Hale Series Boxed Set

by Marie James

  Chapter 4

  Kaleb

  Two things happen when we approached my car. One, I hear Alexa giggle and rush to the door for the back seat. Second, I hear Josie sigh as I open the front passenger side for her. The timid “thank you” she offers under her breath makes me grin.

  For a split second I wish she was a perp so I could briefly touch the top of her head to make sure she doesn’t bang it on the door frame. Her wavy, long blond hair is flowing down her back and I bet it feels like butter soft silk, my fingers tingle with the urge to stroke it. I don’t of course. The ‘thank you’ I just got from her is the entirety of every word she has said to me. I think reaching out and petting her would be a step too far at this point.

  I chuckle to myself as I walk around the front of the car to get into the driver’s seat. I glance back at Alexa in the rear view mirror and notice she has clicked her seatbelt into place. I glance over to Josie and notice her knee is bouncing and her fingers are steadily drumming on her thighs. I wonder what part of this situation she’s nervous about.

  “Josie?” I clear my voice, her name came out much huskier than I had intended.

  She turns her head and looks at me for long seconds. This is the closest we’ve ever been and the air surrounding us is electric, energy pinging all around the inside of the car with nowhere to escape. I smile at her and nearly moan when she smiles back and her tongue snakes out and wets her bottom lip.

  “Yes?” she finally whispers.

  I force my eyes to stay open when the urgency to close them hits; my mind has altered the situation, asking a different question for her to answer ‘yes’ to.

  “Seatbelt.” I manage on a puff of air.

  “Oh,” she snaps into action, the trance and moment broken.

  I hear a small chuckle from the back seat and look at Alexa in the rearview mirror. She winks at me. I shake my head and smile, putting the car into gear.

  I clear my throat before speaking when we’re about five minutes from the courthouse. “There will be quite a few people here. Most are here for other cases. The grand jury may not even ask to hear from you, but the District Attorney’s office always likes to be prepared in case they do.”

  I keep my eyes on the road, but I can see Josie in my periphery and she glances over at me each time I speak.

  “The schedule is tentative and the process sometimes takes longer than expected.” I lick my lips and swallow hard when Josie shifts in her seat, forcing my focus to her lean legs. She’s wearing a modest enough skirt; very court appropriate, but the sight of her bare skin still causes tension in my pants.

  I roll my head around on my neck, trying to regain my train of thought; another chuckle from the back seat.

  I clear my throat again. Man, I sound like I’m coming down with a cold. “I’ll let them know that you’re present and that may help them move it along faster since this is a pretty high profile case.”

  “High profile?” Implores the beautiful woman beside me.

  I’m thankful we’re at a red light so I can give her all of my attention. “Murder case,” I respond, wishing this situation were different. It’s nothing new for me, but definitely something citizens of Denver should never have to deal with.

  She nods her head solemnly in acknowledgment; the flow of her silky hair on her shoulders has me hypnotized; the blare of the car horn behind us ruining the moment. My eyes once again meet Alexa’s in the mirror. Her mannerisms make me well aware she can easily read my attraction for Josie; I just wish Josie was as easy to read.

  This case is all I have to do today and I make it my mission right then and there to not leave Josie’s side today until she agrees to go out with me. No chance in hell I’m just going to drop off another damn business card and hope she takes the next step. Once she agrees, I wonder how long it will take Ian to call me and congratulate me on finally growing a pair.

  My father didn’t raise me to wait for a woman to call me. He’d roll over in his grave now if he saw me dancing around this woman. I’ve been a cop for six years and a detective for the last eighteen months. I read people; it’s my job to know what they’re thinking and feeling by their bodies’ reactions before their minds can even register the thoughts.

  Josie? Well this beautiful woman is a quandary. My cop radar and intuition is off with her. Like the sight of her frazzles my brain or her body contains jammers that prevent me from getting a good read on her, but by this evening ‘Operation Get a Date’ will be put into action. We’ll either have plans to go out or she’ll shoot me down.

  ***

  Once I have Alexa and Josie situated in the courtroom, I head to the district attorney’s office to let them know that she’s here. They assure me that they are presenting the other murder they have right now and the Blake Evans case will be heard next. I head back into the courtroom to give them the good news.

  By the time I step into the courtroom, Ian and his fiancée Lorali, as well as Garrett Hale, have joined them. I stand at the end of the row and just as I’m about to cut in front of the line of sitting people to get to the chair at the end, they all begin to slide down a chair. The chair left once they stop moving is right beside Josie.

  I look down the line and it’s Lorali that winks at me this time. I do my best to hide my grin and give her the faintest of nods, telling her thank you. I sit down beside Josie with my hands resting in my lap and look around the room. I survey the crowd, assessing threats, and seeing if there is anyone in here I know beside the bailiff and a few attorneys.

  The atmosphere is calm, although busy. People are waiting to be called and are meeting in small groups to speak with attorneys. Just another day at the courthouse.

  A small movement to my left makes me realize that Josie is right beside me. They have the chairs stuffed in here more for optimization and less for comfort. My thigh is within inches of hers and I can feel the heat coming off of her body. I close my eyes for a second, concentrating all of my focus on the small amount of energy transferring from her body to mine.

  I hear her whisper and open my eyes and peer over at her. She’s speaking with her sister, Lorali, who’s sitting directly to her left. They’re talking about Lorali and Ian’s impending wedding. I sit and listen to her voice not really paying attention to the content of the conversation.

  I’m hoping soon it’ll be a conversation with me that she’ll be smiling through and laughing at.

  Chapter 5

  Josie

  The grand jury ended up not needing to hear from Alexa; the surveillance camera from inside the store was enough. You could almost pick up and hold the relief that was rolling off of her. Now that the grand jury indictment was over she told me she’d be going to Garrett’s for the next week or so but would check in on me periodically.

  I nodded and smiled at her, loving the fact that they are together and so obviously in love. It’s my turn. I thought before I could stop my brain from such nonsense, like there’s an order to meeting your prince charming.

  I stayed a bit longer and talked to Lorali and Ian before heading to use the restroom. I realize Garrett and Alexa are gone and my sister is also nowhere to be found. Exiting the restroom with mild trepidation, my eyes land on Kaleb across the hall. He’s standing so manly with his hands in his pockets talking with a uniformed officer. The suit jacket hints at the layers of muscles it’s hiding.

  He must notice my awkward stance because he cuts the conversation short with the other cop and makes his way over to me. I take in his gait unabashedly, the masculine prowl forcing me to bite my lip. Here I am in public practically undressing this man with my eyes. The mischievous smirk on his handsome face informs me that he has an idea of exactly what I’m thinking about.

  My eyes hit the floor and I release a long breath I didn’t realize I was holding as he approaches.

  He closes all but about ten inches between us, his broad chest right at eye level. “You ready?” In that exact second I realize why my small group of friends scat
tered so quickly once I turned my back. They did it as a means to force me on Kaleb, just the same way Alexa jumped in the back seat of his car when clearly he was there for her.

  I sigh. The people in my life clearly want me to spend more time with this man, and I can’t say that I disagree with them. I want to be angry with them for not including me in their plans, but I know as much as they do that I’d refuse had I been privy.

  “Yes,” I whisper to him, getting lost in his radiant green eyes again.

  He clears his throat and shakes his head slightly after a roughly closed door down the hall breaks into our moment.

  I turn toward the exit and begin walking back to where he parked his car. Kaleb falls in right beside me, his large hand resting on the small of my back; the warmth sinking into my bones, leaving me longing for more than the gentle guide of his fingers.

  We reach his car much faster than I’d wanted. I could walk for miles if it meant he kept his hand on me. Like the gentleman he was earlier at the apartment, he once again opened the car door for me. I sank into the seat, my back going cold at the loss of his hand.

  The ride home is quiet, but electric. I can’t keep my breathing even and I wonder if he can hear my ragged breaths; if he can he doesn’t say anything. The trip to the apartment seems shorter than the walk to the car. I curse every green light we pass under.

  Strangely he parked his car in the subterranean parking area of the apartment building rather than pulling to the front like he did earlier. He turns off the ignition and shifts his body so it was slightly angled towards mine. I sit like a statue, unsure of what he’s going to say but refusing to open the door.

  I want to invite him up, but I have no idea how to go about doing that short of just blurting it out, which I can’t seem to build the courage to do.

  “I was fixing to grab a cup of coffee.” He informs in my direction. I want to yell YES but technically he hasn’t said anything about me going with him and I don’t want to be the crazy woman who invites herself places. I reach for the door handle and the gentle touch of his hand on my other arm halts my actions.

  I turn my head toward his. The magnificent smile on his face makes his eyes sparkle. “Will you join me?”

  I’m quite certain my heart skips a beat or two before I’m able to agree to his impromptu date. Not a date Josie, just coffee.

  “Sure,” I respond with more enthusiasm than I’m sure was necessary.

  He opens his door and comes around to mine. “There’s a cafe a few blocks down from here,” he says holding his hand out to assist me from the car.

  I reach up and place my hand in his as I unfold from the car and smile when he squeezes it tighter when I try to pull it away. He closes the car door and I hear the sharp double beep informing us that it’s locked.

  “This way,” he says tugging my hand toward the parking garage pedestrian exit.

  Once we hit the sidewalk, the shift of his hand in mine makes me nervous and I fear he’s going to let go, but he laces his fingers between mine as we continue to walk towards the cafe.

  “Beautiful day,” I mention. Really, Josie? The damn weather?

  “Yes it is,” he agrees looking down at me.

  I realize, standing this close to him, that he’s the perfect height for me to rest my head on his shoulder, the idea brings a smile to my face. We make quick time and arrive at the cafe within minutes. I’m regretful when he releases my hand to open the door for me.

  We make our way to the counter and place orders for our drinks. Monday afternoon is apparently a busy time for this place and the only sitting area left is a cozy little two-seater couch in the back corner. I get Kaleb’s attention and point to the couch letting him know I’m going to go grab it before someone else does.

  He looks at it and back to me with a wide grin. He seems as happy as I was when I realized we wouldn’t have to sit across from each other while we enjoyed each other’s company and our respective drinks.

  I decide to sit with my back to the arm rest and my leg tucked under me so I can face him, hoping we’ll talk once he joins me. I’m mid pep talk when he saunters up carrying our drinks.

  “Green tea,” he says as he hands me my drink.

  “Thank you, Kaleb,” I graciously take the iced green tea, knowing my insides could use some cooling down.

  He settles in beside me and mirrors my position on the couch. “I like that,” he says.

  “Green tea?” I ask bringing the straw to my mouth for a drink.

  “The sound of my name on your lips,” he corrects.

  Holy crap! I may need to pour this drink directly down the front of my pants. It will take too long for my body to cool from ingesting it.

  He’s flirting with me; I could get used to this! The girls were right, if I step back and consider the times we’ve met in the past he’s always smiling at me and offers his card with his personal phone number on it each and every time.

  “I like saying it,” I flirt back, but change the subject quickly before I have a stroke from my blood pressure boiling over. “What did you get?” I nod towards the white cup with the brown cardboard sleeve.

  He looks down at his cup and rolls it between his palms. “Just a black coffee with a shot of hazelnut. You don’t like coffee?” It’s his turn to nod towards my drink.

  “I get up early for work and if I drink coffee in the afternoon I don’t rest very well.” I explain

  “Ah! I think I have coffee in my veins; I can drink it anytime day or night and it doesn’t affect me.” I watch his finger trace the lid of his cup and for some reason the action sends shivers up my spine.

  “I think I drink a gallon of it before the cut off.” I smile. “Kind of a prerequisite when teaching little kids!”

  He sets his drink on the nearby table before speaking. “Tell me about your job.”

  “Not much to tell really. I lead a pretty boring life.” I shrug my shoulders and look down at my drink, fiddling with the straw. “I don’t want to bore you.”

  “Josie?” He husks causing me to raise my eyes to him. “One,” he says reaching out and grabbing one of my hands, resting it between us on the couch, “I want to know everything about you, and two, even if I didn’t, I love hearing your voice.” The only thing I can focus on for the longest time is the feeling of his big thumb as it strokes the back of my hand. I smile at the size difference. Wouldn’t we be a sight; the big masculine cop and the petite elementary school teacher? Kind of perfect actually.

  ***

  We talk for hours and it isn’t until I notice the sun going down that I regretfully put an end to our coffee date. He was as equally forth coming about his life. I’ve learned that he is an only child and very close to his mother. His father was a detective for the Denver Police Department and was killed in the line of duty a few years ago during an altercation with someone he was trying to arrest. He lives in a house rather than an apartment, because he can’t stand people being so close around him.

  He asked questions when I talked about myself and seemed genuinely interested in my responses. Conversation just flowed once we got started and nothing felt forced; one subject just flowed into the next. I hate that it has to end, but I have a laundry list of things to get done after the three day weekend.

  Conversation continues on the walk back to my apartment, but trails off once we reach my front door, nervousness taking its place.

  “Do I need to give you another card to get you to call me this time?” He teases, both pairs of our hands now joined as we face each other in the hall of my apartment complex.

  I grin at him. “No, I have your number.”

  “Yet you never called me,” he grins back at me.

  I shrug my shoulders. “I’m shy,” I respond as an excuse.

  He releases one of my hands and swipes a lock of hair from my face and runs it back behind my ear. I close my eyes and tilt my head slightly into his touch, the sensation better than one I’d ever felt before.

  I op
en my eyes as his thumb strokes my cheek lightly and look into his eyes.

  “I want to kiss you so bad,” he whispers.

  “I’d like that,” I whisper back, my pulse so loud in my ears I barely hear the faint growl he emits before I feel his warm lips on mine.

  His kiss is gentle and tentative; one hand holding the nape of my neck with his thumb under my chin dictating the tilt of my head. His other hand, having released mine is now gripping my hip.

  I step in closer to him when his tongue dips between my lips and sweeps across my tongue. My low moan and the sharp intake of breath from his nose mingle as the hand on my hip wraps around my back and draws my body flush with his.

  My nipples harden and tingle at the feel of his chest against them and I’m doing my best to ignore the things of his that are currently pressing against my body. My hands are on his back, holding him tight against me. I know I have to put a halt on things when my hand snakes down and cups his backside. What has gotten into me? I could kiss this man all day.

  I pull away and he nibbles my lower lip, each tiny bite sending bolts of electricity to body parts no man has gotten to respond to before.

  “Want to come in?” my mouth spits out before my brain realizes the error.

  He licks his lips and takes a small step back. “I’d love nothing more,” he says with heavy lids. “But I don’t think I’d stay a gentleman once the door closes.”

  I consider his response and smile at him.

  He leans in and gives me another soft kiss. “Call me when you get home tomorrow?” He begs against my lips.

  I suck his bottom lip into my mouth, not ready for him to leave yet. His groan reverberates through my body, eliciting my own whimper.

  “You’re making this difficult,” he chuckles against my lips.

  I smile and drop my hands, allowing him to step back, creating a gap between us that I immediately hate.

  “Call me, Mariposa.” He pecks my lips one last time. “In you go.” He inclines his head towards the door. “I want to make sure you’re in safe before I leave.”