She sat down, then fell backward into the lush grass, her hands up high over her head.

My eyes went to the skin-tight spandex pants that were slicked onto her lower body, and then to her breasts that were heaving with each breath.

I stood up straight and walked to where she was lying on the ground, stopping only when I was a few inches away from her face.

“Why are you running in a cemetery?” I asked curiously.

Her eyes opened and she smiled up at me tiredly.

“It’s well lit, peaceful, paved, and nobody ever comes here,” she answered honestly. “Plus, it’s about a half mile from my house, so I can walk it and loosen up my muscles.”

That was fairly good reasoning.

“Oh, and an added bonus is that there’s always a grounds maintenance guy here working, so I’m never truly alone.”

All very good points.

“Those are good.” I paused. “And honestly, I’m surprised that you even put that much thought into your runs.”

I could tell she was working herself up to a good snit, and I started interrupting her before she’d even gotten a word in edgewise.

She frowned, and I waved my hands slightly to the side. “No, that’s not what I meant. You’re thinking that I think you don’t think. That’s not what I meant. What I meant was that I feel like you put more forethought into running than a lot of other female runners do. It’s actually a very good habit to have.” I looked around the cemetery. “Technically you could run around here at night and still be safe. Honestly, this is one of the best places you could find.”

I was honestly jealous that she’d thought of it. I’d seen this cemetery hundreds of times since I’d started as a cop. I’d made arrests almost everywhere, but not one single one had taken place in this cemetery.

“Okay,” she sighed and blew her hair out of her face. “You’re forgiven before I’ve even given you a good talking to.”

I snorted and my eyes caught on something at the entrance to the cemetery. My bike. But there was a crow sitting on the gas tank, and I prayed that it wasn’t shitting on it.

“Do you think I could hit that bird from here?” I asked teasingly.

She turned her head and looked at the bird in question. “More like you’ll hit the gas tank and the whole thing will explode.”

I snorted. “Such lack of faith you have in my skills.”

“More like honesty,” she pointed out and held her hand up for me to take. “I don’t want that pretty beast to die a fiery death if I can help it. I want to ride it.”

I grinned and hefted her up, pulling her straight into my arms, sweat and all.

She melted into me, pushing her face up underneath my chin and pressing a kiss to the hollow of my throat.

“Thanks,” I murmured, meaning it.

“Thanks for the sweaty kiss?” she teased.

I wrapped my hand around her ponytail and pulled until she was looking into my eyes.

“I’ll take sweaty kisses. I’ll take sleepy kisses. I’ll even take pissed off kisses. As long as it comes from you,” I told her.

She licked her lips as her face softened.

“Why are you being so sweet?” she teased. “What happened to the mean Flint that liked to give me shit and drive me nuts?”

I let her hair go and smoothed my hand down her neck, stopping when my hand rested against her heart. “I don’t know. He’ll come back eventually. Right now, he’s a little high on all things Camryn Presley.”

She laughed and pulled out of my arms, walking forward with a gesture of her head in the direction of my bike. “Let’s go for a ride…to my house. I’m sweaty and I want to look good on the back of your bike. Meaning I need to change out of these sweaty clothes.”

I growled and lurched forward, wrapping my arms around her waist and tossing her easily over my shoulder. She shrieked for me to put her down, but I didn’t let go.

“Put me down! I’ll break your back!” she squealed.

I smacked her ass and continued to walk through the well-lit cemetery, over the well-groomed footpath, until finally I came to a stop in the parking lot next to the entrance. The bird was gone, and luckily the bike was as clean as when I’d left it.

Setting Camryn down next to my bike, I smiled when I saw the look of indignation on her face.

“I’m too big for you to be carrying like that,” she muttered, her face red.

I caught her before she could turn her back on me fully.

She looked at me with a frown when I wouldn’t let her go.

“You’re beautiful,” I told her bluntly. “Even when you were a sweaty, cursing mess on the first day of boot camp. Even when you were spitting fire at me the day you rear-ended me.”

Tags: Lani Lynn Vale The Southern Gentleman Romance
Source: readsnovelonline.net