Sweet Hill Homecoming (Sweet Hill 1)

“Just out patrolling.” He leaned a little to talk to her through the rolled down passenger window. “But I like that you think I’m a Ninja.”

Apparently he missed the part where she also called him a stalker. She glanced his way. His left arm was relaxed as his wrist hung over the top of the steering wheel and his other was on the passenger seat so he could shrug a little to see and talk to her. She caught flashes of his badge from the street lights. He looked so calm and comfortable in his own skin. And that uniform...

Mia looked straight ahead again. Clutched the crate of apples tighter.

“Where’s your car this evening?” he asked.

She didn’t look at him, just kept her eyes forward. “Kyle has it. He’s staying late to run some football drills or something.”

“And you’re not concerned about walking home alone?”

She shrugged. “Kyle’s gear is heavy and he has farther to go. I don’t mind.”

She chanced a look at him and his eyes held something almost soft in them. “That’s nice of you.” The way he said it with a hint of surprise irritated her.

“I can be nice, Deputy. Don’t sound so shocked.”

He chuckled and the deep rumble made something zing to life beneath the surface of her skin. It started in her belly and spread from the tops of her knees to the tips of her breasts.

“Forgive me, Miss Blake. The encounters I’ve had the pleasure of with you have been…”

She arched a brow at him.

“Spirited.”

She couldn’t help but smile, then tried to hide it. He was charming. She liked his word choice too. A word like spirited made her feel less bitchy and more competent.

“Why don’t I give you a ride home,” he said.

She stopped and looked at the entirety of the situation. Hot Deputy she wanted to taste as much as cuss out complete with cuffs and a badge? And he was being sweet to her? Bad combo.

“No thanks, Deputy.”

“Why?”

“Because showing up at my apartment in a police car wouldn’t look good to my neighbors. People I’m trying to get to volunteer to help with Santa’s Sleigh Drive. Besides,” she eyed him, “I never know what to expect with you. Maybe you’ll ticket me for J-walking.”

He gripped the steering wheel. “You don’t know what to expect with me? I could say the same about you, Mia. But we won’t pull up with lights flashing and you’ll be in the front seat.”

The seat next to him? Where she could smell him. Feel his warmth. See all those hard muscles just beneath the uniform and remember how hard and perfect he felt against her body?

Nope. Not a good idea.

“No thank you. I enjoy walking.”

She thought she heard him mumble something like, “Stubborn woman.” Then to her surprise, parked the car against the curb and got out.

“What are you doing?” she asked when he came to walk beside her.

“I can’t let a lady walk home alone, in the dark, carrying apples.” He moved to take the crate from her and she let him.

He seemed like he legitimately was concerned about her safety. The look in a man’s eyes when he was working an angle was obvious to Mia. And no such looked marred Tate’s face.

“It’s not that far. Besides, you really think someone will come mug me for apples?”

Tate shook his head and kept pace beside her. “It’s not muggers I’m worried about. It’s squirrels. They go crazy for these.” He patted the crate.

She smiled. “Well in that case, thank you for saving me from what would be a rabid gang of squirrels.”