The Old-Fashioned Alpha

by K. S. Martin

  He nodded and lifted the cover from the tray. “Smells okay.”

  Jess winked and let herself out. She hoped that when she got old that someone looked out for her. Being left behind in a shitty little apartment by your family and forgotten about sucked. Jess jogged down the first flight, coming to a stop at a dirty teenage girl smoking a crack pipe on the second-floor landing. Jess handed her Father Mike’s card and told her that when she wanted it, there was help. The girl looked up at her with unfocused eyes but took the card and put it in her jeans pocket.

  “Who’s next?” Jess asked when she climbed into the van beside Lolly. “You need to go up and see Mr. Fitzpatrick. I think that you are the reason he lives.”

  Lolly’s face scrunched up, and she nodded.

  “Next time I get Mr. Thompson.” Jess picked up the route sheet and told Lolly where to go. They pulled out onto the street and headed north. Before they got to the next intersection, a police car siren went off behind them. Lolly pulled over.

  “What did you do?”

  Lolly shrugged and got her wallet from under the seat. Jess handed her the registration from the glove box. Lolly rolled the window down when the officer approached.

  “Shit,” Jess muttered, and turned her head away when she recognized him in the side mirror.

  “You have a tail light out, ma’am. Do you have a license and registration?”

  Lolly handed them over.

  He looked at them and handed them back. “Tell Father Mike to get them fixed, would you?”

  “Of course, I’m sorry. I didn’t know it was out,” Lolly apologized.

  “It’s okay.” He studied the back of Jessica’s head. “Jessica?”

  She bit her lip and turned around to face him.

  “How are you?”

  “I’m okay.” She dropped her eyes to Lolly’s lap.

  “This is why you kicked me to the curb?”

  She nodded.

  “You kicked him to the curb? I thought you said he ditched you,” Lolly demanded, whirling around in her seat.

  Jess’s eyes snapped up to her friend’s face.

  “She said that you ditched her. That you weren’t interested,” Lolly said, facing him again now.

  “Not interested?!” he scoffed. “I asked her if she wanted to go out for dinner tonight and she said, and I quote, ‘uh no.’ She may as well have said ‘hell no,’” he finished quietly.

  “Oh, for Christ’s sake, Jessie girl!” Lolly shoved at her arm and turned back to him. “She likes you, a lot. Do you want to take her out again?”

  James smiled.

  “Good, because she wants to go. This time kiss her goodnight. Now.” Lolly turned back to Jess. “If someone asks you if you’re free and you aren’t, you say ‘no, I’m busy that night, but I’m not busy Saturday. We can go to a movie.’”

  She turned back to James. “And you need to be aware of some things. Jess is painfully shy. I mean, in the deepest sense of the word. You have to prod her into an answer, and make sure you get clarification. If she only nods, you’ll want to ask your question again and say, ‘are you sure?’ Get eye contact. In addition, she won’t want to be within fifty feet of that piece you wear. She lost a brother and a sister to a gun, so you keep that thing out of sight. Okay?”

  He nodded, smiling.

  “We should be done in about three hours, so you should show up at her door with a pizza if you aren’t still working. She likes pepperoni and mushroom. Bayside Apartments, 2C. Now, we have to go because people need to eat.”

  “Thanks Anne-Louise.”

  Jess’s brows knitted. Anne-Louise? She never knew Lolly’s whole name before. It suited her, but less so than Lolly.

  “You can call me Lolly, Officer Cutie Pie. Everyone does.” She pulled a grape Blow Pop from her jacket pocket, pulled the paper off, and stuck it in her mouth.

  “And you can call me James.” He banged his hand on the side of the van as she restarted it. “I’ll see you soon Jessica,” he said across the van.

  Her cheeks flushed, and she nodded.

  “Is that okay?” He stared pointedly at her.

  “Yes. Soon,” Jess said.

  He smiled, flashing his dimple at her, and walked back to his squad car, pumping his fist.

  Jess grinned so wide she thought her face might split in two as she watched him walk away. “We have to hurry. I want to be there if he shows up.”

  Lolly laughed and put the van into gear, but watched his rear end until he got into the police car.

  “Jess, you are the luckiest girl in the world. What a gorgeous man, and what a gorgeous backside!” Lolly sighed. “Who’s next?”

  “Left here, two blocks to Mr. Lee’s house.”

  Lolly nodded. This would be easy. Mr. Lee didn’t like to talk. He would open the door, hand out an empty tray, and take the full one. Then he would say, “Thank you very much,” and shut the door.

  Jess ran the tray up when they got there and everything went exactly as she thought it would. She respected his wish for no chitchat and turned to go back to the van. The door closed quietly behind her. She suspected that Mr. Lee didn’t speak much English and that he didn’t hear well. It was expected of a man who was at least ninety.

  They made ten more stops before going back to the shelter. Lolly told Father Mike about the tail light while Jess put the dirty trays in the dishwashing room, then waited for her in the Civic. Lolly jogged out and got in beside her. Jess tried not to speed across town to the complex to get to Lolly’s car, but it was hard because she was so excited about her possible date. Maybe she should speed, then he could catch her, put her in cuffs. Her lips curled up at the corners, and Lolly chuckled while watching her.

  “I want to hear all about Officer Cutie Pie on Monday,” Lolly said, getting out when Jess stopped behind her Toyota. “I mean it.”

  Jess smiled.

  “Shower before he gets there. You smell like Salisbury steak.

  Jess grinned and shifted into reverse to turn around. Lolly shut the door and waved at her. Jess waved back and sped off.

  Chapter 4

  Jess tidied her apartment and vacuumed just in case he dropped by. She was in the middle of arranging throw pillows on the sectional couch when someone knocked on her door.

  “Shoot. I didn’t shower yet.”

  He knocked again.

  Jess looked through the peephole at James on the other side and opened the door. “I didn’t expect you so soon.”

  “Really? It’s been three hours and eleven minutes since I pulled you over.” He grinned as he set the pizza and bottle of wine down on the table. “Plates? Glasses?”

  Jess pointed to the cabinet beside the refrigerator.

  “Cheese?” He opened the fridge, and she nodded.

  “I hoped to shower and change before you came, I mean if you came. I smell like Salisbury steak.”

  James crossed the room, setting the cheese on the table as he passed it. God, he moved like a predator, and she inhaled. It wasn’t fear that made her tremble. She stepped back, but he caught her easily with his strong hands.

  “Mmm. I think you smell nice,” he said, burying his nose in her neck.

  Jess tittered nervously. An involuntary shiver raced through her. She felt so small but so safe in his arms.

  “I owe you something.”

  Her brows furrowed and she watched him curiously.

  “I wanted to kiss you goodnight before we had our misunderstanding.”

  She inhaled sharply again.

  “May I?”

  Jess nodded and nibbled her bottom lip.

  Butterflies filled her stomach and chest. Her core clenched when James bent toward her and brushed her lips softly with his. His fingers tunneled into her braid and cupped her head while his other hand pressed into the small of her back, pulling her flush against him. Heat filled her middle and flushed her skin everywhere their bodies met. His lips became more demanding, and his tongue traced the seam of her mout
h, begging entrance. Jess opened for him and let him taste her. Oh God, he was a miracle. No man really kissed like this, did they? It felt so good, her whole being quaked with need. She wanted him. Now. A barely audible moan escaped her. Her skin flushed and moistened while her heart started to beat a quick staccato against her ribs. His teeth dragged over her bottom lip before he ended the kiss. When she opened her eyes, his forehead was against hers and his eyes weren’t open yet.

  “When I saw you at the gym this morning, I wanted to kiss you hello, but I didn’t think that you wanted to see me.”

  “You were at Henry’s this morning?” she said softly, her lips so near his that she felt him inhale her words. She waited for his eyes to open.

  He nodded. His mouth was on hers again, tempting and teasing.

  She was panting by the time he stopped, and her heart was trying to jackhammer its way out of her chest. This gorgeous man wanted her! Finally, a man was interested in her.

  “When I got here tonight…” Jess wove her arms around his neck and buried her fingers in his short, soft hair while pressing her lips to his. She controlled this kiss. It was more demanding than his, and he seemed to like it, at least she assumed so when he growled softly. He pushed her body back against the door so that she was trapped. His body melded to hers and she relished his warmth. He felt incredible pressed against her, his hardness molding against her softness. When she finally opened her eyes again, she found a gorgeous pair of navy blues watching her.

  “I love those sounds that you make when I kiss you.

  She gasped. “I don’t make any sounds, do I?”

  A slow smile crept over his face and the crinkles at the corners of his eyes appeared for a second.

  “Just listen.” James lowered his mouth to hers again and his lips brushed over hers. He sucked her lower lip into his mouth, and she moaned again. It was so soft, but she heard herself, and a flush covered her face. “We should eat before this gets out of hand,” he murmured against her neck, and Jess nodded. “I brought pepperoni and mushroom, as directed by your friend, from Joe’s down the street.”

  He let her go after seeing that she was steady on her feet and went to the pizza box. “I don’t know if they’re any good, but we’ll find out together,” he said when she shrugged, and pulled her by the hand to the dining room table, then helped her to sit.

  How was she supposed to eat in this condition? He’d just set her soul on fire and she was supposed to sit here across from that gorgeous mouth and eat pizza. She wanted to drag him into the bedroom and make more of those noises that he liked.

  “You’re looking at me like I’m the first steak you’ve been served after a year of salads, sweetheart.”

  Jess looked away.

  James filled their glasses with red wine. “I didn’t say that I didn’t like it.” He grinned at her when she looked up. He put a slice of pizza on her plate, still smiling at her.

  “Where’s your gun? I noticed that you don’t have it with you,” Jess asked.

  “I locked it up at the station before I left. I wish that I’d brought extra clothes to work with me, but I didn’t count on running into you and my every wish being granted.” He took a sip of the red wine.

  “Your every wish?” Jess tasted her wine. She wasn’t a drinker by nature and usually she hated wine, but it wasn’t awful, so she took another sip.

  “I thought that I’d blown it last night. When Lolly said that you liked me, well…I was very happy to hear it. I’ve noticed you around and I wanted to ask you out for a while, but I could never seem to bump into you or meet you.”

  Jess nibbled her pizza. “How long did you wait?” she asked, not believing her ears. This gorgeous man wanted to take her out for a while? He was trying to bump into her for a while? She needed to leave her desk more often.

  “A long time. Too long. I should’ve found a way sooner,” he admitted. “I think you’re great.”

  Jess dropped her gaze.

  “Don’t do that,” he commanded. She looked back up into his eyes. “When you look away after I’ve complimented you, it feels like you’re calling me a liar.”

  She was horrified. Is that what people thought? No wonder she had such a hard time.

  “When I tell you that you’re beautiful or that I like the way you smell, you should say ‘thank you’ and smile. Okay?” His eyes flashed, and she couldn’t stand it anymore. She had to know why and how he did that. He’d just reprimanded her like an errant child and while strangely it turned her on, it also got her back up. He was about to meet her new backbone.

  “Your eyes change color, did you know that? They turn, like, a golden brown, but it’s only for a second. I thought that I was crazy at first, but they change. I’ve seen them do it several times now. How do you do that?” Jess put her pizza down and squinted at his eyes. They twinkled but didn’t change, and she studied him as she would one of Dan Dan’s dumplings, with extreme interest and high expectations.

  “I know. They do that when I feel emotionally charged,” he continued at her confused glance. “When I feel protective, angry, or something, they change.” He spoke as if it was no big deal and like everyone could do that. She knew that they couldn’t, so she pressed on.

  “Why? Mine don’t do that. I’ve never known anyone’s eyes to do that.”

  “You’re the first person to ever notice,” he murmured.

  “I heard you growl, too,” she challenged him, sitting up straighter, may as well go for it with gusto. Jess was enjoying her new backbone. Usually she would not say anything at all, but ever since her run-in with the witch this morning, she was feeling so much more powerful. He quirked his eyebrow at her and grinned, flashing amber eyes at her.

  Jess gasped.

  “Well, what can I say, sweetness? You make me wild.”

  Jess narrowed her eyes again.

  He went on. “Look, there are some things about me that I’d love to share with you, but not yet. Okay? I will share them with you when I’m ready, but until then, I can’t. Not yet.” He watched her face for a flicker of anger. When he didn’t see any, he smiled. “I’d love to kiss you again. May I?”

  She nodded. “You don’t have to ask permission.” She smiled just before his lips met hers again across the small round table. He tasted like pizza, wine, and passion. God, she wanted him. His mouth felt so good on hers, and she wondered if it would feel any less wonderful on the rest of her. His lips were soft and warm, masterful.

  “I should go,” he murmured against her mouth. “Before this gets out of hand.” Jess shook her head slightly, and he studied her, then nodded. “Okay.”

  “You like control, don’t you?” she asked quietly.

  He fingered his badge, and she giggled.

  “Okay that was a dumb question.” She closed the pizza box lid on the three remaining pieces. “What happens if it gets out of hand?” Jess glanced up at him and his eyes flashed. “They do it when you’re aroused too,” she whispered.

  “What makes you think that I am?” His voice was stern but didn’t scare her off.

  “Your pulse is rapid, your eyes are dilated, and you shifted in your seat.”

  His eyes flashed again, and she wet her lips. He inhaled deeply while he studied her.

  “You’re very observant. You should’ve been a cop.” He smiled, taking her hand across the table. He turned it over to study her palm. “I like your hands. They’re small and delicate. I like you, a lot.” He placed a gentle kiss in the center of her palm.

  She gasped at the contact.

  “I’d like to see this down.” He fingered the thick reddish-blonde braid that hung over her shoulder.

  “I only undo it for showers and bedtime.” She nibbled her lip when he pulled the elastic free from the end and began unraveling it.

  “It’s a good thing that it’s close to bedtime, then.” His fingers worked quickly and had her hair loose around her shoulders in no time. “That is the loveliest thing I’ve ever seen.” His ga
ze met hers intensely.

  She swallowed hard but didn’t drop her eyes. She imagined it brushing over his naked chest while they were making love.

  He inhaled deeply, watching her face.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, and a smile spread slowly across his face.

  “Thank you,” he said and kissed her again. “Do you watch television before you go to bed?”

  She nodded.

  “What’s on tonight? I’m usually working.”

  She wanted him to stay with her, spend time with her, and get to know her better. “Um, I don’t know. We would have to look.” She was glad that he wasn’t going to bolt as soon as they finished dinner after all. That kiss still lingered on her mind and still tingled on her lips.

  “Then let’s look, shall we?” James picked up the pizza box and slid it into the fridge, then grabbed the wine, his glass, and her hand. “Come with me.” He led her around the sofa that she’d inherited from her mother before she’d moved with husband number four or five across the country. Jess wasn’t sure how many it was now, and she was sure she didn’t remember all of their names.

  It was sectional with an ottoman at each end to stretch out on. She wouldn’t have chosen the color, but her mother liked pink. The houses that Jess grew up in looked like someone dunked everything in the pink tummy cure-all. “Where did you get this couch?” Was he going to make fun of her? Seriously? They weren’t quite on solid ground yet. “It’s great. I mean, the color is kind of…” He scrunched his face up in distaste. “But other than that, it looks comfortable.” He sat down in a corner and put his feet up on the ottoman. “Oh yeah, it is, come here, you.” James put his wine on the table and pulled her down next to him, then pulled her close. “Very comfortable.” His arm wrapped around her shoulders.

  Jess reached for the remote on the center cushion and handed it to him.

  “Ladies’ choice tonight, sweetheart.” James pulled her closer and kissed her temple.

  Jess found an action movie, and he grimaced. “Is that what you think I want to see? Or is it what you really want to watch?” He looked down at her with dancing blue eyes. “Come on, be honest.”