Emma whipped her head around to glance at the antique clock on the mantle above the fireplace. “Four thirty, how can that be? The clock in my bedroom said two thirty.”
Mike’s gaze followed hers as she began looking around the kitchen, her gaze landing on the various appliances. The blinking lights indicated the power had apparently gone out at some time during the onset of the storm, and before they’d returned. Something they hadn’t noticed before now. Realization of what happened crossed their minds at the same time and their gazes collided. Whoever was at the door had finally unlocked it and was turning the knob.
“It’s Amanda and Troy,” Emma explained in a panicked whisper, stepping away from him. “They’re here for a movie and dinner.” She quickly moved to the counter and opened the picnic basket, her movements slightly capricious as she began to unpack it.
“Good idea,” he said in reference to her unpacking the basket. “And maybe it’s a good time to check the status of my clothes.”
* * * *
“Best peanut butter and jelly sandwiches I’ve had in a long time,” Troy quipped after devouring a third one without any problem. His expression resembled that of a satisfied ten year old as he rubbed his belly, giving Amanda a playful wink. “Add peanut butter to our shopping list, sweetie.”
“For sure.” She rolled her eyes as if saying over her dead body.
They’d decided to spread a blanket in front of the fire and the four of them were sitting Indian fashion, facing one another while eating off paper plates. Emma could still recall the startled, yet pleased look on her sister’s face when she’d opened the door to see Mike quickly disappearing into the laundry room. She hadn’t tried to hide the look of triumph she tossed Troy as he stepped in behind her.
“I’m glad you weren’t disappointed that it wasn’t the lasagna I’d promised.” Emma smiled, munching on a pickle.
“It would have been a shame to waste a good picnic lunch.” Her eyes went to Mike, who was sitting across from her, watching her quietly. He’d barely said two words in the hour since Troy and Amanda had let themselves in. “What about you, Mike? Is peanut butter your style?” she teased.
“It does bring back memories.” He grinned crookedly.
“But I can’t recall ever drinking a beer with one. Mom usually served it with milk.”
The heat of the fire was nothing compared to the warmth Emma felt inside when Mike’s gaze moved over her lazily. “It was beer or orange juice.” Her interest dropped to his damp shirt and even damper jeans. She was surprised when he’d emerged from the laundry room fully dressed when it was apparent his clothes were still wet. She guessed the fear of being seen in her robe far outweighed any discomfort or teasing he’d suffer in the long run.
“What’s on the agenda for the rest of the evening?” Amanda asked, settling back against Troy, who wrapped his arms around her midriff naturally. “Unless you and Mike planned on going night fishing?”
No sooner were the words out of her mouth than the windows vibrated with another crash of thunder. The storm hadn’t let up one bit since their mad dash from the boat, and the power had flickered off and on more than once. “I think we can safely rule that out.” Emma began gathering up the empty paper plates.
“I’m afraid I’m going to have to eat and run.” All eyes turned to Mike but Emma was the one he made direct eye contact with. It was clear he didn’t want to leave. “It will be dark soon, I don’t like leaving Melissa home by herself,” he explained.
Revealing he was a concerned and caring father was a quality that only endeared Mike to Emma even more.
There was a lot about him that appealed to her. Yet right now she was trying not to show her disappointment, covering it with a carelessly tossed remark. “Oh, for a minute there I was afraid it was something I did.”
He made a negative gesture with a shake of his head. “Good food, good beer, good music.” He hesitated for a moment, staring at Emma until she was sure everyone in the room saw the heat creeping up her neck. “And very good company,” he finished in a low voice.
She knew she was blushing like a silly schoolgirl but didn’t care. “I aim to please,” she tossed back.
“Well, while you two are saying goodbye, we’ll go pick out a movie to watch,” Amanda cut in, motioning for Troy to follow her when she got to her feet. However, Troy was so focused on the exchange between Emma and Mike that she had to shout his name to get his attention.
“Troy!”
“What?” he inquired with confusion. Apparently the look on Amanda’s face got through to him and he rushed to his feet, offering Emma and Mike a sheepish look as he left the room with her.
Emma’s soft chuckle filled the room. She turned back to Mike, who as far as she could tell hadn’t taken his eyes off her. “The day didn’t exactly turn out as we planned.” She blushed, realizing how that could be interpreted. “What I mean is, the rain—”
“I know what you mean,” he interrupted. “And I’m not complaining about the rain.” His eyes crinkled with humor, warming Emma even more. Goodness at this rate she would have to put out the fire in the hearth!
“There’s a policeman’s dance Thursday night. Something the mayor puts on every year as appreciation for the rest of us making him look good. Got anything in your closet that will go with a purple eye?”
Her gentle laugh rippled through the air, her gaze settling on the eye in question. The discoloration was almost gone now, appearing more like a dark shadow from lack of sleep. She decided not to question the invitation or his taking it for granted she would go with him. Emma wanted to be with Mike, sensing their relationship had progressed beyond those polite little necessities.
“I think I can come up with something suitable.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at seven.” He turned to leave.
Her eyes rounded with mild disbelief. “Aren’t you going to kiss me goodnight?” She watched him stiffen, his hand on the doorknob. Her soft words lingered in the air between them.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” His voice was uncompromising yet oddly gentle.
“Why?” Her silky voice held a challenge. “Not even a little peck on the cheek?” she teased, her eyes moving over the width of his shoulders, looking for a sign that he was going to relent.
The only part of Mike that moved was his head when he turned to look at Emma over his shoulder. “I don’t believe in little pecks unless you’re a relative. The next time I kiss you, lady, it won’t be goodnight.”
His words fueled Emma’s curiosity and desire, yet there was nothing she could do about it now. Not with Amanda and Troy waiting for her in the living room. Deciding it wouldn’t be fair to either of them by pursuing his comment she remained quiet, watching him open the door and disappear into the downpour. With a wistful sigh she watched as he sprinted to his truck. Once inside he glanced up and for a moment their gazes met and held. Her heart constricted and the truth hit Emma at that precise instant.
She was head over heels in love with Mike Denton.
Chapter 18
As it turned out Emma didn’t have anything in her closet suitable to wear to the dance, much less anything that came close to matching the color surrounding Mike’s eye. However a quick trip to a little boutique specializing in attire for after hours, with Amanda in tow, quickly took care of that. Their daylong outing into town had turned into a shopping spree since Amanda had persuaded her into practically updating her complete wardrobe. Emma hadn’t minded letting her sister pick out most of her clothes, yet when it came to selecting something for her special date with Mike, she put a halt to some of her outlandish choices.
She’d tried on several dresses in styles ranging from formal-down-to-her-ankles black, to something short and daring in pink. In the end opting for simple elegance in the way of a short, sleeveless black dress with a matching beaded jacket. The cut of the dress, with its scooped neckline and split from hem to mid thigh was designed to keep a man interested,
though Emma didn’t think Mike needed any encouragement in that area. Intuition told her the outcome of their evening would be a significant turning point in their relationship.
When the night of the dance finally arrived, she kept her makeup at a minimum, taking special care in dabbing a touch of her favorite perfume behind each ear and exposed cleavage. She smiled as a wicked thought prompted her to place some behind the curve of her knees as well. The full-length mirror provided her with a thorough view of what Mike was going to see when she opened the front door.
The black dress stopped way above her knees, fitting her form like a soft glove and showing her shape to an advantage. Definitely revealing; her workouts were paying off. The bodice complimented her rounded breasts while the tight waistline accentuated her waist, flowing like a midnight waterfall over her shapely hips. Black silk stockings encased her legs, producing a naughty image when she thought about them. They’d been a last minute purchase Amanda had talked her into. She’d never owned a pair of real stockings before and had to admit that the look of them with the garter belt and three-inch heels made her legs appear long and sexy.
Emma wondered what Mike would think as she slipped on a pair of dangling garnet earrings. She wanted to know, but was she brave enough to face the consequences dressing provocatively would reveal? Yes, she decided after a moment, she was more than ready for the sexy detective’s response. Brushing her hair, she grabbed an antique comb decorated with garnet stones and clipped it on top of her head in a casual fashion that left several strands of loose curls against her neck. As she slipped into the jacket, she glanced at the clock, expecting the doorbell to ring at any time.
* * * *
Mike turned off the ignition and sat in his truck for a few minutes, staring at Emma’s door while wondering for the hundredth time what he’d gotten himself into. Inviting her to the dance had been a spur of the moment thing, and at the time had seemed right. He’d needed a date and up until that point his only possibilities had either been Melissa or the little old lady who handed him his mail every morning at the local post office.
He’d picked up the phone several times during the last few days to call and cancel, the policeman’s dance wasn’t something he usually attended anyway. He didn’t mind being appreciated but show it in his paycheck. Besides, he hated dressing up. Yet there he was because he hadn’t followed through with his plans to cancel. In the end he couldn’t do that to Emma. It wasn’t her fault he found her attractive, or that good old-fashioned lust was eating him up inside. Only he was honest enough to admit his feelings had grown to include something a hell of a lot more than just an itch.
Somehow without realizing it he found himself at her front door, ringing the bell, a feeling in his gut similar to the excitement he’d experienced when he’d had his first kiss in grade school. Hell, he was already growing warm with the anticipation of where this evening would end. He saw Emma’s shadow pass by the semi-sheer curtains and then she was opening the door with a welcoming smile on her beautiful face the size of the sun. And lord she was beautiful. Mike tried to swallow but a lump lodged in his throat. His eyes raked over her hungrily, starting from the top of her head all the way down to her slender ankles and those sexy high heels.
His first instinct was to grab her and kiss her breathless but he knew what a colossal mistake that would be. They’d never make it to the dance because if he kissed her he wasn’t going to let her go. He tried like hell to ignore the lower half of his body and the fact that it was pounding painfully behind a tight zipper. And he’d thought he had control? These days he was acting like a randy teenager.
“Good evening,” Emma said and beamed prettily, her eyes shining with a sparkle of happiness that held him bewitched. She stepped back so Mike could enter. “You look good enough to eat, detective.”
Mike nearly swallowed his tongue, knowing Emma wasn’t aware of the double meaning behind her innocent comment. If she knew what vision her words conjured up she’d slam the door in his face, or would she? It took real effort to force a smile he was far from feeling. “Then you’d definitely be the dessert,” he returned, hesitating from walking past the threshold. “You’re breathtaking.”
Her smile widened. “Why thank you. Are you coming in or are we leaving right away?”
“I think it’s safer if we go now.” The secretive smile in her eyes made him nervous, like she knew something he didn’t. “Unless you’re not ready?”
“Just let me get my purse.”
When Emma turned to retrieve it from the kitchen countertop Mike’s gaze fell, taking in the provocative swing of her backside before sliding down the backs of her million dollar legs. He closed his eyes, but that only sharpened his other senses. The tantalizing scent she left behind made him ravenous... dizzy.
“Are you okay?”
He opened his eyes to see the concern reflected on her face as she came closer. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak, instead reaching forward to take her gently by the arm. As he ushered her outside he closed the door, making sure it was locked.
“Is that little jacket going to be enough?” he asked as they walked to his truck. The weather didn’t call for snow but the temperature had dropped considerably.
“I hadn’t thought of that; maybe I better go back and get one for later.”
As she moved to turn, Mike grabbed her arm, halting her. Ignoring her soft gasp, he swung her around until she was facing him. For a moment he allowed himself the luxury of leaning against his truck and pulling her close. He knew he was courting trouble but he wanted to feel her against him.
“Forget it, I’ll keep you warm,” he commented, drawing in a long breath. “Damn, you smell good.” His head came down but just before his lips touched hers he jerked back. What was he doing? “Hell, sweetheart, you make me forget everything. We’d better get going.”
He opened the truck door but Emma hesitated, pinning him with those smoky eyes of hers. Her silky tone was serious, slightly disappointed. And very seductive. “I guess hello kisses are out, too?”
“You want to go dancing?” She nodded, a mischievous look spreading across her features. She knew, damn her! “Then don’t tempt me,” he said gruffly.
“But…”
“And if I were you, I’d keep quiet until we get to the dance.” He quickly ushered her inside. “I just might be able to pretend you’re not sitting next to me and concentrate long enough to make it there without an accident.”
Her soft laughter filled the cab of the truck, and Mike’s heart.
* * * *
Emma watched Mike walk around the front of the truck, smiling at the fierce expression stamped on his handsome face and wondering what put it there. Her comment about him looking good enough to eat was an understatement. He cleaned up nice. Not that he looked all that unappealing in casual or regular clothes, but in formal attire he made her think of Cinderella’s Prince Charming.
She glanced down at her black heels with a quirky grin, wondering if she’d be losing more than her shoes that night. It was just a matter of time before the right moment presented itself and they gave into temptation. Sighing heavily, she settled back against the seat, determined to respect his wishes and remain quiet. Sooner or later he’d have to talk to her. For a while she watched the scenery, glad the radio was on to drown out the silence.
She listened to several country western songs before peeking at Mike from the corner of her eye. He appeared to be concentrating so hard on driving that she might as well not be there. Suddenly Emma couldn’t stand the silence any longer. “I see you got your window repaired.” She rolled her eyes at the inapt comment, not exactly what she had on her mind to draw him into conversation.
He shot her a look of amusement, one corner of his mouth higher than the other. “A couple weeks ago,” he confirmed.
Had it been that long? “Oh.” She grew quiet for a moment. “Did you ever catch the person who took a shot at us?”
Again Mike spared her a to
lerant glance. “No, and do we really want to talk about something that happened almost a month ago?”
“Don’t you think we need to talk?” Over the radio Emma could make out his resigned sigh, sensing he understood exactly what she meant.
“About?” He kept his gaze on the road. These days it got dark early and anything was bound to jump out in front of them.
Oh Lord, was he going to make her put it into words? She took a deep breath, working up her courage. “Us?” She bit down on her bottom lip when it came out sounding weak and unsure.
Mike’s head whipped her way and this time his eyes remained on her much longer. If he said there was no us, she’d clobber him. Therefore, it was with great surprise that he accepted her hand when she reached over and took his. “I’m not going to insult your intelligence by denying there is an us,” he started out by saying. “The fact that you’re here next to me is proof that we’re involved, sort of.”
Emma chuckled, saying before she could help it, “Sort of?” Did he think because they hadn’t made love yet they were any less involved?
Mike’s answering laugh was rich and deep with feeling. “Do you want me to spell it out for you?”
She glanced away, feeling her cheeks grow warm recalling all the times he’d kissed and caressed her. “I know you want me.” She prayed her body wasn’t all he wanted.
“Sweetheart…” Sharp laughter escaped him and he surprised Emma by pulling her over to his side of the truck, “That’s an understatement. I want to make one thing clear, Emma, when I want a woman I don’t usually have any qualms about making love to her. As long as she knows the score.”
Kiss Me Page 15
