Beneath the Badge (First Responders 4)

She shouldn’t feel disappointed. This was a one-night-only event, wasn’t it? There could be no repeat performances. As great as it had been—and it had been amazing—the darkness she sensed beneath Matt’s glib exterior was enough to warn her off getting emotionally involved. There was no way in hell she wanted to get dragged into damage drama. She had enough of that all by herself.

“I should get going.” She pushed her plate away and slid off the stool. “Thanks for, uh, breakfast.”

Matt followed her to the door, where she picked up her purse and hooked the strap over her shoulder.

“Least I could do,” he answered, keeping one hand on the door so she couldn’t open it. “After keeping you up half the night.”

“Matt…”

“Don’t say it.”

“Don’t say what?”

He leaned in. “That this isn’t going to happen again. That it was a one-shot deal.” His lips were close enough she couldn’t help but stare at them. A whole body flush took over as she remembered everything those lips had done last night.

“Neither of us wants—”

“Come on, admit it. If you didn’t hav

e to get to work we’d be in that shower together right now. You drive me crazy, Linds.”

He’d shortened her name again. No one ever did that. She was always Dr. Swan or Lindsay. Professional. Friendly but not intimate. Until now. He hardly knew her and he was taking that liberty. She knew she should mind and somehow she didn’t.

“I’ve gotta go,” she repeated. “We’ll talk about it later, okay?”

“You say that in the hopes that I won’t follow up. But I will. You can count on it.”

He stepped back and let her open the door.

She’d squeaked through the narrow opening when his voice stopped her again. “Oh, and Lindsay?”

She looked up. The devil himself gleamed out of his eyes. The sensual memory of last night was so strong she could feel the hardness of his body beneath her fingertips. She was helpless against him. Lord help her if he ever realized it.

“I like red. As in lingerie. Though black will do in a pinch.”

Heat rushed through her veins, so fast and so demanding that she actually considered being late to work. But that wasn’t how she was built, not when it came to her job. Things were on time and organized and done to the best of her ability or they weren’t done at all. She merely smiled and took a step backward. “Duly noted,” she replied, and scurried off before he could try to change her mind.

Chapter Four

Four days had been too long.

Matt had been on night shift, which meant he’d slept most of the day and then been at work all night. During his few waking hours Lindsay had been working at the clinic. And on Sunday afternoon when he’d thought to catch her alone, she hadn’t been home.

He’d been thinking of her far too much. When she’d shown up at his place the night after the puppy-mill incident he hadn’t intended to sleep with her. It had been completely impulsive, driven by frustration and need. Now, though, his preoccupation was entirely driven by her. He wanted her again. And waiting had only made him want her more rather than cause his fascination to wane.

By seven o’clock he figured she’d be home from work. Freshly showered and dressed in his most comfortable jeans and a grey T-shirt, he snagged the phone from the cradle and punched in her home number.

“Hello?”

“Hey, gorgeous.”

The line turned electric. He could feel it. Good.

“Matt. What do you want?”

“This is your Tuesday night booty call.”

He heard her snort on the other end, finishing with a breathy laugh. “Funny.”