Page 11 of Control (Everyday Heroes 3.50)
When I look up to see him in the doorway, one hand is on his hip in that way that tells me he’s used to wearing his utility belt and holster. A smile is on his handsome face, and an adorable French bulldog named Disco is under his arm.
“Sorry. I knocked at the front. You didn’t answer, but I saw your car was here and figured it was okay to come in.”
/> Rubbing the spot on my head, I shove down my thundering pulse and smile shakily at Disco and the very attractive man holding him.
How’d I forget to lock the door?
My mind reels over my mistake. Over what if he came back.
“Des? You okay?” Jeff asks as he takes a step toward me, concern owning his expression.
“That’s totally fine. I’m totally fine.” The words are a rush of air as I try to hide my unease. “Here. Let me put the rest of these guys up for a sec before we set Disco down so I can introduce him to them one at a time.”
“Yeah. Sure,” he says as I grab a box of Milkbones to bribe the other dogs toward the back of the house where I have a dog room of sorts. It’s painted in a bright yellow and has dog beds, water bowls, and dog toys. It’s where I put the clean dogs after they’re bathed and groomed.
When I come back to my grooming studio, he’s nowhere to be found. “Jeff?”
“Coming,” he says as his footsteps sound off in the hallway that leads to my kitchen and family room. “I set him down and he took off like he did last time. There’s something about your kitchen he loves.”
I grab Disco from Jeff and nuzzle the adorable dog. He grunts and groans as he always does. “I have a pot roast in the Crock Pot. He probably smells it.”
“So what time am I coming over for dinner?”
I stare at Jeff. “We already tried that, remember?”
Both of our cheeks heat at the memory of our torrid few-week tryst, where we enjoyed the hell out of each other’s bodies but agreed there wasn’t much else between us. A relationship just how I like them—short, hungry, and over without any attachment.
“Yeah, but...sometimes it’s good to take a walk down memory lane.”
I push against his chest as he steps closer. “A walk down memory lane is one thing, but I assure you crawling up my thighs isn’t where memory lane is located.”
He laughs and shakes his head. “Can’t blame a man for trying.”
“Can’t fault a woman for saying no.”
We stare at each other for the briefest of seconds, each gauging if the other is being serious or if a quick relapse into each other would be worth it. It’s been five months since I’ve had sex—with him no less—but I don’t think need should dictate this decision.
This woman wouldn’t complain about a good orgasm or three...but Jeff comes with ties—the kind of ties where he wanted more—and I don’t like anything that binds me unless it’s to my headboard in the pursuit of hot sex.
“I haven’t seen you around lately. You hiding? You have a hot man you’re using as a sex slave I should be worried about?”
“You applying for the job?” I laugh as his eyes darken and lips quirk up in a smile, and I realize the opening I just gave him. “I’ve been busy is all.”
“Busy? Since when does busy stop you from letting loose? You’re going to turn into a crazy cat lady pretty soon if you keep hibernating the way you are.”
“I’m already the crazy dog lady, so does it really matter?” I ask to try and avert what he’s really asking: Are you okay? Are you worried you’re going to run into him on the streets so you’re hiding here instead?
“Cats, dogs… The town of Sunnyville misses you.” He chuckles. “Karaoke night down at The Tavern is boring without you.”
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave a hand at him like he’s crazy.
“I’m serious.” He takes a step forward and puts a hand on the side of my waist. “I’ve missed seeing you.”
“Am I interrupting something here?”
We both jump back at the sound of Grant’s voice in the doorway. “Jesus. It’s like a cop convention in here all of a sudden,” I say and take a step back from Jeff to look over his shoulder at my best friend’s husband.
Grant is six foot plus, with dark hair and a great body. He’s more than easy on the eyes and definitely smitten with my best friend, Emerson. But that little lift to his eyebrows, and glance from Jeff to me and back, is a simple question of is something going on between you two?
