Confession of Love (Romance on the Go)

by Devereaux, Vanessa

  Evernight Publishing

  www.evernightpublishing.com

  Copyright© 2012 Vanessa Devereaux

  ISBN: 978-1-77130-183-1

  Cover Artist: Sour Cherry Designs

  Editor: Natascha Jaffa

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. No part of this book may be used or reproduced electronically or in print without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. All names, characters, and places are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  CONFESSION OF LOVE

  Romance on the Go

  Vanessa Devereaux

  Copyright © 2012

  Chapter One

  Momentarily taking her eyes off the road, Dana reached across to the passenger seat, hoping her cell phone was within easy reach. Usually dead-set against talking or texting while driving, today she was desperate because she was late for an important appointment. She found the corner of the phone and pulled it toward her, trying her best to concentrate on the road ahead. She briefly looked away as she brought it toward her ear.

  Shit, what was that?

  There’d been a sudden thud on the side of her car and now a man’s face stared at her through the car’s windshield. She braked, dropped the phone on her lap, and could only watch as the man in question slid down the hood and disappeared from sight.

  What have I done?

  She tried to exit her car, but was suddenly all fingers and thumbs, catching her wrist in the seat belt a few times in the process. Dana turned cold from head to toe and her heart pounded as she spotted the man slumped in the road close to her left front tire. Putting both hands over her mouth, she realized he wasn’t breathing or moving.

  Had she really hit him that hard?

  “Thank God,” Dana whispered when he finally moved his head. He could still be badly injured, but at least he was alive. She considered grabbing her cell phone to call for an ambulance, but stopped when, without warning, he flopped over onto his back and groaned.

  He looked straight up at her.

  The man she’d hit had gorgeous hazel eyes, with tiny flecks of blue woven in here and there, ruffled light brown hair, high cheekbones and a strong jaw line .

  I should be ashamed of myself. I’m standing here admiring his looks when he’s obviously hurt. Oh, and let’s not forget that he could sue me. Or if he dies, I could be charged with vehicular manslaughter.

  “Are you okay?” Dana asked him.

  “I think I’ll be fine in a minute or two. It feels like I’ve had the wind knocked out of me, that’s all” He pressed his chest with both hands and squeezed his eyes shut.

  “I’m really sorry.”

  Wait, didn’t attorneys tell you never to admit guilt? Never to apologize for your stupidity? Callous, but Dana didn’t relish losing her new townhouse after an expensive and drawn out lawsuit.

  He grimaced a few more times while continuing to hold his chest.

  “Don’t blame yourself for this. I wasn’t looking where I was running,” he mumbled between bouts of coughing.

  He glanced over his shoulder then looked back at her.

  Okay, now he’d admitted he also been careless. That meant legally they were on equal footing.

  Right?

  Probably not.

  Dana knelt beside him. He had at least three or four days stubble on his face, and his clothes looked liked he’d been sleeping in them for just as long. Homeless, most likely.

  “I think we should get you checked out. Maybe get some x-rays taken…just to be sure nothing’s broken,” said Dana.

  He grabbed her wrist, holding it like it was in a vice.

  “No, no doctors. I told you, I’m fine. Hitting your car just took my breath away, that’s all.”

  He glanced over his shoulder again. Dana looked in the same direction, but saw nothing of interest, well, at least not to her. He finally released her wrist. She rubbed it, hoping he wouldn’t grab it again when she made her next suggestion.

  “I’d feel happier if you’d let me take you to urgent care at the local clinic, or even the ER. I’ll pay…I mean if lack of insurance is the only reason for your reluctance, I’ll cover the costs.”

  Had that sounded condescending? She hoped not. Okay, he looked homeless, but that wasn’t the only reason she’d offered to pay for his medical care. Guilt had also factored into it.

  “I told you, I’m fine so let’s just leave it at that, okay? Thank you for your concern, it’s appreciated, but I’ll be on my way.”

  He raised himself up onto his hands and knees before cautiously standing. He gasped with each movement.

  “I think you should—”

  “Mind your own business,” he said, clenching his teeth as he shouted back at her.

  Dana wanted to give him a sharp response, but decided he had every right to be snappy with her. Faults aside, she’d hit him with her car.

  So much for trying to be a decent human being.

  Now all she could do was stand on the sidewalk and watch him head north until he was out of sight.

  She got back in her car, started the ignition, and continued on her way. A few minutes later when she turned onto 12th Avenue, she spotted him sitting on the sidewalk, leaning against the wall of an office building.

  Dana stopped the car, got out and walked over to him. This time he looked pale, his brow was covered in sweat, plus, he was hugging his right side.

  He glanced up at her.

  “You again,” he said.

  “Yep, , I’m back.”

  She knelt down beside him, but quickly put her hands in her pockets. If he went for her wrist again, this time it would be out of harm’s way.

  “You forget something?” he asked before he coughed.

  “Yes, I forgot to take you to the ER.”

  “I thought I told you to mind your own business.”

  “Sorry, but you became my business when you ran into my car.”

  “Will you just go away and leave me in peace?”

  “, I can’t do that.”

  It was her turn to grab his arm because she wanted to help him to his feet.

  He snatched it away.

  “Has anyone ever told you that you’re pushy? Even borderline obnoxious?” He barely managed to get the words out before he launched into another bout of coughing. He held his side as he said, “For the last time, no ER.”

  For a homeless guy, well, if he was homeless, he had perfect white teeth.

  “Okay, okay, you win.” Dana raised both her hands. “However, if you change your mind, or find yourself with a medical bill, I want you to take my business card and call me.”

  Dana dug it out of her jacket pocket and handed it to him. He studied it and glanced up at her.

  “I’ll keep this with my important papers in my desk,” he said.

  She stood, not sure if he was being sarcastic or not.

  She nodded and turned back to walk to her car. Once there, she got inside and started the ignition. Dana glanced over at him one last time as she drove by. He was still sitting on the ground and seemed to be studying the card she’d given him.

  There was something odd about him, but she didn’t know quite what.

  ****

  Ian tapped the card against his palm. She worked for a PR company and was an account executive. Whatever the hell that was. He’d guessed she did something fancy for a living because she’d been dressed immaculately. A navy blue jacket with shiny gold butt
ons down the front, and a white skirt that showed off her long and tanned legs. She’d also worn a subtle amount of make-up on that very pretty face of hers.

  He scolded himself for being so observant about a woman’s appearance while he was on the job. But a guy could take a peek, couldn’t he?

  Ian’s ribs hurt like hell, but that wasn’t the reason he’d been almost tempted to go with her to the ER. He wanted to spend time with her and get to know her. However, he had a job to do, and he couldn’t risk his cover being blown.

  He tried to stand, but grimaced as what felt like iron rods being shoved into his chest and back, washed over him. Getting hit by her car had been his own damn fault, not hers. He’d lost the suspect because he hadn’t been paying attention, and hadn’t seen her car sailing toward him when he’d stepped out from the curb.

  Ian leaned against the wall. As he’d promised her, he would keep this card in a safe place. Not to call her about his possibly broken ribs and payment to put them right, but once this assignment was over, he was going to stop by her office and ask her out to dinner.

  Chapter Two

  Dana put the phone down and leaned back in her chair. Sensing she’d just landed one of her dream clients, she pumped her fist in the air. They were unhappy with their current PR firm and were looking to switch allegiances. She’d be there waiting when they made the final decision.

  A sharp rap on her office door made her look up from the notes she was jotting down. Jenny, the company receptionist, stood in the doorway.

  “Dana, sorry to disturb you but there’s a man here to see you.”

  She glanced at her calendar. She didn’t have anyone written in for that afternoon, but maybe she’d forgotten to jot it down.

  “Does he have an appointment?”

  “No, but he said the two of you ran into one another a few months ago.”

  Dana knitted her eyebrows together.

  “He’s very good looking so even if you don’t know him, I’d say at least let me show him in.”

  Dana smiled. Jenny was the quintessential matchmaker, and as Dana was one of the last few single employees, she was a constant target.

  “Okay, show the mystery man in?”

  Jenny left and Dana continued making more notes about her telephone conversation. A few minutes later, there was another knock on the door.

  “Dana, Mr. Kincade is here to see you.”

  “Just call me Ian,” said a man’s voice before he stepped in the doorway.

  Dana squinted. He looked familiar, yet she couldn’t think where she seen him before.

  “Mr…Ian come in and have a seat.”

  Jenny was right about him. He was gorgeous and those eyes were mesmerizing.

  “Can I get you something to drink, a coffee maybe?” asked Jenny.

  “Yes, sounds perfect,” said Ian.

  Bingo.

  Now that she’d studied him a little longer, she knew where she’d seen him before. He was the homeless guy she’d hit with her car.

  Ian pulled up a chair and sat in front of her desk while Jenny left to fetch his drink.

  “Can I just say you clean up very nicely,” said Dana. He’d been dressed like a bum, but today he wore a pale blue shirt and navy blue pants. He was also washed and clean shaven. Maybe he’d won the lottery.

  He smiled. “I wondered if you’d recognize me.”

  “I admit I didn’t at first. So are you here to collect a check for your medical bill?”

  He waved his hand. “Don’t worry about that. The cracked ribs were covered by Worker’s Comp.”

  Ouch, she’d cracked his ribs. Well, at least her car had.

  “So you’re all healed now?”

  “Good as new.”

  Jenny chose that moment to step inside with a cup of coffee she handed to him.

  “Thank you…Jenny, wasn’t it?”

  Jenny smiled and fluttered her eyelids. If the woman wasn’t in her late fifties and a happily married grandmother, Dana would have guessed that she was flirting with him. But who could really blame her?

  “I’ll leave you two to talk,” said Jenny, making a quick exit.

  Dana had been so busy admiring him what he’d said about Worker’s Comp had gone right over her head.

  He sipped his coffee and looked at her over the rim of the cup.

  “Did you say your injuries were covered by Worker’s Comp?” Maybe she hadn’t heard correctly. A good looking man often made her temporarily deaf.

  He nodded. “I was working at the time you hit me.”

  “As a homeless person? I mean that’s what you looked like.”

  “I’m glad you thought that because that’s exactly what I was working undercover as.”

  “Undercover. Of course you’re a cop.”

  He nodded. “And sorry about being snappy and rude to you, but I was scared my cover might be blown.”

  “No, no apology needed. Now I understand.”

  “You might have heard about the three homeless guys that have been murdered in the last six months?”

  She nodded. The police had thought it was a few random killings, but when the third man turned up with his throat slit, things had become more serious. The story had even made the national headlines.

  “I did hear someone was taken in for questioning.”

  “Yeah, we’re pretty sure this one’s our guy.” He put the empty cup on the edge of her desk.

  “Can I get you another one of those?”

  He waved his hand. “One is good. I remembered the card you gave and thought I’d drop by to first of all to apologize for my rudeness and explain what I was doing that day, which I’ve now done. So the next thing is will you have dinner with me?”

  She looked at him. If he’d been homeless she would have said yes, but now she knew he was a cop, he was strictly off limits. How ironic was that?

  “Ian, I’m sorry. Nothing against you personally but no, I have to pass on dinner with you.”

  “Okay, but is there anything else you’d prefer to do with me besides eat? I’m open to suggestions.”

  This was getting harder by the second. He seemed a nice guy, but she’d made a promise to herself.

  She closed her eyes, trying to get her composure together so she could tell him no, and why she couldn’t do anything with him.

  “You might think this is strange of me, but I have this policy about going out with police officers.”

  “What have you been pulled over for speeding one too many times or what?”

  She shook her head. “No, my father was a policeman. He was killed in the line of duty when I was nine years old. It destroyed my mother, destroyed my family and I vowed I’d never get involved with a cop and live through that sort of nightmare ever again.”

  Chapter Three

  Ian had left Dana’s office disappointed, and yes, surprised too. Not about her father being a cop who’d been killed, or that she’d been traumatized by it, but that she had a rule about not going out with policemen.

  He sat in his car and tapped on the steering wheel. He wasn’t going to give up because from the moment they’d first laid eyes on each another, he’d sensed there was some spark between them. And after the sly little glances she’d given him today, he was sure she’d felt it too.

  Not one to take no for an answer, he pulled out his cell phone and the card she’d given him. That had stayed safely in his wallet for the last seven weeks. While he’d been undercover and sleeping rough, he’d protected it more than he had his money. He knew if he’d lost it then he’d never be able to find the woman with the prettiest green eyes he’d ever seen.

  He glanced at the card then stabbed at the numbers on his cell phone.

  “Hi, can I speak with Dana Hunt, please?”

  “Is this Ian again?”

  “It sure is, Jenny.”

  “Putting you through to her office, and I hope you’ll stop by again.”

  “I hope so too.”

  There were two f
ast clicking sounds then Dana’s voice.

  “Hello?”

  “Hi, Dana, it’s Ian Kincade again.”

  “Hi, Ian, did you lose something in my office?”

  “Yes, all hope of my life being perfect.”

  She didn’t respond.. Maybe that hadn’t come across the way he’d planned it. For God’s sake, it might have even sounded like he was a stalker.

  “I guess I’m a little upset that you said no to dinner simply because of your vow not to go out with cops.”

  “I’m sorry that you feel that way.”

  “No, I’m sorry you feel that way. Come on it’s just dinner, not a marriage proposal.”

  “I know, but what if it…”

  “Go on say it. If it develops into a relationship. You feel there’s some chemistry between us, don’t you?”

  There was silence. I knew, it. I knew it.

  “Ian, you seem like a great guy and I’m sure there’s a lady out there who doesn’t have any issues with dating officers of the law. I’m sorry, but I won’t change my mind.”

  The purring sound in his ear made his heart sink. Shit, he wasn’t about to give up his job because he loved being a cop. But he was going to at least get her to have dinner with him, if nothing else. Hopefully over a meal she’d feel the sparks, the raw sexual energy, and change her mind about dating him. He tapped the steering wheel again. He’d have to think of some other approach because he knew they were perfect for one another.

  ****

  Dana shook the water off her raincoat. The weatherman hadn’t predicted showers, but when was the last time those guys got anything right?

  She hung it on the peg on the back of her door and tidied up her hair. Sensing it was starting to frizz, she reached into her desk drawer, pulled out a Scrunchie and tied it back off her face. The morning was client and meeting free so her appearance wasn’t an issue until after noon.

  Jenny tapped on her door.

  “I know you’re supposed to be off limits to clients while you work on those media kits, but could you squeeze one in?”