“I’ll ring you.”
His mind went blank. “Excuse me?”
“I’ll phone you.” The smile on her face was so full of amusement he thought she was going to laugh outright.
“Are you serious?”
“Your choice.” Unexpectedly, she leaned over and kissed his scowling brow. “And the only answer.”
He reached for her. “Not the only answer.”
Stepping back, she evaded him easily. “Oh no, you don’t. I have to feed Chaz. If he doesn’t get fed, you don’t get fed.”
“You’re putting the cat before me?”
“He was the first man in my life, remember?”
“Yeah, but I’m first now.”
“You think?” Laughing, she left the room.
Shaking his head, Mike turned his attention back to the TV screen. Ladies and their pets. He’d never understand them. Geez, it wasn’t like the damned cat was going to starve, she molly-coddled it so much. Then again, if she was happy, he was happy.
And boy, was he happy right now with Maddy cooking for him and her presence in his home and - he sniffed - yep, her perfume faint in the air.
When he heard Maddy re-enter the house he got to his feet and padded out to the kitchen to find her setting out the plates.
Dropping a kiss on the top of her head, he retrieved the cutlery from the drawer and proceeded to set the table.
“Well trained.” Maddy pulled the casserole from the oven and the mouth-watering smell filled the air. “Your mother?”
“Grandmother,” Mike corrected. “My mother, well…”
Curiously, Maddy looked at him as she ladled out the contents of the casserole dish.
Mike set the napkins on the table. “My mother was a real homebody when my Dad was alive, but after he died and she remarried, she sort of changed.”
“Changed?” Maddy set the plates on the table. “Changed how?”
“She married into a well-to-do family.” Mike glanced around. “What do you want to drink? I’m afraid I’ve never been into the wine bit, so I can’t offer you anything fancy.”
Maddy’s smile melted his heart. “Then we have that in common. I’ll have milk.”
“Milk?” Mike’s brow went up in surprise. “You’ve been around your cat too long.”
“I’ll take that as a compliment.” She sat down and whisked a napkin over her lap.
Hmmm. Mike noted she did it without thought. Interesting. Not many people he knew placed a napkin on their lap. Most left it on the table to wipe their hands or dab at their mouths throughout the meal. Very interesting.
Pouring a glass of milk for Maddy and a glass of iced coffee for himself, he returned to the table.
Maddy thanked him, picked up her fork and speared a piece of potato.
Mike took a heaping forkful and chewed, closing his eyes as flavour burst on his tongue. “Oh God, you cook like an angel.”
She laughed.
They ate in companionable silence for several minutes and Mike knew he’d never been so content in his life. It was so right, so natural, to be sitting across from Maddy in his kitchen, sharing the food she’d cooked.
“Mike.” Maddy slowly speared some carrot with her fork.
“Mmm?” He glanced up.
“You were telling me about your mum. Your mother.”
He nodded.
“What about her?”
“Not much to tell, really.”
Maddy laid down her fork and looked gravely at him. “I don’t know much about you except that you’re a cop and a decent bloke.”
He studied her face. “And…?”
“I want to know a bit more about you.”
Forking up a tender bit of lamb, he nodded.
“Don’t be mad.” Her smile was a little uncertain. “It’s a girl thing.”
Surprised, he put down the fork. “I’m not mad.”
Lowering her gaze to the plate, Maddy shrugged. “It’s a little hard sometimes to know what you’re thinking.”
Reaching over, he took her hand. “Your curiosity is a fair thing, Maddy. I’m pleased that you want to know more about me.” When she glanced up at him, he squeezed her hand gently. “Really.”
Her sudden shy smile had him feeling all warm and fuzzy, and if Tim had seen him right then, he’d have fallen off the chair laughing and Mike would never have lived it down. But hell, even if Tim had been there, Mike still would have shown her exactly how he felt, because he didn’t give a rats arse what anyone thought as long as Maddy was happy. If finding out about his family would make her happy, then he’d oblige.
Picking up his fork, he resumed eating. “My Dad died when I was ten years old. Mum married my stepfather, a wealthy man, and she changed gradually along with her social standing.” He shrugged. “No more home cooking from Mum. We had a cook and servants. Things changed.”
“Does she live here?”
“Yeah. I don’t visit much.” He glanced at her, waiting for a disapproving frown.
Instead, Maddy nodded, and damned if she didn’t have an understanding expression on her face. “I get that.”
“You do?” He was surprised.
“Yeah. My parents worked hard and became wealthy. They also changed. I don’t get on with them.”
“You?” That surprised him. “You don’t get on with your parents? Maddy, you get on with everyone.”
She grinned, though there was a shadow in her eyes. “I think I just broke my perfect image. Sorry.”
“Never be sorry with me.” He regarded her steadily. “I never want you to be perfect. I want you to be you. You suit me just fine.”
The shadow faded from her eyes, a twinkle appearing. “Even when I do things that make you practically eat nails, you get so mad?”
“Even then.” He pointed the fork sternly at her. “Doesn’t mean you can get away with everything, though, so don’t get ideas.”
She just smiled and he was glad that he’d been able to chase the hint of sadness away. He felt like he’d walk over hot coals just to see her smile.
“So neither of us gets on that well with our families.” She returned to the topic at hand. “Another thing we have in common.”
“Not all families are like that, though.” He hadn’t meant to say it, but he felt like he had to quickly reassure her.
“I know.”
“Many families are really happy.”
“True.”
“Not every family goes wrong. Not every family allows changes of circumstances to change them.”
She arched her brows at him.
He took a deep breath. “I’m just trying to say that just because our families went that way, it doesn’t mean we will.”
She looked at him for so long in silence that he wondered what she was thinking. In fact, he wondered what the hell he’d said wrong, but even though he wracked his brains, he couldn’t think of anything.
“Maddy?” he finally queried.
“Just thinking.”
Uh-oh, was that good or bad? “About what?”
“Just that we both don’t like what our families have become. I think that’s pretty good ground for ensuring we don’t end up like them.”
The tension inside him eased. “I agree.” When she started eating without saying anything further, he found his own curiosity about her piqued. “So why don’t you get on with your parents?”
She kept her focus on the plate. “I’m a nurse, earn my own money, have my own little home, and I’m unmarried.” She looked like she was going to add something else, but finally she just shrugged.
Astonished, he put the fork on his empty plate. “You’re kidding me?”
“Nope. My mother’s aim in life is to get me married to a rich man. My brothers and sisters-in-law are constantly trying to get me blind dates in the hopes of getting me married. I’m the black sheep of the family.”
“Wow.” He was intrigued. “So I caught the wild one of the family.”
“Oh yeah. T
he embarrassment of the Lovett family, in more ways than one.”
“I guess having your own money, job and home is more than one way.” He laughed at the foolishness of it, but he didn’t miss that slight flicker in her eyes and sobered. “It bothers you that much?”
“It used to. Not now.”
She could deny it all she wanted, but he could see that she’d been deeply hurt at one time, and it was directly linked with her family.
Wanting to see the sadness disappear again, he waved a hand towards himself. “Mike Carson, black sheep of the family. I didn’t follow in my stepfather’s footsteps and run the family business. Horror of horrors, I became a police officer, earn my own money, have my own little home, and I’m unmarried.” As he’d hoped, having her own words tossed back at her made her laugh.
“Wow,” she mimicked. “So I caught the wild one of the family.”
“There you go,” he said cheerfully. “Two black sheep.” Grabbing her hand, he stood up and pulled her out of her chair and into his arms. Bending down, he rested his forehead against hers and smiled slightly. “We were made for each other.”
“Are you sure it isn’t the casserole talking?”
“It could be.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “But only a tiny bit.”
Winding her arms around his neck, she leaned into him, her eyes so soft and warm he felt like he could fall into them. “You’re sort of romantic in a funny, tough kind of way.”
“Romance was never my strong point.” He brushed his lips across her cheek.
“Doesn’t matter,” she murmured, turning her face and whispering her lips across his. “I like you just the way you are.”
And then her lips were against his and Mike could only kiss her tenderly, trying to convey his feelings to her through the intimate joining of their mouths. He held her carefully, closely, revelling in the sensation of her soft curves against his hard lines. She fit him so perfectly it was as though she was made for him.
Funny, annoying, head strong, kind-hearted, she was all lush curves and all his.
Mike knew he’d never let her go, not now. Not now he’d found the one lady who made his life complete.
He just had to wait for her to realise it.
Maddy called a halt to the kiss when it became a little too hot, laughingly pushing him back and reminding him of his concussion. When he protested that he was over it, she threw the tea towel at him and informed him that he could then handle doing some chores.
The evening passed pleasantly watching TV with Maddy curled up on the sofa beside him and tucked into his side. With his arm around her shoulders cradling her close, Mike felt so content it was a wonder he didn’t burst into a bout of purring like that weird cat of hers.
It was several hours later when she sat up and stretched. “I better go.”
“You could just stay here.” Mike watched her stand up.
“No, and no. And did I mention, no?” Maddy shook her head and laughed as she slipped her shoes on. “You’re persistent, I’ll give you that.”
“Persistence is my middle name.” Mike stood up, his hand curling around hers as he tugged her close. “Makes me a good cop, and a good lover.” He winked. “Want me to prove the last bit?”
“Trust me, you’ve done that twice already.” Turning to the door, she tugged him along behind her. “I believe you.”
“Only twice?” He watched the sway of her hips as she walked ahead of him. “That’s criminal. Let me make it up to you.”
“Yeah, I don’t think so.” Coming to a stop at the front door, she unlocked it while grinning at him over her shoulder. “Listen to Nurse like a good little cop, and maybe I’ll reward you later.”
Leaning down, he slid his arm around her waist and splayed his hand over her soft swell of belly. She was so soft and warm and cuddly, he didn’t want her to go. “Can’t you reward me now?”
“No.” She turned her head slightly, leaning back into him.
“Maybe I can reward you now?”
Reaching up, she caressed his cheek, and he thought with a leap of his libido that she was changing her mind, only to have the hope dashed when she suddenly tapped his cheek lightly but firmly. “Nice try, Romeo, but it’s not happening tonight.”
With a sigh, he let her go. “And you think I’m stubborn.”
“One of us has to have common sense.”
Mike followed her out into the night, feeling the chill in the air. He noted her shiver and immediately was by her side, his arm around her shoulders drawing her up against his body. “I’ll walk you home.”
“I’m supposed to be looking after you.” Even as she said it, she snuggled in closer to him.
That made him smile. “Yeah, but you wouldn’t risk hurting my manly feelings, would you?”
“Heaven forbid.”
He wanted that walk to last forever but it was short. Leaning against the door frame, he waited while she unlocked the door and opened it.
She looked up at him. “I’ll wait for you to get home.”
“I’m not going to faint on the sidewalk.” Reaching out, he rubbed a lock of her silky hair between his fingers while gazing into her eyes. “You are so beautiful, Maddy.”
“That’s the casserole talking.” But the blush was in her cheeks was proof of the pleasure his words brought.
“No, that’s me talking.” He regarded her seriously. “I don’t say those kinds of things often, but I want you to know that every time I look at you, I think it.”
“You really are romantic, aren’t you?”
“No one’s ever told me that before.”
“Maybe that’s because no one ever knew you properly.”
He smiled slightly. “No. It’s because I’ve never felt like this with anyone else apart from you.”
The soft glow of the veranda light picked out the golden glints in her hair, and her smile was just…so sweet.
“I can honestly say the same about you,” she said. “Except I don’t think you’re beautiful.”
“Okay.” He waited, intrigued.
Reaching up, she laid a hand against his cheek and he felt the tender touch clear down to his toes. “You’re cute.”
For several seconds he stared at her, astounded, and then he laughed. “Cute?”
Eyes twinkling, she nodded. “In a rough, tough, dangerous way. Is that better?”
Maddy was so enchanting, he wanted to just pick her up and squeeze her tight. Instead, he bent down and gave her a smacking, deep kiss. When he lifted his head, she was all dreamy-eyed and dewy-lipped.
“Sure you don’t want to change your mind?” He cajoled softly.
“Mike, you have no idea how tempting that is, but no.” She hesitated for a second before adding, “Maybe if you’re really good for the next couple of days, we can reassess the situation.”
“Maybe?” Mike gave her nose a light tap with his finger. “Hell no. It’s a definite.”
Knowing that if he didn’t leave right then he wasn’t going to leave at all, Mike turned and strode away. He jumped the fence between their homes easily and glanced back to see that yes, his stubborn little Maddy was watching him from the edge of the veranda.
He pointed to her home. “Inside.”
“I’m still your nurse,” she said, but he could hear the laughter in her voice.
“And I’m still a cop. You go inside first, and then I’ll go.”
“Cripes. Okay. I’ll phone you about midnight and then about four.” She started to go back to the door.
“Wait a minute.” A thought suddenly struck him. “You’ll be too tired to work tomorrow if you wake up to phone me.”
“No worries. I took a week off to look after you.” The door closed behind her.
Mike could only stare at the now vacant veranda. She’d taken a week off work to look after him? Just the thought made him feel all mushy inside. Whether she wanted to admit it or not, he obviously meant something to her, otherwise she’d never have done that, neighbour
or not.
Grinning, he went inside.
True to her word, she rang him at midnight. Groping for the phone, he rumbled, “I’m alive.”
“Good to hear.” She sounded just as sleepy, and he could imagine her in bed, all soft and warm and sleepy-eyed.
It made his loins clench and he rolled over in bed. “Sure you don’t want me to come over so you can see for yourself?”
She chuckled. “Goodnight.” The phone clicked off.
Mike hung up and smiled.
During the night he registered something warm against his neck and half asleep, he smiled. Dreaming of Maddy cuddling up to him was something he could cling to quite happily.
The phone ringing woke him again, this time from a deep sleep, and he fumbled for it, lifting it to his ear to growl, “Carson.”
“Lovett here.”
Opening his eyes, he blinked up into the dark. “Maddy?”
“Surely is. How are you doing?”
“What?” He wiped a hand over his face. Awareness came back. “Oh. Okay. Fine.”
“Are you all right?” The professional tone crept into her sleep-husky voice.
“Honestly, I’m fine. Just half asleep.” He stretched and turned his head, only to freeze when he felt something warm and soft snuggled in the crook of his neck.
Eyes open wide, he stared into the dark of the room while trying to figure out what the hell it was.
“Okay. I’ll see you in the morning. ‘Night.”
“Goodnight.” Mike reached out and placed the receiver on the hook.
He had a bad feeling, a really bad feeling, about what was in his bed. He shifted slightly and the warm, soft bundle snuggled closer. A little purr sputtered to life.
Shit! Mike reached out to the bedside lamp and snapped it on. Light flooded the vicinity of the bed and he turned his head on the pillow and looked down towards his shoulder.
Yeah, there it was, the freakin’ fur ball all snuggled up between his chin and shoulder. A tiny little ball of mottled grey fur tucked up to him.
Cop's Passion Page 19
