Knockout (Tapped Out 4)

While probably wearing his torn-up jeans and a wifebeater, exactly the kind of look my father would never go for.

“Oh, is he now?”

“He is. He’d like to meet you.” Actually, I wasn’t sure of that at all, but it sounded good.

JC was the kind of dude you’d sneak around with to have clandestine hookups. He made being bad seem like oh so much fun.

“Is that so?” My dad took off the badge he’d pinned to his belt and tossed it on the table by the door.

Even after all these years on the force, he was still a beat cop. They’d wanted him to go up for promotions so many times, but he’d threatened to quit if they tried to give him some kind of “office job”. He liked dealing with the public and the sights and sounds of the city. His city, he called it, and he didn’t feel like he could help police it from behind a desk.

“Yes.” I tugged at my earring and tried to avoid glancing at my phone to check the time. JC was also notoriously late, something my father never tolerated. “He’ll be here soon.”

I hoped.

“And after the fight, he’ll be bringing you home?”

“He’ll be bringing me home, but not until later. We’re going out to a dance club with some work friends. You know how I’ve been trying to make more friends at work, right? Well, the girls there asked me to come out with them. You remember Jenna and Carly—”

“Carly?” He frowned. “Isn’t she the pregnant teenager?”

I couldn’t help rolling my eyes. “Yes, she’s pregnant, and she’s a teenager, but she’s nineteen, Dad. She’s also happily married.”

Considering my father had trouble with the concept that I could ever possibly date—though I didn’t give him much to worry about there most of the time—the idea that someone around my age could be married and a mother blew his mind.

“A shotgun wedding no doubt.” He shook his head and loosened his collar. “What is a woman in her state going to a dance club for?”

“Jeez, she’s pregnant, not dead.” I sighed and turned toward the living room.

Pacing wasn’t going to make JC show up any faster.

“Even so, I’m glad you’re staying on the right path. Too many temptations nowadays.”

Luckily, the buzzer sounded before I could comment. “I’ll get it.” I skirted around him to rush to the door.

I hit the intercom. “Hello?”

“It’s me, babe. Can I come…in?” His low, sensual voice made all of my parts stand to attention. My nipples beaded, my pussy grew damp. And behind me, my father growled.

Yeah, things were off to a rip-roaring start.

“Um, sure.” I clicked off with the quickness and released the door before JC had a chance to make some other kind of double entendre.

When I opened the door to him a moment later, I nearly lost my breath. Instead of seeing my funny, irreverent, sexy-as-hell construction worker best friend, I was staring at a handsome blond man with slicked-back hair and totally rocking a black suit. A suit.

True, he’d skipped the tie and his shirt was dark, not white, but God, he’d even ditched his sneakers for sharp black shoes. He looked totally bad-ass. The kind of guy any father would be happy to let take out their daughter, if not for the predatory gleam in his golden eyes.

“Good evening, Lily.” He brought my hand to his lips as his gaze darted over me, only lingering for a second. “You look beautiful.”

Before I could find my voice, he stepped into the foyer and produced a single red rose from behind his back. “For you.” He nudged the door shut.

I took it from him and blinked, unable to say a single word. My father, however, was not similarly affected.

“JC O’Connor, is it?”

“Yes, sir. So nice to finally meet you, sir.” JC extended his hand.

My father just gazed at it before lifting his gaze to JC’s. “What are your intentions when it comes to my daughter?”