Double Bind (14 page)

           
She took a deep breath of her own, and then turned to face him.
 
“Well, it’s been -” she started to say, but suddenly found that she couldn’t keep going.
 
He had turned to face her, and they were only inches apart.
 
Her heart started to pound, and she swallowed, hard.

           
“Look, Sarah,” he said, his voice husky.

           
“Yeah?”

           
He looked away, obviously nervous.
 
“Well, I was just going to say that I’m glad I met you.
 
Even if, you know, it was because you were being framed.”

           
She grinned.
 
“Well, I do know how to make an impression.”

           
He laughed, but moved in closer.
 
Before Sarah knew it, she had taken a step closer too.
 
She could see his pulse thumping in his throat, and his warm eyes drew her in.
 
She was close enough that it would only take a little lean for her to be able to touch him.

           
“You definitely know how to make an impression.”

           
She was suddenly blushing, and she looked down, wishing that she knew what to say.
 
“I’ll admit, I’m going to miss you following me around and searching my house for evidence.”

           
His eyes didn’t sway from her face, and when she looked up he was smiling softly.
 
“And I’ll miss dragging you down to the station for every little mishap.”

           
She blushed, but couldn’t seem to drag her eyes from his mouth.
 
She almost leaned in.
 
“Well, I might have to stir up a little trouble, just so that you don’t have to miss me too much.”

           
“I have a better idea,” he said, as one of his hands found her hip, resting lightly there.

           
“Oh?”

           
“Why don’t we just go out sometime?
 
Maybe dinner on Friday?”

           
“Hmm, that does sound like a good idea.
 
Do you promise to leave your handcuffs at home?”

           
“Well, since you insist.”

           
Her hands suddenly found themselves resting against his chest.
 
She could feel his heart beat against her fingertips.
 
She was having a hard time breathing.
 
“I guess I do.”

           
“So, I’ll see you at 7 then?”

           
She couldn’t take it anymore.
 
She leaned in to kiss him, slipping up onto tippy-toes.
 
Her mouth met his with an almost electric shock.
 
Then, he pulled her in harder, his mouth opening a little against her own.
 
Shivers ran down her spine from the kiss, and she finally broke away to breathe slow, his arms around her, and her fingers tangling in his shirt.

           
“So, is that a yes?” he said, grinning.

           
She smacked him lightly.
 
“If you can’t figure that out, detective,” she said, “you might want to consider changing careers.

           
Laughing, they leaned in together, and Sarah forgot everything but the sweet taste of his kiss.