by Morgan Fox
James fought the smile teasing his lips. He loved driving his well-organized and never-spontaneous friend crazy. “I have a life.” I just don’t have a woman, a hobby, or anything outside of my job to enjoy.
“Really?” Clay asked with a snicker. “Prove it. Have you gotten laid in the last month?”
James’s eyes widened. “Now that’s just inappropriate,” he said, folding his arms over his chest.
“Well, have you?”
Frowning, he replied, “No.”
“Taken a trip, gone fishing, or done anything recreational?”
Shit. James hadn’t done a damn thing except work. “No.”
Clay folded his arms, his biceps and chest filling out in a powerful, I’ve made my point stance. “With that said, do you still think you have a life?”
The sweet scent of vanilla and strawberries filled the room, and instantly he knew he was about to be rescued by the only person who could calm Clay down. Closing his eyes, he silently thanked her.
“Oh, babe, stop harassing James,” Clay’s wife, Delilah, said, strolling into the office. Her blue, flowery sundress caressed every curve. “If he doesn’t want a vacation then he doesn’t want a vacation.” She reached out and took Clay’s hand then gently pushed to her toes and kissed him. “Stop trying to force him to take one.” She giggled. “You know better than most that you can’t make someone do something they don’t want to do.”
Clay scowled. “I just don’t want him clinging to us like some lost puppy,” he said, hauling her up into his arms and kissing her again.
Did you ever stop to think that maybe I’m happy just the way I am?
He cleared his throat. “Watching you two play kissy face all the time is enough to make anyone a little nauseous,” he murmured.
Delilah smiled, inclining her head in his direction. “Perhaps if you did have a woman to play kissy face with, you wouldn’t be so nauseated by us.” She winked.
“Wouldn’t that be swell?” James said with a crooked grin. Then he heard the front door to the station open. “Well, back to work.” He stood and rounded the corner of his desk.
“I’m not kidding, James.” Clay placed his hand on James’s shoulder. “You need a vacation. You can either pick the dates you want off or I’ll do it for you.”
Sighing, he said, “Do what you’ve got to do, Clay. You’re the boss.” There was no point in discussing it further. Whether he liked it or not, he was going to have to take a few days off. Sadly, he didn’t have a clue what he’d do if he didn’t have work to keep his mind busy.
He stepped around Clay and headed toward the counter. His eyes widened as he studied the alluring, brown-haired woman he approached. As he drew nearer, he noticed the amber highlights that drew out the breathtaking blue in her eyes. Swallowing hard, he was beside himself, stunned by the familiar gaze staring back at him.
Her tight jeans molded over long, lean legs and gathered sublimely at a slender waist. He couldn’t prevent his eyes from exploring her small but perfectly round breasts and settling on a face so lovely he nearly choked on his tongue.
In all his life, there hadn’t been a moment he’d lost himself in the presence of a woman. Always the calm, cool, and collected sort, he no longer felt as such. The sight of her had his gut swirling with a million electrifying nerves. The strange feelings that flooded through him rocked him off his foundation. He was utterly shocked by not only her innocent beauty, but by the knowledge that he somehow knew her.
He prayed his feet would remember how to function on their own, carefully placing one foot in front of the other. For whatever reason, his brain was not to be trusted. With his luck, he’d trip and land on his face. What a sweet first impression that would make.
Inhaling deeply, he asked, “May I help you?”
Her sweet, coy smile nearly robbed him of breath. “I hope so. I heard there was a position open for a clerical assistant.”
He choked as the thought of working with her daily drowned him like a wet dream. He quickly covered up his reaction by clearing his throat. “Oh, right, the clerical job.” Smooth. Real smooth.
Her face paled. “Is it still available?”
He narrowed his brow, curiosity consuming him. The expression on her face screamed she was desperate for employment. “Yes, I believe so.”
The moment he spoke the words, her eyes lit up, sparkling as if the sun was peering through her soul. “Then I would like to apply.”
His throat constricted as his thoughts tripped over the sexual harassment claim potential. Not because he would physically do anything to her, that wasn’t his style, but he was sure he’d never be able to stop staring at her mouthwatering lips, smooth skin, and hypnotic blue eyes. Not to mention the sumptuousness of her body that he would surely fantasize about daily.
What the hell is wrong with me?
He fumbled through the stack of papers under the counter in search of the applications. He hated that he must look like a directionless idiot. After all, he was the one who’d stored the paperwork at the counter for walk-in candidates.
Finally, after what felt like an hour, he found the application, grabbed a clipboard and pen, and handed it to the woman who in less than thirty seconds had turned his brain into pudding.
“Please fill this out and let me know when you’ve finished.”
She flashed an appreciative smile, and again his heart did a funny little flip in his chest. She looked so familiar, but for the life of him, he couldn’t put his finger on just how he knew her. Maybe it was his man parts telling him that he’d been too long without the tender touch of a woman and that Clay was right. He did need a vacation.
Blowing out an exaggerated breath, he returned to his desk and eagerly waited for the application of a woman he was dying to learn the name of. He’d been so taken by her that he forgot to ask her name.
“She’s awfully pretty, Deputy Ryan,” Delilah whispered over his shoulder. “Maybe your single life has met its end?”
He pressed his lips firmly together, but inside he was grinning from ear to ear. “She’s applying for a job,” he said plainly, doing his best to contain the thrill that chased after his heart, making it gallop like a horse in the Kentucky Derby.
“Oh, a captive audience then,” she teased, clasping her hands over her chest. “Perhaps now you’ll have a reason to take a vacation. I’m sure I could convince Clay to give you both time off together.” She winked.
He chuckled and then glanced over at the woman filling out paperwork, parts of his body humming and pulsing. He shifted in his seat and shot his gaze back to Delilah, who was now sitting in the chair beside him. “You’ve spent way too much time with Clay. You’re starting to sound just like him.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Clay said, coming up alongside him. “And why is Delilah sounding like me?”
Delilah giggled. “We have a visitor who just happens to be drop-dead gorgeous, young, and doesn’t have a wedding ring on her finger.”
James drew his brows together in a tight scowl. “How the heck do you know that?” he asked, his keen eye for observation clearly being tested. He hadn’t seen it, nor had he even thought to look.
First he doesn’t bother to get her name and now this. What was going on with him?
Delilah waggled the fingers of her left hand. “Rule number one, boys. Always check the wedding finger. A well-trained woman can spot a single man forty feet away. That shiny bit of gold can give an eager woman the green light or send her packing…unless she’s a complete skank.” Both he and Clay eyed her, and she shrugged it off. “It was the first thing I noticed about Clay. Well, that and how incredibly sexy he was.”
James hissed as if he’d been bitten by a snake. “Please! The children are present.”
Clay chuckled. “Get over it. You know as well as I do that Delilah says whatever’s on her mind. She’s gotten pretty dang comfortable here in Temptation.”
She smiled, eyeing her husband with intrigue, and then returned h
er gaze back to James. “Right now, what I’m saying is that you could use a little distraction in your life.”
“I could?”
“Seriously? James you’ve been so work focused since I’ve known you. I’ve never even heard you talk about a woman. This is just what a handsome man like you needs.”
James narrowed his brow. “So you’re saying that I need to hit on a woman who could be working in the same office as me?”
Delilah giggled. “No, silly, you need a chance to start a fire with a woman you just met who may end up working in the same office as you.”
“Start a fire?”
She huffed out an exaggerated breath, resembling an annoyed younger sibling. “Do I need to draw you a picture? You need a warm body to snuggle up with at night, and apparently you don’t like the selection in this town. Maybe a fresh face is what you need.”
James glanced up to Clay. “Do you think it’s a good idea to hire a woman we just met?”
Clay arched his brow and, with a crooked grin, said, “Judging from the way you’re staring at her, I couldn’t imagine that you’d really argue with Delilah on this.”
James’s brow furrowed as he sat back in his chair, folding his arms over his chest. “There’s just something familiar about her, something I’m trying to figure out.”
“Well, I’m about to do a background check on her, and if everything checks out, I’m going to offer her the job. We need the help,” Clay reminded him.
“Right,” James breathed. “I just have a funny feeling.”
Clay paused. “What kind of funny feeling?”
Shrugging his shoulders slightly, James said, “I feel like I know her from somewhere.”
Clay snickered. “Maybe it’s the fact that you’d like to get to know her more intimately that’s got you so twisted.”
James’s frown deepened. “She’s very pretty, but I’m not sure how getting to know her will change anything.”
“I’ll never understand how that mind of yours works, James, but I do know that you’ll figure out whatever it is that’s bothering you and then you’ll realize it was all a figment of your imagination.” Clay grinned and, with a wink, added, “Unless it’s not.”
“Very funny.”
“Besides, you’re going to have plenty of time to get to know her if I do hire her.”
“How’s that?”
Clay leaned in close. “You’re training her, of course, and that also means you’ll be giving her a ride along to introduce her to the community. She’ll need to learn the ropes and who better than from you.”
“Shit,” he breathed.
Clay grinned. “Now, stop your whining and go get her paperwork. If all goes well, she’ll be working here by Monday.” He slapped James on the back, hauled Delilah up from her seat, and strolled into his office, closing the door behind them.
Everything inside James had gone wonky. Nothing seemed to feel right. His chest squeezed, restricting his breathing, his head throbbed from the increase in blood pressure, and his palms were sweaty. If he didn’t know better he’d have thought he was lusting after that woman like a schoolboy’s first crush. Whatever was going on with him, he needed it to stop immediately.
* * * *
The pages blurred together as Gracie read over the material and filled out the areas she could. Completing the application didn’t take long since she hadn’t really had any work history to document. She didn’t even have a home address, so she used the hotel’s where she was currently staying. The only reference she had was of a man she’d just met and slept with.
Closing her eyes, she prayed that somehow, some way, they’d give her a chance to show that she would do an excellent job for them. She had potential. She just needed an opportunity to step away from the cloud of shit that hung over her.
The cute blond officer she first met on arrival approached the front desk, and she felt his stare, eyeing him askance. Her throat constricted as she gathered her application and headed up to the counter.
Inhaling deeply, she read his name badge. “Deputy James Ryan?”
“You can call me James.” His eyes sparkled warmly as he studied her. That was the look she’d longed to see staring back at her, accepting and caring.
“Thank you, James.” She handed him the paperwork. “I’m Gracie Myles.”
His head snapped up, and he drew his brows together sharply, a deep, fierce glare etched in his eyes. A sudden shiver charged up her spine. She wasn’t sure why he was staring at her like he was preparing to hit her, but he was. Maybe he remembered who she was.
Damn, she hoped that wasn’t it.
Startled a moment by his cold stare, she hesitantly asked, “Is something wrong?”
“No,” he snapped. “Please have a seat. The sheriff will be with you in a moment.”
“Thanks,” she muttered. Stepping away from the counter, she took a seat.
Nails digging into her clammy palms, she glanced up to watch James step into the sheriff’s office and close the door. Trampled by her racing thoughts, she feared her chance of landing the clerical position had just vanished. James’s reaction to her surely was an indication of that. His unfriendly stare twisted at her, reminding her of the way people had once mocked her for the way she earned a living.
Licking her dry lips, she wondered if she’d ever get away from people looking at her with such loathing and disgust.
Stone didn’t look at me like that. No, he gazed at me with lust and longing. If he’d known I was once a whore, he most likely wouldn’t have treated me so kindly.
Squeezing the straps of her purse in her hands, she wondered if sticking around was worth it. Then she remembered the man who’d threatened to rape and beat her if her brother didn’t make good on his drug payments. That kept her ass firmly glued to the chair, even if that meant hearing the words, Sorry. You’re just not what we’re looking for.
* * * *
“Holy shit! I figured out who she is,” James snapped, tossing the paperwork onto Clay’s desk. “She’s the sister of the asshole who got me thrown in jail for drug possession.”
Clay snatched up the papers. “Are you sure?”
He glared at Clay, his pulse racing with trepidation. How could he ever forget all those horrible months? “Yes, I’m sure. First it was the way she looked that tripped me up, but when she said her name, Gracie Myles, I knew.”
“Okay,” Clay said, drawing out the word, and leaned back in his chair to read her application. He flipped through the pages quickly. “She’s been a caregiver to her siblings.”
“Yes, her delinquent fucking brothers.” The words sprung from his mouth like a raging inferno, vengeful and suffocating. He never swore. His mother had raised him to speak intelligently, but the passions that sparked inside him erased his verbal intellect.
Clay stood, palms flat on his desk. “James, you need to calm down.”
“Calm down? Clay, her damn brother stashed his drugs in my bag, made me go through a grueling interrogations process and feel like some common criminal.” He whipped his hand through his hair. “I lost my scholarship because of him. My life was shit for a long time.” He hung his head. “My parents never looked at me the same.”
“The charges were dropped,” Clay reminded him.
His gaze shot up to meet his. “But the damage was already done, and my parents spent so much of their savings fighting for me.”
“What are you asking me to do then? Did you want me to decline her based on her brother’s mistakes?”
James sighed, hard and fast. He wasn’t a dick, but he wouldn’t be thrilled to work with her either. Maybe he’d get lucky and her background check would come back unacceptable. If she was anything like her brother, she’d be out of his life in no time.
“Do what you’ve got to do, Clay. You’re the boss,” he said, flinging his office door open and fleeing toward the back of the station, getting as far away from Gracie Myles as he could get.
* * * *
“Come in, Ms. Myles, and have a seat,” Sheriff Garrett said, pointing to the chair directly across from his desk. “I understand you’re from Houston.”
Gracie’s belly churned with nervous energy. “Yes, I’ve lived there all my life…until now that is.”
Clay studied her. “What brings you to Temptation? Our little town is certainly a drastic change from the big city.”
“Yes, I suppose it is,” she said smiling shyly.
He held her gaze for a long moment until she answered his question in more detail. He clearly had experience drawing information out of people.
“I came here hoping to find a fresh start. I have four younger brothers, and both my parents are dead, so—”
“Dead?” He scowled. “That’s odd. Your background check still lists both your parents as living.”
She wanted to die. Her mind immediately drew a blank. She didn’t know what to tell him, and then she told him the only thing she could. The truth. “My parents are dead to me, Sheriff.”
“I see,” he said quietly.
Her blood thickened in her veins as her nerves churned like acid in her belly. She quivered waiting for the next round of questions.
“You were arrested for prostitution?”
Gasping, Gracie’s gut dropped to the floor, and utter shame washed over her. Her hands began to shake as she feared the outcome of their conversation. Now that he knew what she was, surely he wouldn’t want anything to do with her. Her life had been screwed from the moment of her birth, and trying to find a way to change the path once set in front of her was perhaps impossible.
“Sheriff, that piece of paper you’re holding tells you what I was and what I had to do to survive an unhealthy family environment, but it’s not who I am.” She stiffened her spine, digging deep for all the courage she had inside. Sharing the story of her family life was something she never did because the memory hurt so damn much. “I moved to Temptation to get my life together.” Locking on to his gaze, she confessed, “If you give me a chance, Sheriff, I’ll show you that I’m a hard worker and a fast learner. I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty. I’ll sweep floors if that’s what I need to do.”
