Fight Me(26)

“What?” I mumble with half a mouth full of food.

“Huh?” he asks, returning his eyes to mine.

I finally get the meat down my throat. “You were staring.”

He looks back down at my lips and shakes his head slightly, like shaking off a thought or an image. Maybe I did have some effect on him after all.

Following dinner, when the plates are cleared and the check is paid, we sit at our booth visiting and catching up over another beer. It’s surprisingly easy to talk to Jake. I love listening to him talk about his family. He’s obviously very close to his parents and siblings. Nate seems to be the brother he’s closest too, but that could be because they’re so close in age. He also talks about his time in the military and his work as a cop. My favorite story was when he was a rookie his first year on the force and got the call about a drunk man wandering down Main Street. What they didn’t tell him over the radio was that it was old Mr. Forrester. He was stumbling home from Jack’s Pub. And he was naked.

“To this day, no one knows what happened to his clothes. He was wearing them when he left the pub and definitely was not wearing them when I pulled up to give him a ride home.”

I laugh at the mental image Jake painted for me. “That’s hilarious!”

“It is now. Then, not so much. I caught ribbings from all the guys for weeks, hell months, for that call. You about ready to go? It’s getting pretty late.”

I look down at my watch and see that it’s after ten o’clock. How we just managed to sit and talk for over four hours is beyond me. “Yes. Thank you for dinner. Are you sure I can’t pay for half of the bill?”

“You’re welcome, and I’ve already told you no. I asked you to join me. No way are you paying. Come on, let’s head out.” Jake helps me back into my coat and places his hand comfortably on my lower back. I never knew that simple gesture could ignite my blood and soothe my soul all at the same time.

After the short three block drive, Jake pulls into my driveway. That’s when I start to get a little nervous. Am I supposed to invite him in? Will he even want to come inside?

“I had a great time tonight. Thank you, again,” I say.

“I did, too. I’ll walk you to your door.” Jake climbs out of his truck and comes around to open my door.

As we’re walking up the front steps, I try digging in my purse for my keys. My fingers are shaking a little. I have no idea if it’s from the early February cold or from the mere nearness of Jake. He’s so close I can smell his aftershave, his soap.

When my fingers fumble with the keys, Jake reaches inside my purse and pulls them out, placing them in the lock and turning. “There you go,” he says with a small smile.

“Thank you,” I whisper, the words all but sticking in my throat.

My eyes are glued to his, my breathing coming a little heavier in anticipation. Jake leans forward ever so slowly and places a gentle kiss on my lips. His lips are warm and soft, and all I want to do is reach out and grab him, pulling him closer against me. I start to move my lips against his, taking the kiss deeper. He returns the kiss with a fury. In three point five seconds, we’re all hands and lips and tongues.

Just as quickly as the kiss starts, Jake pulls back and rests his forehead against mine. Our breath is mixed together, our hearts beating wildly in our chests. “You better head inside before you get too cold.”

“Yeah,” I respond. “Good night, Jake.”

“Night, Erin,” he says, hands in his pockets as he watches me go inside the house. As soon as the locks are engaged, he turns and walks down the stairs, gets inside his truck, and drives away.

I stand there at the window and watch him go, thinking about the kiss that just shook me to the core. What is it about Jake Stevens that leaves me mindless and breathless? I have no clue, but I know I should probably stay away from him. The problem - I don’t think I can.





Chapter Seven


Jake

It’s raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock. What a shitty Monday. I had a great dinner with Erin on Saturday night, and then nothing. More radio silence. If I don’t hear from her today, I’ll reach out and text later night.

Maddox is driving the squad car as we cruise through town heading towards Mom’s bakery for lunch. Avery is supposed to meet us there with sandwiches, and as I glance down at my watch, I realize we’re already running a few minutes late. Hell, we’ll probably still beat Avery there. That girl is never on time.

“So I hear Erin decided to take pity on you and have dinner with you Saturday night.”

“How’d you hear that?”