Beneath the Badge (First Responders 4)

He laughed. “That would have been far more effective if you weren’t so pleased with yourself about it.”

She put down her fork and looked up, consternation wrinkling her brow. A drink she could handle. A personal assessment was bordering on annoying. “What do you want, Mr. Parker?”

He grinned again, his ice-blue eyes mesmerizing. “Interesting conversation. A challenge.” He dropped his gaze to her lips.

She blindly reached for her glass and brought it to her mouth, desperate to cool the heat that suddenly seemed to surround her. Instead of tea, the tart bite of white wine sat on her tongue. She took a swallow and then a second. Screw it.

It was tempting. Very tempting. But despite her dry spell, she wasn’t feeling like being an easy target. “If you’re after a challenge, you’re sitting at the wrong table. Sorry.”

“I don’t think I am. Let me guess. You like your life uncomplicated without a lot of burdens or ties. Guess what? Me too. We could be very uncomplicated together.”

It irked that he was right and charming all at once. She toyed with the wine glass now. “Men like you are always complicated,” she said significantly. “You just think you’re not. No thanks.”

Something shadowed his eyes for just a moment and she got the feeling she’d struck a nerve. But then the expression cleared and the charismatic, crooked grin was back in place again. “And yet you’ve almost finished your wine. Nervous?”

She decided to be honest. “Very,” she admitted. “Look, you’re a good-looking guy who knows all the right things to say and just when to smile. But, Matt…can I call you Matt?” She didn’t wait for an answer. “I’ve been around the block enough to know that nothing is ever uncomplicated. So if it’s all the same to you, I’ll be on my way. Enjoy your dinner.”

She got up from the table, grabbed her purse and made her way to the door. Damn him for buying her that wine and then being so infuriating and distracting. She knew it was only a few miles to her house, but she had a firm drinking-and-driving policy. Besides, after her long day she already had the tell-tale numb, light sensation in her extremities that told her she was feeling the effects of the alcohol and her resolve was weakening.

With a sigh, she started out on the road and headed towards the bridge. Once she crossed she’d make her way to the main road and back to her house. She’d have to leave her car at Jake’s and get someone to run her back for it tomorrow. So much for her grand take-it-easy-tonight plan. A two-plus-mile walk was not on the agenda.

She was halfway across the bridge when she realized she’d left without paying her bill.

Oh, it was bad enough she’d accepted his drink, but to get up and walk out and leave him with the tab? That was inexcusable even if it had totally been unintentional. She could carry on home and tell herself that it served him right for being so presumptuous.

Just her luck she had a massive conscience that would nag her incessantly for pulling such a trick. She would pay her own way. She was going to have to turn around and go back and square up with Jake. And hope that Matt hadn’t covered her bill already.

At the edge of the parking lot she saw Matt come outside, his hands in his pockets. She froze. Unless she darted about twenty meters and ducked behind a car, there was nowhere to hide, and chances were he’d see her try it and she’d look like an idiot.

She would just turn and walk back towards the bridge. She pulled an about face and started hoofing it back the way she’d come. She’d find out what happened tomorrow when she came back for her car. If Matt had paid, she’d give Jake the proper amount and tell him to put it on a tab for Matt to use later.

Five steps. Fifteen. Twenty. His route was in the opposite direction, so she might actually be in the clear…

“Hey, Lindsay.”

Dammit.

She heard his steps as he jogged towards her but she kept walking, her pace absolutely even.

“Lindsay,” he called again, coming up beside her. He couldn’t even do her the courtesy of being out of breath. Bugger.

He put his hand on her arm and pulled her around. “Hey,” he said.

She struggled to find something to say even as the touch of his fingers seemed to sear her skin. Several seconds ticked by where the words all jumbled up in her head until they finally came out in one big mess.

“I didn’t mean to stick you with the bill and I hope you didn’t pay for it, but if you did I’ll pay you back if you tell me how much it was.”

He burst out laughing. “For God’s sake, don’t worry about it. I was intentionally pushing your buttons and it made you mad. Least I can do is pay for your mushroom sandwich.”

“It was a grilled Portobello burger,” she pointed out tartly.

He grinned. “Whatever. Anyway, isn’t that your car back in the parking lot?”

She swallowed. “How would you know what my car looks like?”

“The bumper sticker was a dead giveaway. Dogs have owners. Cats have staff.”

“You noticed it that fast?”