“Okay.”
“I don’t know if this will work.”
“It will.”
She should have expected that confident answer. “What if it doesn’t?”
“You find me attractive and you’re not afraid of me. Well, most times.”
“I’m not frightened of you.”
His gaze was direct. “When I say some things, your uncertainty is plain to see.”
There was nothing she could really say to that bit of truth.
“But for now you only need to know two things for sure,” he added.
“What’s that?”
“I’d never hurt you.” It wasn’t a promise, but a statement of fact.
No, Mike could never hurt anyone deliberately, she knew that. It wasn’t in his nature. He was a tough man, but he’d never hurt the innocent or the smaller.
“And I’ll never lie to you,” he said.
And then he leaned down and kissed her so tenderly, so passionately, that she automatically arched up into him.
She could feel his desire, the stiffening of his shaft, but he surprised her by lifting his head and gazing down at her as he said quietly, “I could make love to you all night, Maddy. I could make love all night and a hundred different ways, but I’m not going to. Do you know why?”
She could only shake her head mutely.
“Because I want you to go home and think about what I said with a clear mind. No coercing.”
She cleared her throat. “You were so sure of yourself a few minutes ago. Are you doubting it all now?”
“Not at all. I know what’s going to happen. I’m just waiting for you to accept it, and that you need to do in your own time.”
“You think you can appease me.” She frowned.
He just smiled.
In a smooth motion he pushed to his feet, wrapping his arm around her waist and easily bringing her up with him, which made her gasp in surprise. No man had ever been able to do that to her - or had wanted to, who knew - but it sent a shiver through her. He made her feel so much smaller and daintier, and how he managed it was a miracle.
Watching as he bent and pulled on his boots, she couldn’t deny the pleasure it gave her when he took her hand in his larger one and drew her to his side. With a light kiss to the top of her head, he led her out of the lounge room and down the hall. On the veranda he made sure to lock his door before leading her down the pathway.
“I can walk myself home,” she said.
He looked down at her and even in the darkness she could sense his frown. “Don’t even think it and don’t ever do it again.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” she returned tartly. “That hasn’t changed.”
“Not that fond of sitting, are you?”
“Very fond of threats, aren’t you?”
“Are you so sure it’s just a threat?”
“You said you wouldn’t hurt me.”
“I also said I wouldn’t lie.”
Okay, that was a bit confusing. “What exactly do you mean, then?”
He simply gave her hand a light squeeze in reply. Sheesh, there went that slight tingle of combined chill and thrill. Maybe she really did need to see a shrink for her previously unknown masochistic tendencies.
They got to her door and Mike didn’t say anything about her light being on, which was lucky for him because she had a caustic reply all waiting in reserve. However, she couldn’t resist staring blankly at him when he held his hand out for the key.
“Tell me you locked the door behind you,” he growled.
“Let me guess, you won’t be happy if I didn’t?”
“Trust me, you’ll be even less so.”
“For a man who just moments ago declared his undying devotion to me, you have a way of throwing threats around.”
“Just keep pushing those buttons, lady.”
Amused, Maddy pulled the keys from her skirt pocket and held them up.
Shaking his head, Mike took it from her, unlocked the security screen and the wooden door, and held them open for her.
She walked past him, but just as she drew level he stopped her with his arm barring the doorway, and when she looked up inquiringly he dropped a tender kiss on her lips. Before she could return it, he lifted his head, removed his arm and placing his hand in the small of her back, he gave her a gentle push past him.
In the doorway, she turned to look up at him. “Mike?”
“Yes?” With one hand on the door and looming over her, he looked so dangerous in the dark, a symbol of protection in his uniform, but with the tenderness of a lover in his eyes and expression.
“I bought a mobile phone today.”
He smiled. “You’re giving me the number.”
“I’ll leave it taped to your motorbike windshield tomorrow.”
“Oh, Maddy, not the bike.” He shook his head. “You gotta respect the bike.”
“Maybe there’s not enough room for me and the sound barrier breaker in this relationship.”
“Trust me, there’s room.” Reaching out, he flicked her nose gently. “I’ll squeeze you in somewhere.”
“Thank you very much.”
“My pleasure, believe me. Now, it’s late. I’ll wait until you lock the door.” He straightened. “Good night, Maddy.”
She looked up at him for several seconds before she acted on instinct, reaching up on tippy-toes. He bent down, meeting her, and she kissed him quickly, lightly, before retreating back into the hallway. “Goodnight, Mike.” And she shut and locked the door.
Staring down at Chaz, who was peering up at her disapprovingly because it was so late, she whispered, “What the heck happened tonight?”
Chaz twitched his tail and disappeared down the hall towards the bedroom.
Maddy followed, her steps lighter and a slightly dreamy smile on her face.
When she awoke in the morning, she stared straight up at the ceiling and said, “What the heck happened last night?” Rolling out of the bed, she crossed to the bathroom and washed her face, trying to clear her head and grapple with the happenings of the previous night. Grabbing the towel, she dried her face and looked in the mirror, only to gasp at the mark on the side of her neck.
Mike had given her a love bite.
Thank God it was her days off. She had to figure out how to hide that mark before she went back to work.
And she had to figure out why she had such a doofus smile on her face that stretched from ear to ear.
And she had to get another morning after pill.
In fact, she had better make an appointment with her doctor and start on the pill. Just in case. Just the thought sent a tingle through her, but the cynical side of her whispered to be careful, very careful.
The big cop next door had the power to break her heart and smash her confidence to pieces.
Chapter Six
He had to start keeping condoms close at hand when it came to Maddy being near him and them being alone. To be truthful, he had to start thinking before he got carried away in the heat of the moment. Being careless wasn’t something he did, period. Or at least, not before he met Maddy and had a taste of her hot, lush body.
Frowning, he took the box of condoms from the bathroom shelf and checked the contents. Yep, there was half a box. He better get some more in because as sure as God made green apples, he lusted after the voluptuous Maddy. She was definitely his wet dream. His very intense dream of her last night when he’d finally gotten to sleep was proof of that.
Placing the box of condoms back on the bathroom shelf, he took up the comb and ran it through his hair. His thoughts remained on his sweet little neighbour. Okay, he grinned to himself, not entirely sweet, but then she wouldn’t be Maddy if she was all sweet and gooey. Nope, his Maddy was a hot, spicy little thing, all curves and sassy tongue and hot-blooded. Hoo boy, was she hot. And there was no doubt that she liked to be dominated, that she liked him to take control. In some ways, anyway, he wasn’t fool enough to think it was in everything. She wa
s determined lady.
But she pushed a lot of buttons until she got her way. That brought the frown back to Mike’s face. The memory of her tirade the previous night, the hurtful things she’d said about herself. It didn’t seem right coming from the confident lady he’d first met but the hurt in her eyes, the vulnerability, it was very plain to his shrewd gaze.
Scowling, he placed the comb back on the shelf. If he ever got his hands on the bastard that had hurt her, he’d wring his bloody neck. No one treated a lady thoughtlessly. Kindness was the key, understanding, and she’d kill him for even thinking it, but firmness especially when it came to his Maddy. She was a lady nevertheless, vulnerable and wanting to be loved.
And he was just the man to love her.
Yep, there was no hiding from it. Maddy had caught his heart. Never a man to linger or hesitate, Mike simply accepted it, grinned at his reflection, and looked forward to the day when she finally accepted that she belonged to him and she loved him back. He had no doubt about it at all.
Meanwhile, he had all those delightful days and nights ahead to convince the stubborn chit. Talk about a task he grabbed gleefully with both hands.
Going out to the kitchen, he opened the back door and was met by the kitten sitting just outside it and looking up at him. It meowed.
Mike looked across to see a half empty bowl of kitten food and a fresh dish of water on the veranda, proof that Maddy had been over early and fed it.
“There.” He pointed to the dish. “You’ve got food.”
Bright little eyes looked hopefully up at him.
“Look.” Bending down, he scooped the kitten up in one big hand and carried it over to the dish. It struggled a little and he put it down beside the dish. “Food. Water. My bloody armchair. What more do you want?”
He moved back to the door but when he turned around to shut it, the little mottled, grey ball of fur had followed him. Now he saw that it was shivering. Glancing up, he noted the sun low in the sky. The mornings were starting to get a little chillier. Obviously the kitten was feeling the cold.
“No,” he said. “Not bloody likely. You’re not coming in.” He shut the door in its little face and strode back to the kitchen. Grabbing his keys, he went to the front door and opened it, only to shiver himself when a particularly chilly nip met him.
And he was big and carrying his leather jacket in one hand. Lips tightening, he stepped out and jerked the jacket on. He was not going to think about the wretched fur ball. It could find another home. There was no way - damn it all to hell and back.
Swinging on his heel, he stalked back inside and jerked the back door open. The kitten was curled up on the mat, shivering. It was tiny. Defenceless.
Shit.
Scowling, Mike scooped it up and stepped back inside. Shutting the door to the kitchen, he placed the kitten in the wash basket containing his dirty clothes. It looked up at him and he narrowed his eyes at it. Going back outside, he retrieved the bowls of water and food and placed them on the laundry floor.
Straightening up, he pointed his finger at the kitten. “Don’t get any ideas, fur ball. I’m only doing this because if you get sick, Maddy will be a bawling mess and I don’t want her upset. This is the only time - the only time - you are getting in this room. Understand?”
Jesus, he was talking to a kitten like he expected a reply. Shaking his head, he left the laundry, but he only got as far as the front door before he remembered that the kitten had to pee and poop sometime and he wasn’t going to be home for the next eight or nine hours.
Shit again. There was no way he could turf the scrawny fur ball out now, even he wasn’t that heartless, and no way on this Earth was he going to ask Maddy what to do, because her eyes would get all bright and she’d think he was falling for the fur ball. Only one thing for it.
Going to his bedroom, he opened the cupboard and tipped out his good shoes from the shoe box, which he took out the back, filled with sand, and brought back into the laundry. Placing a newspaper on the floor, he put the box on it and straightened up once more to look at the kitten.
It was watching him with interest.
“Don’t get ideas,” he said, pointing at it again.
The kitten blinked and reaching out, it batted his finger with one tiny paw. A very soft, little paw. Jesus, it was tiny. Looking up at him with its furry bum snuggled into his t-shirt, it was vulnerable.
Almost like Maddy.
“No,” he said, louder this time. “Oh no, fur ball. You’re not getting around me. Count yourself lucky to be in out of the cold, but this is it. No more.”
Shutting the laundry door behind him, he scowled all the way out to the garage. Bloody fur balls.
The sound of a lawn mower trying to start broke the morning peace and he looked over the fence to see Maddy in her front yard with the lawnmower. She pulled on the rope again, but it sputtered out.
He could hear her cursing from where he stood.
Shaking his head, he jumped the low fence easily and strode across to where she bent over the lawnmower. Dressed in pedal-pushers, a faded blue t-shirt and ballet flats, she was dressed casually. It wouldn’t take much to tug off all those baggy clothes that hid her delicious curves and-
“Seriously?” Maddy straightened and scowled up at him. “You’re going to go all he-man on me about mowing the freakin’ lawn?” She spoke tough, but she couldn’t hide that adorable blush that rose in her cheeks.
Obviously last night was as fresh in her memory as it was burned into his. That was a point for him, and she was obviously a little flustered, which was really adorable. And hiding it, or trying to, behind a prickly façade. Fine with him. Maddy was all prickles on the outside, but inside…mmmmmm.
But the best way to handle the situation right then, mainly because he was going to be late for work if he didn’t hurry, was to simply reply, “Seriously?” Bending down, he grabbed the handle of the rope. “No.” One hard, fast pull and the lawnmower roared to life. Standing tall, he looked down at her. “You can do my lawns as well if you’re that energetic.”
The surprise on her face made him laugh and he caught her around the waist, pulled her to him and bending down, he kissed her.
God, she was so soft and warm and he could take her on the lawn right now, but there wasn’t time. Damn it all. Plus it wasn’t legal to engage in hot sex on the front lawn where everyone going to work could see them. He’d never live it down at the station.
Releasing her, he tugged her shirt straight and patted her lush bottom. “Do a good job and I’ll cook you dinner.”
Cheeks flushed, a glint of combined annoyance and amusement in her eyes, she arched a brow at him while taking a step back. “Pretty sure of yourself, aren’t you, cop?”
“Absolutely, nurse.” He winked, walked back to the fence and jumped over it easily.
He felt her gaze on him all the way to the garage. Grinning, he straddled the motorcycle and pulled on his helmet and gloves. He’d have to take Maddy out one day on the bike, give her a greater appreciation of a really fine machine.
When he pulled out of his drive, he saw Maddy pushing the lawnmower and for a minute he thought she was too preoccupied with her chore to notice him leaving, but then she glanced up and with a shy smile that touched him to his soul, she lifted her hand in farewell.
Oh yes, today was turning out to be a great day. If one didn’t count the fur ball in his laundry. Maybe he’d ask around at the station, see if anyone wanted a kitten.
Maybe he’d give it to Alan as an early birthday present.
Grinning evilly, he roared off down the road.
The day was a good one, with only a few hoons to sort out and one early drunk wandering the highway at risk of being knocked over. When he got home, he was disappointed to find that Maddy was out but he had to grin when he saw that his lawns were mowed. Even better, she’d taped her mobile phone number to his front door.
Once inside, he poured himself a glass of iced coffee and entered the numb
er into his mobile phone. Then he dialled it. It went straight to message bank and he couldn’t help but laugh at the message.
“This is for emergencies only,” came Maddy’s tart voice. “I only got this bloody thing after being nagged to death. Don’t call me to chat. Leave a message if you need to. And Mike, this means you, ‘cause you’re the only one with my number so far.”
Man, he loved that lady. “Maddy, sweetheart, this is your lover. Got your message loud and clear. See you tonight for dinner, my place, I’m cooking. Don’t worry about wearing panties.”
Chuckling at the mental image of her face when she got his message, he dropped the mobile phone on the bench.
Checking the contents of his freezer, he decided he needed to do some grocery shopping so he’d have something nice for Maddy to eat. Maybe a roast. Spaghetti. The better idea would be to go to the shops and have a browse around.
Stripping off his clothes, he opened the laundry door to find the kitten fast asleep in the laundry basket. It opened sleepy eyes to peek at him, and was it his imagination or did it snuggle a little further down into his t-shirt? The tiny purr that almost shook its body sounded. Shaking his head in disgust, Mike tossed his clothes onto the lid of the washing machine and shut the door again.
The fur ball had to go. It was getting too comfortable and God forbid Maddy should see it in his laundry.
Getting into clean casual clothes, he went back out to the motorcycle and roared off to the shops. After an hour of combing the aisles, he returned home and unpacked the bag. The t-bone steaks and frozen dessert he put in the ‘fridge and the box of chocolates went into the cupboard. What was a little romance without some chocolate?
Satisfied that he had everything, he changed into shorts and a t-shirt and went into his spare bedroom where the gym equipment sat. Turning on the radio to listen to the news and the pop music, he started lifting weights. Within minutes he was zoned out, his movements automatic as he mentally unwound from the day. By the time he’d finished half an hour later, he was sweating. Tying on a pair of sneakers, he locked the house up and jogged down the pathway and out onto the footpath. Ipod playing a medley of rock, he pounded the pavement.
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