrapped her palm around the cool knob and looked through the narrow windowpane fringing the door. As she focused on the man lounging on the plush chair facing her desk, every reason they’d had for splitting up some four months ago, right around the time he recklessly got involved in a shoot-out, suddenly seemed so insignificant.
But it wasn’t insignificant.
After a quick consultation with herself, she returned to professional mode, determined to stop thinking about him as anything but a client. Cripes, if she couldn’t get him out of her head, how the heck was she ever going to get him out of her heart?
She tamped down her emotions, pushed open the door and made her way across the gleaming porcelain floor. Looking for a distraction, she concentrated on the click of her heels as she hurried toward her large masculine desk, one she’d inherited from her late father and treasured with her life. Before she could safely make it to the other side to put some well-needed distance between her and the man who could fire her blood with a simple smile, Carter jumped to his feet and turned to face her, blocking her path.
Her steps slowed and she didn’t miss the warmth in his dark eyes as they moved over her. Nor did she miss the fine shiver of need teasing her senses, reminding her that, while they’d had their fair share of fights, there had been some good times too.
“Carter,” she greeted him and noted that his sun-kissed hair was a little longer than usual. She also noted that it didn’t matter how he wore his thick, tangled locks, which always looked sexy and mussed like he’d just crawled out of bed. Carter could even make bald look good.
“Ally.” He took a small, cautious step toward her, and his tone was soft when he asked, “How’ve you been?”
She sidestepped him, walked around her desk, and tried not to sound breathless when she answered, “Good. You?”
Okay, she could do this. She could keep things professional and get straight to business, despite the fact that her insides felt like they were being tossed around like a hat full of bad ideas at a marketing meeting.
“I’ve been…okay,” he answered, and that was when she noticed the deep lines beneath his eyes. For a brief second she wondered if he was okay. Then again, maybe he was tired because he’d been up late…entertaining.
Allison tightened, hating how that thought bothered her so much. The truth was she had no claims on Carter. Not anymore. And she had no reason to be jealous.
Gathering her wits, she placed her briefcase and laptop on her desk. “What can I do for you?” She addressed her agenda as she gingerly lowered herself into her chair. “Your shoot isn’t for a few more hours.”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
He leaned across the table and planted his palms on her desk. Beneath the scent of his warm, earthy skin, she caught a whiff of his spicy soap, and heated memories rushed to the forefront of her brain. Her blood pulsed hot and it took all her effort to focus.
When their eyes locked, she spotted a hint of vulnerability in that deep sea of chocolate, one she’d never seen before, and it had the fine hairs on her nape rising with genuine concern.
“What is it, Carter?” She resisted the urge to place her hand on his and touch him the way she used to.
“I’m pulling out.”
Okay, that was the last thing she’d expected to hear him say.
Her stomach plummeted as she jumped to her feet. “What? You can’t.” She waved her hand toward the window. “We have everything all set up. Your photo shoot is this afternoon, then we’ve planned a month of promotion for you, just like we have for all the other guys. We need to get widespread attention and media coverage before the calendars hit the shelves at the end of the year.” She was rambling, but she couldn’t seem to help herself. Had he really said he was pulling out?
He scrubbed his hand over his jaw, and there was an edge in his tone when he said, “I know how it works, Ally Cat.”
“Then why are you doing this?” she questioned, both hating and loving the way he used his special nickname for her.
A long pause and then, “I’m not your guy.”
No. He wasn’t. Not anymore. But that didn’t mean he wasn’t the right guy for this job. He was.
“You know it’s a charity event and people are counting on you.” She was counting on him.
He lowered himself into his chair, and he gave her a look she couldn’t quite understand. “You’ll have to find someone else.”
Find someone else? How the hell could she find someone else this late in the game? It was the end of June, and as Mr. July his campaign began in a few short hours.
Allison’s mind raced, trying to figure out what the heck was going on. This wasn’t like Carter. At least not like the Carter she knew and loved. Carter was all about the kids, all about raising money for the hospitals. He genuinely cared about the well-being of others, and if there was one man who deserved to wear the hero label, it was him.
“We can’t find a replacement, Carter,” she shot back. “If you quit now, you’re not only backing out on the charities, it will look extremely bad on you—on the company.” Not to mention that it would be professional suicide for her. “The charity picked you as Mr. July for a reason.”
He smiled. “Always worrying about my image.”
“Someone has to. You’re a good man, and people should know it.”
Carter might not care, but it was important to her that people knew the truth about him. The same way it had been important for people to know the truth about her father. He’d been a good man and a good cop too. Framed for a crime he didn’t commit, and then one night while off duty, when he broke protocol, he stepped in to help another cop, only to end up with a bullet to the head. Some people would always believe he was nothing but a dirty cop. Even in death he carried the stigma with him, despite the fact that he’d been proven innocent. Carter reminded her so much of her father that it made her heart squeeze. After losing her mother when she was young, and then her father to a senseless death, Allison was sure she could never live through that again.
“You know it doesn’t matter to me what people think.”
She looked at him for a long thoughtful moment, then took a step away, needing time to think, to breathe. Allison made her way to the window overlooking the water and the small town she’d grown up in. Sailboats bobbed in the basin, and laughter could be heard rising from the dock. Such a sight usually brought a smile to her face, but today it made her think about her father, and about loss.
“Ally, are you okay?”
Carter stepped up to her, and she could feel the heat of his body rush over hers. He touched her arm with aching familiarity, and the warmth in his gaze fell over her like a protective blanket.
“Carter, don’t,” she said, inching away before she got lost in the moment, in his touch.
“Because we can’t do this again.”
“I’ve missed you, baby.”
She wasn’t sure what compelled her to say it, but she blurted out, “Really? From what I hear your bed wasn’t even cold before you were tumbling around in it again.”
He got quiet for a moment, and she could hear the underlying anger in his tone when he responded, “There hasn’t been anyone else, Ally.”
“The rumor mill—”
His face hardened. “The rumor mill is wrong.”
Her heart clenched, and she was astounded by how happy that made her.
“You know me, Ally. You know the truth.”
With her emotions getting the better of her, her body began to shake. “What I know is we couldn’t get along.”
Carter pulled her back and held her tight. His voice was soft, gentle when he said, “Hey, it wasn’t always bad, was it, Ally Cat?”
Painful memories rose sure and swift, and tears threatened as an invisible band tightened her heart. “Have you forgotten about all the disagreements, the fighting?”
His warm breath caressed her neck and her entire body quivered. He put his mouth close to her ear and whispered, “Yeah, but the make-up sex was good, don’t you think?”
She smiled as heated memories moved in to numb the painful ones. “We never did have any trouble in that area.”
In a move that caught her off guard, he spun her around to face him. Dark eyes full of heat and need met hers, and something warm and potent passed between them.
Allison didn’t want to do this. She couldn’t do this. Not again. “Carter, the campaign—” she began, needing to get them back on track and focused on why he was here.
“Okay, I’ll do it.”
Allison’s head jerked back with a start. “Do what?”
“I’ll be your Mr. July.”
Ribbons of relief sang through her veins, but when his expression changed, darkened, every instinct she had went on high alert. Needing a reprieve from that smoldering look, she poked his chest hard, and he faltered backwards.
