Hale Series Boxed Set

by Marie James

  “So they had sex, what else?”

  “He was still here this morning and both of them had huge smiles on their faces.” I explain.

  “What else?” She presses.

  “Nothing, Kaleb came and they went back to her room before I had the chance to talk to her.”

  “So, what did you say to Kaleb?” Lorali knows better.

  “Seriously?” I huff into the phone. “I didn’t say a word to him.”

  She laughs in the phone. “Did he give you another card?” The smile I can hear in her voice brings one to my face.

  “Of course.” I answer.

  “Are you going to call him?” She’s goading me and I’m almost tempted to pull the card from my bedside table and call him just to get her and Alexa off my back. Almost.

  “Probably not.” I shrug my shoulders like she can see me.

  “Josie,” she whines into the phone. “That man is smitten with you!”

  “If he wants to go out with me so bad, he knows where I live! He can come over here and ask me!” I’m near screaming and it’s unintentional.

  “Why would he, Josie? You’ve never said a word to him!”

  “I’ve spoken to him!” I exclaim back at her.

  “When?” She pleads. “Tell me one time you spoke a word to him.”

  I slouch further in the bed when I realize I can’t remember a single time I’ve actually opened my mouth to speak to him.

  “Damn it. I bet he thinks I’m a mute.” I sigh loudly.

  Lorali laughs. “Well, even if he doesn’t, I’m almost certain he thinks you’re the cutest damn mute he’s ever seen!” I laugh with her, the situation is beyond ridiculous.

  “Shut up,” I mutter eventually.

  “I’m serious, Josie. When I met with him at his office he was all business. Every time I’ve seen him he’s always looking around, taking in his environment. When you’re around, you’re all he sees. Like everything else just falls away.”

  I close my eyes and think back to all three of our encounters, biting my lip to stifle a moan at the memory of his tanned face and super sexy, vibrant green eyes. I’d thought I’d just imagined the looks he was giving me. Showing me attention like no other man has done before.

  “Really?” I manage.

  “Yeah really, Josie. You should call him.” I laugh at the idea.

  “Maybe tomorrow,” I promise.

  “Yeah, yeah. Okay.” She knows me too well. There is no way I’ll call him first, and I have no idea how I’ll survive if I answer the phone or door one day and he is here for me rather than something business related. The prospect sends chills all over my body.

  “Did you want me to meet you?” I change the subject quickly before Fantasy Kaleb takes over my brain again.

  “Yes! I’ll text you the address. I want to show you ideas I have for the bridesmaid dresses!” Her excitement is contagious.

  “I’ll refuse puffy sleeves and anything in mint!” I inform her.

  “The wedding colors will be silver and shades of purple. Not an ounce of mint in sight!” We say our goodbyes and I get the ding of the address of the wedding planner on my phone almost immediately after hanging up.

  I Google the address and realize she’s at Elisabel Elite Events, the most sought after wedding planning organization in the tristate area. Of course. She is marrying Ian Hale after all.

  Chapter 2

  Kaleb

  If Joselyne Bennett wasn’t so fucking cute I’d hate that she’s driving me crazy. Three times now I’ve seen her. Three times I’ve given her my business card with my personal cell phone number on it. The first two times it went unused; I’m certain nothing will change with this last time either.

  The first time I met her was under less than perfect conditions, when I had to speak with her sister about a local drug dealer, but I got the vibe that she was interested. Yet, I never heard from her.

  The second time I was able to look into her dark blue eyes was…fuck, was under another set of horrific circumstances when one of her friends, Alexa Garner was shot in the back. She grinned at me at the hospital when I once again handed her a business card. Radio silence.

  Just now I was at her apartment, being the asshole cop having to hand over a subpoena to Alexa. I didn’t have to be the one to take it a constable could have done that. I volunteered anyway knowing that she lived there, but never expected her to be in since she’s a teacher and it’s a school day.

  I was pleasantly surprised when I saw her trying to hide behind the door. Once again her face held a beautiful smile when she looked at me. Once again she took the business card I handed to her. Once again she never said a word.

  I’m an excellent judge of character. You have to be, to be worth your weight as a cop. My cop work and research told me she’s twenty-two, from Fort Collins, a recent University of Colorado graduate, and a first-year, fourth grade science teacher at a local elementary school. My cop instincts on the other hand keep sending me mixed signals.

  Maybe she smiles at me because she’s super polite and not really interested, but courtesy and manners has her continuing to collect my business cards as I throw myself at her each time I see her. Never, never have I been shot down three times…really is a crushing blow to the ego.

  If I’m being honest, I don’t have time to go chasing anyone. More importantly, my job is incredibly dangerous and it creates a lot of enemies and the last thing I want is someone getting close to me and then getting hurt by someone who wanted to get to me. I’ve seen it happen too many times with brothers at work.

  Yet, even knowing all of that I still can’t get her off my mind. The pure innocence in her eyes makes me want to sit and talk to her for hours; the thickness of her long blond hair makes me want to grab a handful of it and…

  The ringing of my phone momentarily prevents my mind from going where it has been going a lot lately.

  “Perez.” I speak into the phone, the number not familiar. Josie maybe?

  “Hey, man.” Not Josie. Ian Hale.

  “What’s up?” I do my best to keep the disappointment out of my voice. He must be calling from work; I would have recognized his cell phone number.

  “I heard you just left Alexa’s. Anything I need to concern myself with?” Ian presses.

  I wonder if these three women knew he kept such tight tabs on them since the shooting. I’ve spoken with him more in the past three weeks than I have since we met, and we usually get together several times a month for poker, and have been for years.

  “DA’s getting ready for a Grand Jury Indictment on Blake Evans. They want Alexa there for victim impact information. I just took her the subpoena.” I do my best to make it sound casual, like an everyday occurrence.

  “Don’t constables deliver those?” Busted.

  “Yeah, I mean we can deliver them as well though.” I explain.

  “Yeah, okay. So you hand delivered a subpoena and going over there had nothing to do with Josie?” He teases.

  “Josie’s a teacher; I didn’t expect her to be there.” Why am I defending myself to him?

  “But she was, right?” He is bordering on nagging and I’m about ready to jump through the phone and choke him.

  “Yes. And I was pleasantly surprised to see her.” I smile again as I picture her beautiful eyes and flushed cheeks.

  “Did you ask her out?” He’s silent on the other end, waiting for me to answer.

  “I didn’t.” I respond flatly.

  “I see.” His tone borders on condescension and grates me the wrong way.

  “She likes you, you know?” He says with a lowered voice as if it’s a conspiracy.

  “How the fuck would you know that?”

  “Girls talk Kaleb. You’re a hot topic right now.” I can tell he’s grinning and I seethe mildly at the fact that I’m the focus of that joke, but I’m busting at the seams at the knowledge that Josie talks about me even though she won’t talk to me.

  “Seriously?” I press him
for more information. “You’ve heard her say she interested in me?” What is this eighth grade?

  He chuckles. “Just ask her out man.” The line goes dead.

  That fucker put that shit in my head then hangs up. If I didn’t need my phone for work I would’ve chucked it down the damn street.

  I slide behind the wheel of my unmarked squad car with a smile on my face because I know I’ll see her again in a few days at the hearing. No way she’d let Alexa do that on her own.

  ***

  For the most part Eddie’s is laid back and no drama. The bar is filled mostly with cops from various precincts around town; the atmosphere is one of understanding and calmness. On-the-job officers as well as many retired cops make Eddie’s their home away from home, nightly.

  Mondays happen to be one of the best nights to grab a few beers, in my opinion. It seems to be one of the slower nights of the week.

  I’m on my second Corona of the evening when the skinny brunette, who’s grown tired of me ignoring her from across the room, slinks over to the bar stool beside mine, sliding close enough to touch my arm. I do my best not to cringe. Her makeup is an inch think, and not doing the job it is intended to and as if that’s not enough, I’m certain she’s bathed in cheap perfume.

  “Hey doll,” she attempts to purr in a sexy voice. “You waitin’ for anyone?”

  Her three packs a day smoker’s voice does nothing except make my skin crawl, effectively ruining my evening. Since when do the barflies come in here?

  I rise from the stool, throw a twenty down, and turn to walk away. “Not tonight.” I throw over my shoulder before heading out into the cool spring evening air.

  Tonight is all I have to wait before I get to see Josie again. I have to keep telling myself that. I may need to go see the department shrink because I’ve never been infatuated with someone as much as I am with her.

  Chapter 3

  Josie

  I was afraid Alexa wasn’t going to want Lorali and myself to go with her to the court hearing, but she was adamant that I be there when I mentioned it in passing.

  Not sure what to wear I decided on black slacks and a pale blue silk top, seems professional enough for court without getting too dowdy and old lady like.

  I’m sitting in the kitchen going through a science board on Pinterest when Alexa enters the kitchen. The hearing at the courthouse isn’t for another couple of hours, but I tend to be super punctual.

  “Hey,” I whisper as she helps herself to a cup of coffee.

  “Hey,” she responds, her voice almost a croak, no doubt from all the moaning she’s been doing in her room lately.

  My eyes follow her through her coffee making ritual until she sits down at the table beside me with a huff. I close my laptop, knowing she’s going to want to talk.

  “Something wrong?” The look of exasperation on her face says that there is.

  She narrows her eyes at me like she can’t decide if she wants to tell me or not.

  “Look we don’t have to talk about it.” I shrug. “I know I’m not Lorali.” I turn from her and begin to open my laptop, a little hurt that she doesn’t want to confide in me.

  She huffs again, more loudly this time. “He won’t fuck me!” She blurts.

  I laugh at her brashness. “Alexa!”

  She looks at me and the frustration is still on her face causing her brow to furrow.

  “Umm…I think I’ve heard some of that these past few days!” I raise my eyebrows and press my lips into a flat line.

  I’ve had to stay in my room the past few days with the door shut because it’s the only way to keep from hearing the activities they’ve been involved in. She’s not fooling me with the ‘I’m not getting any’ story.

  “You know what I mean!” She exclaims and I give her the look that tells her that I obviously don’t!

  “I mean, we make love all the time…but he won’t just give it to me!” Her cheeks are flushed, which they seem to be a lot these past few days, but her displeasure is very evident in the dark red shade of her ears.

  “And why won’t he…give it to you?” I figure making love all the time to the man you love would be perfect, but with my extremely limited experience I may be wrong.

  She takes a long drink of her coffee before answering. “It seems Garrett requires a medical release from the doctor before that will happen.”

  I grin at her. “That’s really sweet, Alexa. He doesn’t want to hurt you!” The look on her face tells me she’s not impressed with him or the fact I’m taking his side.

  Before she can respond Garrett comes in and kisses her forehead before heading over to the coffee pot. “What are you ladies talking about?”

  “I was just telling Josie here that you refuse to fuck the shit out of me.” She says it so matter of fact but that still doesn’t prevent my shocked reaction.

  My eyes go wide, my mouth hangs open, and I know my face is as red as her hair. “Alexa!” She knows better than to say stuff like that in front of mixed company!

  I can’t even turn around to look at Garrett, but his chuckle tells me they’ve had the conversation more than once. It seems he’s holding his own against her powers of seduction. It’s not the first time he’s resisted her. When she first met him, she went after him pretty tenaciously and it took weeks for him to cave to her persuasions.

  I’m sure having an end date will help him hold out, much to Alexa’s dismay.

  After making his cup of coffee, he leans and whispers something in her ear. I couldn’t hear what he said to her but by the way she’s biting her lip when he turned to make his way back to the bedroom tells me she may be okay with waiting just a little longer. She looks off into space with a dreamy look in her eyes and I want to ask her what he just promised, but knowing her, the answer would freak me out.

  I look back at my laptop and we sit in silence for a while. Ten minutes or so later Garrett joins us again to kiss Alexa’s forehead and leave.

  “He’s not taking us to the courthouse this afternoon?” I ask.

  “He’s going to meet us there. He’s got a few things he has to take care of at the club.” She explains.

  “So I guess I’ll drive us.” I turn my head back to the Pinterest board on the formation of sedimentary rocks.

  She’s silent for a while before speaking up. “About that…” I cut my eyes to her and the mischievous smile on her face unnerves me. “I’ve made other transportation arrangements.”

  Please no!

  My eyes beg her to say Ian and Lorali.

  “What have you done?” My voice is barely above a whisper.

  “I took Kaleb up on his offer to drive us to the courthouse.” She takes a sip of her coffee and I see her eyes light up with humor over the top of her cup.

  “Lorali and Ian aren’t going?” I lean back in my chair, arms crossed over my chest like a petulant child.

  “They’re meeting us there as well.” Her smile never leaves her face.

  “I should hate you for this!”

  “But you don’t.” She smirks.

  I hang my head and smile. “No, I don’t.”

  What am I going to do now? I’ve already wrapped my head around seeing him at the courthouse, now I’m going to ride in a car with him to the courthouse. My heart may give out before this day is over.

  “And, Josie?” I raise my eyes and look at her. “Make sure you talk to the man this time!”

  With that she gets up, rinses out her cup, and places it in the dishwasher. She pats me on the back for encouragement before leaving the kitchen and heading back to her room to get ready. She’s been telling me for months to go out with him, but I now wonder how much her involvement has to do with avoiding thinking about my own situation and less about me finally acknowledging my attraction to Kaleb Perez.

  Either way I’m still going to be sitting in the same car with him, ensuring that I’ll be able to see him for longer than five minutes. I have to change my clothes; there’s no way I can wea
r slacks now!

  ***

  The time between Alexa informing me that we’d be riding with Kaleb until he actually knocks on the door seemed like a million years, but when I hear the sharp rasp of his knuckles hitting the wood I instantly wish I had more time.

  I sit frozen on the couch, forcing Alexa to get up and answer the door. He stands at the threshold while we grab our purses. I manage a grin in his direction, seems that’s all I’ve been able to do thus far, as I flatten invisible wrinkles from my skirt.

  “You guys ready?” he rasps in that super sexy voice with the faint hint of Spanish heritage.

  I want to close my eyes and tell him to just talk and couldn’t care less if he just recites the Pledge of Allegiance, so long as I get to hear that sexy, accented voice.

  Alexa asks him a question my ears don’t even hear and I take a moment while he speaks to her to drink him in. The dark gray suit fits him like a glove, cut and tailored to perfection, the button at his waist closed. In the V opening of his suit jacket is a crisp white shirt and silky green tie. I stroke my thumb against the tips of my fingers, the desire to run that tie through them immense. He has a light five o’clock shadow on his jaw and the most gorgeous green eyes I’ve ever seen. His entire body, along with his tan skin, sends a swarm of butterflies to my belly…a feeling I’m learning to love.

  All too soon his eyes cut back to me, his mouth in a full mega-watt grin send those butterflies even lower and I attempt to resist the urge to squeeze my thighs together.

  My cheeks flush again as I skirt past him towards the door, the faint smell of his spicy cologne not helping the condition my body is in, which embarrassingly includes damp panties.

  I walk out first, allowing Alexa to lock up the apartment, putting as much distance between myself and Kaleb as I can. He’s a great detective and I’m sure if he’s given a long enough opportunity he’ll be able to somehow detect the condition of my panties.