When he didn’t add anything further, she held out her hands. “And?”
“It doesn’t belong to them and they told me I could keep it.”
Maddy brightened.
“No,” he said. “Emphatically, no.”
“Geez, I didn’t think you knew such big words.” The sentence was out before she could stop it.
Mike turned around fully to face her. His brows were lowered and there was a spark of anger in his eyes.
“Oh, God, I’m sorry.” Maddy shook her head. “Mike, I’m so sorry.”
“Care to explain yourself?” he asked quietly. Deadly quietly.
Oh shit. Cursing her wayward tongue, Maddy bit her lip. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
He took a step closer. “So you think a Neanderthal wouldn’t know such big words, huh?”
Shame slid through Maddy, and she could feel the blush ride up her cheeks. “I apologise, I really do. Sometimes…”
Big arms folded across the massive chest and the t-shirt pulled tight across bunched biceps. Combined with his dangerous and now forbidding expression, it was an alarming move. He stood so still, so dangerously still, and the menace in the kitchen was enough to make Maddy swallow.
“Sometimes?” There was no way that rumble could get any dangerously softer.
She wanted to run and hide, stick her head in the sand and never look at him again. But damn it, she was an adult, and adults had to face the consequences of their actions.
“I have a bit of a temper,” she finally said. “And…uh…sarcasm.”
“Really?”
“It…um…I sometimes say things I don’t always mean.”
He just continued to look down silently at her.
Feeling lower than a snake’s belly - and that was damned low - Maddy glanced away and started to sidle towards the door. “I think I better go. I-”
“Stay.”
“No, really, I-”
“Maddy, please.”
It was the ‘please’ that made her stop. Lifting her head slowly, she finally looked up into his eyes. The anger was gone, but he still looked stern. Her guilt combined with his expression made her a little irritable. “What?” The snap in her voice made her want to close her eyes and just die. “Shit. Again.”
Mike looked down at her for several seconds before shaking his head and surprising her by cupping her elbow and moving her over to the table. Pulling out a chair, he waited for her.
Now she was feeling downright miserable. Her cheeks were burning.
“Sit,” he said. “Please.”
“Mike…”
“Maddy.”
She sighed and sat.
“Now,” he said, moving away. “Tea or coffee?”
To refuse now would be churlish, and she figured she’d been nasty enough for one day. “Tea.”
“Mint? Rose hip? Camomile?”
He drank herb tea? What the hell…? Then again, he was probably a health freak, and so saying, her sugar-laden peace offerings were no good.
Peace offerings, huh. That had turned out well. Not.
“Maddy?”
Keeping her eyes on the table, she replied, “Um…whatever you’re having.”
“I’m having plain black tea.”
She glanced up to see him getting cups from the cupboard. “Not herbal?”
“Ugh. No.” He didn’t turn around as he busied himself with getting a tea caddy. “I keep the herbal stuff for my sister.”
“Oh. Well in that case I’ll have plain tea with milk and three sugars. Please.”
“No worries.” He spooned sugar into a plain mug.
He moved easily around the kitchen, but as the silence stretched on she finally said, “I really am sorry, Mike.”
For the first time, he glanced up. “I know.”
Surprised, she blinked. “You do?”
“I know when someone is sincere. Your apology was sincere.”
“So we’re okay?”
The word hung in the air between them. Maddy held her breath, not knowing why it was so important to her but knowing that it simply…was.
His smile was slow and easy, spreading across his face, his eyes crinkling at the corners. In that moment he looked so unexpectedly devastatingly, dangerously handsome, it took her breath away. “We’re okay,” he rumbled.
And her heart flipped.
“But,” he added, “I’m still not keeping that kitten.” When she started to protest, he pointed the teaspoon at her. “No. And that’s final.”
With a sigh, she subsided back in the chair.
Mike poured hot water into the mugs and jiggled the teabags before taking them out and adding milk to one of the mugs, which he placed before her on the table. Going back to the kitchen, he retrieved two plates, two forks and a knife, and returned to the table. Sitting opposite her, he opened the container containing the chocolate cake and his eyes lit with appreciation. “Yum.” Without further ado, he cut off two big slices, placed one on each plate and slid a plate across to her.
Maddy watched as he speared a large chunk on his fork and put it in his mouth. Utter bliss crossed his face, and he closed his eyes as he savoured the rich indulgence. “Its okay?” she queried with a small smile.
“Decadent,” he replied and opened his eyes. “Another big word for me.”
“Don’t choke on it.”
“Ouch.”
“You asked for it.” She speared a smaller chunk of cake and sampled it. It really was yummy, one of her favourite recipes.
Disregarding her remark, Mike licked some of the fudge frosting off his fork. “You’re a good cook.”
“How do you know I didn’t lie and just bought it?”
“Nothing this good is ever bought. This sort of thing is made by someone who loves baking.”
Her brows rose in surprise.
“My grandmother baked cakes a lot when she was alive,” Mike explained. “It was the only time I got to taste home baking and I’m telling you, once you taste real home baked goodies you can always tell the difference between them and store bought.”
“Very insightful. I’m impressed.”
Mike grinned. “I’m full of surprises.”
“I bet you are.” Maddy scraped some of the frosting off the cake. “So, about this kitten…”
He didn’t answer, but his gaze almost seemed to spear her to the chair.
“I’m not asking you to keep it.” Laying down the fork, Maddy leaned forward. “I’m just asking you not to shoo it away.”
Resting the tip of the fork tines against his bottom lip, he studied her silently.
“I put some food and water outside your shed.” She gave a small smile. “When I last trespassed.”
The silence and steady gaze continued.
“This morning.”
It was becoming a little uncomfortable.
Clearing her throat, she thought she might as well throw herself under the bus as run alongside it. “Can we also keep your shed unlocked and the door open a little?”
His silent regard was becoming unnerving.
And irritating. Laying down the fork, Maddy folded her arms and arched a brow. Two could play the silent game. Unfortunately, she was never good at playing the silent game and less than three seconds had passed before she gave up and threw her hands in the air. “Fine! Whatever! Geez, Mike, I’m not asking for your first born, just a few days grace to catch this kitten.”
His next move was unexpected. Instead of arguing, he speared another big chunk of cake and chewed it slowly while studying her. Then he got up, crossed to the kitchen door and opened it to gaze down the backyard towards his shed.
Maddy moved to stand partially behind him and gaze towards the shed as well. What she saw made her smile. The kitten was hungrily scoffing down the biscuits. Glancing up at Mike, she wondered what he was thinking as he watched the kitten. He stood so still, it was like being behind a huge statue.
Looking back out at the k
itten, she saw that it had finished eating and was now washing itself. It had a drink of the water, stretched leisurely, and then slipped inside the shed. Knowing kittens, Maddy suspected it was now heading for a nap. Fed and safe for now, it was content, or as content as it could be, being so small and young without a loving home.
The last thought wiped the smile from her face and sadness filled her at how callous humans could be when it came to their furry and feathered friends.
Turning, Mike saw her expression and dismay was clearly reflected in his eyes. “You’re not going to cry, are you?”
“What?” She frowned. “Of course not.”
“All right.” He took a deep breath and placed one big hand on a lean hip. “The kitten can stay.”
Her eyes lit up.
“For now.” He waved the fork under her nose. “A few days, Maddy. You can feed it and try to catch it, and I’ll agree to leave my shed door open, though God knows why I’m agreeing to that, it’s just begging someone to come in and steal something from it.”
“You could put a kitty door in it,” she suggested.
“Don’t even start.” Leaving the wooden door open, he moved back towards the table, forcing her to step out of his way. As she followed, he continued, “I am not feeding it. That’s your job. It’s also your job to catch it and get it a home, and that home is not here, understood?”
“Of course.” She beamed at him.
Reclaiming his chair, Mike picked up the mug of tea and took a swallow.
“Thanks, Mike.” Picking up her plate, she scraped the uneaten portion of her cake onto his plate and headed towards the sink, taking swigs of tea from her mug.
“Where are you going?” He watched her curiously as she washed the plate, fork and mug, and placed them in the draining rack.
“I need to buy more kitten food.” Turning to face him, she smiled widely. “Thanks so much, Mike.”
“Yeah, well you owe me.” He pointed the fork at the cake. “It’s going to take more than this to pay me back.”
“I won’t forget this, don’t worry.” Beaming, she hurried from the kitchen. “Thanks again!”
She made it through the front door just as he yelled, “I like chocolate chip muffins, too!”
~*~
“You are such a putz,” Alan stated.
Sitting beside his fellow cop in the patrol car, Mike had to agree, albeit silently.
“A pretty face, sad expression, and you fell for it,” Alan continued.
“I thought she was going to cry.”
“And that makes you a putz.” Alan checked the speed gun mounted on the dashboard as a car went past.
“And I’m not a putz,” Mike continued. “I’d already made up my mind anyway.”
Satisfied the car was going at the correct speed limit, Alan returned to the conversation.
It was a conversation Mike didn’t want to pursue, but that had never held Alan back, not in the whole three years Mike had known him. Once Alan got his teeth into something, he was like a dog with a damned bone.
“So, this stray. How are you going to get rid of it without her knowing?”
“I’m not.” Mike didn’t bother to look at his friend.
“You are kidding me. You’re going to let this stray hang around, pissing in your shed?”
“It’s a kitten, and I haven’t smelled any piss so far.” Mike glanced at the speed gun as another car went past. Relaxing back against the seat, he could feel Alan’s incredulous gaze on him. “I promised Maddy she could have several days to catch the kitten.”
“And if she doesn’t?”
Mike didn’t want to even think that far ahead.
“What then?” Alan persisted. “You gotta do something about it then.”
“I’ll figure that out when the time comes.”
“Boy, you are so whipped. You shouldn’t let these women get to you.”
“I don’t let women get to me.”
“Oh, I forgot. It’s the ladies you let get to you.”
Mike just looked at him.
“Tell me,” Alan continued, “Why is it that you let certain women get to you, and others you can simply handcuff and walk away from while they’re crying their eyes out?”
“Big difference.”
“Huh.”
“Besides, Maddy isn’t like that.”
“Like what? A crier?”
“Exactly.”
“So what is she like?” Curious, Alan barely glanced at the speed camera as another car shot past.
Mike studied the reading and finding it within the speed limit, he resumed studying the vehicles on the highway. “Fiery. Stubborn.” Yeah, that word described Maddy to a T. “Tongue on her that could rip shreds off your delicate hide, boy.”
“A sharp-tongued shrew. Geez, Mike, you’re an embarrassment to us men.”
Not bothered in the slightest, Mike enjoyed the breeze that blew slightly through the car window.
A small, pale blue car shot past them, and the speed gun confirmed it. A speeder. Alan straightened up in his seat, started the car and had it in gear and turned around in seconds. Lights and siren on, the patrol car was hot on the tail of the blue car.
The driver obviously knew who they were after, for the indicator went on and whoever it was pulled over onto the shoulder of the road. Alan got out and moved to the driver’s window. Just as Mike was about to run the number plate, he got a good look at the sticker across the back of the car. The car belonged to the Gold Link Nursing Association. He called it in and sure enough, he was right.
Wondering why the nurse was in such a hurry, he watched as Alan returned to sit in the seat to call in the drivers licence.
“Nurse,” Alan stated. “In a hurry, and boy is she a little mouthy.”
“Maybe it’s to do with a patient.”
“The big chick needs to learn to cool down some.” Alan called in the drivers licence name and number.
It took less than two seconds for the name to register. Madeline Rosemary Lovett. Maddy. Mike looked through the windshield at the car in front of him. Maddy was a nurse?
“I know her,” he said.
“Really?” Alan looked at the back of the car as well. “She’s not what I’d call a hot nurse. Don’t think I’d want her looking after me. I’d want a sexy nurse, not a hefty sheila, especially if she’s undressing me to give me a…” He smirked. “Bed-bath.”
Mike frowned. “The lady is all right. Don’t be such a prick.”
“Lady?” Alan’s brows rose. “Oh-ho.” He made to hand over the licence. “You want to handle this?”
Mike took the drivers licence just as the report came back that there were no outstanding warrants or anything on the owner of it.. Getting out of the car, he strode over to the small car, rounded the back of it and stopped at the driver’s window. He leaned down to see Maddy’s profile as she spoke into the mobile phone.
“I’m coming as fast as I can.” Maddy thumbed quickly through a file sitting on the passenger seat. “I’ve just been held up a little. I won’t be long.” Someone said something on the other end and Maddy rolled her eyes. “Just give her something to eat. I’ll be there soon, I promise.” Switching the phone off, she tossed it onto the seat and rubbed her eyes. “Bloody cops better bloody hurry or I’m on the shit list. Again.”
“You wouldn’t be on our shit list if you’d been doing the speed limit,” Mike rumbled, partly amused but also partly annoyed, generally having no patience with offenders who didn’t respect the law.
Swinging around, Maddy’s mouth dropped open at the sight of his face. “Mike?”
He handed her the drivers licence. “Thank your lucky stars I heard you and not Alan.”
A faint flush rose in her cheeks. “Sorry about that.”
“You seem to be sorry about a lot of things.”
“Story of my life today.” She drummed her fingers on the steering wheel. “I’m in a real hurry.”
“What’s the rush?”
“A patient.”
“Dying?”
“No, but she is getting more agitated by the minute. I need to go now.” Maddy looked up at him. “The ticket?”
He was half tempted to give her one, but having had personal experience, he respected nurses who did home nursing. “I’m not giving you a ticket but I am giving you a warning.”
A hint of impatience on her face, Maddy already had the car in gear. “Yes?”
“Watch your speed limit. If you get caught again, you won’t be so lucky.”
“Okay. Thanks.” She glanced at his hand on the door frame.
“Maddy.” When she glanced up at him, he gave her the full force of his scowl. “I’m warning you. No more speeding.”
She stared at him for several seconds before nodding. “I hear you.” When he stepped back, she added, “Thanks, really.” And took off.
The little car didn’t quite leave a skid mark, but he’d bet his black boots that she didn’t normally leave quite as fast.
Alan was waiting in the patrol car with a grin on his face.
Mike gave him a warning glare but it didn’t faze his incorrigible friend at all.
“So,” he drawled, “Maddy, huh?”
“That’s her.” Mike settled himself into the seat and strapped on the seat belt.
“Didn’t know you were into big chicks.”
“I’m not into any chicks.”
“Am I safe here with you?” Alan fluttered his eyelashes. “I didn’t know you batted for the other team.”
Unscrewing the lid of the thermos, Mike poured out a cup of hot coffee. “Trust me, sweetheart, I wouldn’t be doing anything with you in public.”
“Oh my.” Alan gave a shiver of fake delight. “Shall we park behind the bushes?”
“I’m on duty. I save playtime for after hours.”
“Your place or mine?” Alan made kissy sounds. “Big boy.”
Sipping the hot coffee, Mike amusedly regarded his friend over the top of the mug. “No offence, darling, but you’re not my type.”
“But Maddy is?”
“No.”
“Because she’s…you know?” Alan made an overblown hour-glass shape with his hands. “Plenty of padding.”
Mike felt a prick of annoyance. “How someone is built doesn’t matter, it’s what’s underneath that matters.”
Cop's Passion Page 4
