I Know You Love Me (5 page)

Yes.
He couldn't bring himself to actually say the word, but he truly meant it.
Well, damn I didn't see that coming.

"Well?"

The annoyance in her voice combined with the hurt on her face did him in. What he felt for this tiny woman was more than a simple attraction. He wanted her, but not for a single night. He wanted her forever and a day. Drew was beyond caring if she'd had sex with Jimmy or not; he was no saint himself. Allison had a vulnerability about her he felt impelled to protect and a sadness he wanted to wash away.

Movement from the bed snapped him back to the situation at hand. “Oh, damn you, woman. Yes. Yes, I did have to ruin this for you. I should be the one in that bed with you, not him!” Grabbing her shoulders he pulled her into a kiss that wiped all coherent thought from his mind. The moment her arms came up around his neck and her body pressed up against his, he knew he'd finally found the one he'd been searching for.

"It's about time!” Jimmy teased.

Drew was both grateful and disgusted with Jimmy for interrupting the moment. He'd never forgotten there was another person in the room before while kissing a woman. That he could lose himself in her so completely...he knew he'd lost his battle and fallen for her.

"I'm...I'm going to shower now.” Her hand came up to caress her lips as she backed quickly away from him. “This can't happen, Drew; it's wrong. It's against regulations. You need to leave now. I'll drop off the documents for you to sign in a few days. If you have any questions, you can call my office and I'll be more than happy to answer them all for you. Over the phone."

"Woman, have you lost your mind?” She was the one he'd been waiting for, and he refused to let her go over some damned regulations.

"This cannot ...no, will not... happen again. Therefore, we can't be in the same room together—not even with others around—ever again. I'm leaving."

Drew blocked her exit. “Like hell you are. I've finally come to terms with my feelings for you, and I'm not letting you go now. That kiss told me two things: one, you're just as attracted to me as I am to you, and two...” He'd never had a woman look at him with such intense fear in her eyes before. It made him doubly determined to have her for himself.

Planting her hands on her hips, she scowled at him. “What? Why do you keep doing that?"

"You're mine!"

"No...” She started backing away from him, her head shaking in denial so violently he was afraid she'd hurt herself. “No...no...no...no...no. I need to leave."

"You aren't going anywhere but home with me, and we are not leaving there until we settle this! Damn it, Allison, it's not every day I find the perfect woman.” Seeing that she was about to start arguing with him again, Drew advanced on her. He was tired of having an audience—especially one who was enjoying this little argument as obviously as Jimmy was.

"Even if I have to carry you over there kicking and screaming,” he finished.

"You're mad. You have seriously lost your mind. I can't leave the house dressed like this and go traipsing all over town."

Drew grinned and leaned against the nearest wall, making sure to keep her escape route blocked. “You don't have to."

"Then how do you expect me..."

"Honey, I live right next door. You can look into my kitchen from the window over Jimmy's sink."

Allison narrowed her eyes at him and stepped forward. “Then you should have known about game night."

Drew couldn't look her in the eyes, but he didn't have to tell her the truth. She could see it in his posture. His eyes told her everything.

"You weren't home, were you? You spent the night with some woman, and now I'm supposed to be your next conquest? No way, Mister. Forget it. I will not be another notch on..."

Drew stopped her rant the only way he knew how, and kissing her made him feel better. He wasn't proud of going to another woman so he wouldn't need to witness their date once they got home, but it was the only thing he could think of to stay sane.

"Ahem, excuse me but...I'd rather not witness what's about to happen next. I'd rather you not do it here in my room while I'm in bed trying to sleep for my shift later. Allison, sweetheart, if you go out the back door, you can enter Drew's house through the back yard, and no one will see you."

"I don't care who sees me. He's a womanizer, and he only wants me ‘cause he can't have me. Besides, it's against the rules, and I don't break the rules."

"It's only against the rules as long as you're auditing the Sheriff's office. As of this moment, you are no longer auditing the Sheriff's office. Bring me those damned papers. I've looked through the files you left me, and I agree to all your recommendations. I'll sign them right now. Although, I'm damned if I can figure out when you finished the damned audit.” Taking her unresisting body back into his arms, he held her close and whispered into her hair. “Come home with me."

Pushing him away and stepping closer to the bed, she wrapped her arms around herself as if she was cold. “No! Now, thank you for agreeing to sign the papers. I can go home with a clear conscience that I completed my assignment. I have nothing keeping me here anymore."

That thought had never occurred to Drew, and judging from Jimmy's expression, it hadn't occurred to him either.

"Ali, I'm sorry to intrude but...whoa, cool. That's Jimmy's jersey. Does this mean you're gonna be my sister in law? Cause Jimmy always told me only the woman he planned to marry would ever wear it,” Jeremy asked hopefully.

Drew growled possessively, scaring Jeremy into retreating a few steps. “No!"

Allison threw him a glare for the way he spoke to the boy and stepped up to shield Jeremy from his view. Damn, he loved this woman; she had spunk.

"It's okay. Jeremy, what's up?” Allison asked softly.

"Your...uhm..."

"Ignore the Sheriff. He's just angry because I slept in and missed our meeting. Now, please tell me what you were going to say."

She moved further in front of Drew to completely block him from the boy's sight. Drew found that extremely amusing, since he was at least a foot taller than she was. Her ploy worked, strangely enough, and the kid stood straighter.

"Your cell phone rang and I answered it...I'm so sorry, Allison. I thought it was Jimmy's and..."

Placing a calming hand on his shoulder, Allison smiled. “Relax, it's okay. So tell me who was on the phone?"

"Someone named Mark. He asked me to give you a message."

Laughing, Allison cupped the boy's cheek to focus his attention back on her, encouraging him to continue when his eyes glanced over her head to look at Drew when he growled. “Which was?"

Jeremy closed his eyes in an attempt to get the message just right. “Tell my girl that I need her to come home. The wedding date is finally set, and it's time for her to try on her dress."

Grinning, she smoothed her hands over the jersey. “It's about time. Jeremy can you..."

Drew grabbed her arms and turned her to face him. “What wedding? Who's Mark? You can't do this. “You can't marry this guy; you love me!"

Yanking her arms free, she turned to pin him in place with an angry glare. “When exactly was that decided, and who said anything about marriage? I'm his maid of honor. Mark finally got his elusive fiancee to set a wedding date, and knowing him it's soon. Jeremy..."

Drew moved forward to corner Allison between his body and the bedroom wall. “Good, because, Darling, you are mine, and I'm not letting you go."

Standing her ground, she stared him down. “I don't belong to anyone but me."

Leaning forward, Drew flashed her a wolfish grin. “Tell me that while I'm kissing you. You can't. You know you can't, because your brain shuts down the moment I get too close.” Gently caressing her face, he leaned in a little closer. “Admit it, Allison—you care."

"No."

"You want me."

"No."

Every time she denied his claim on her, he got closer to her, crowding her personal space and enjoying every single second of it. “You may even love me.” He could feel her body tremble under his hands and wanted to kiss her again. His arrogance gave her just the opening she needed to slip away.

"Jeremy, where are my car keys?"

"Kitchen counter."

"I can't deal with this right now. I'll file the audit with the county, and they should send someone up in two weeks to make certain you follow all the agreed-upon points. Normally, that would be me, but under the circumstances, I think it would be best to assign someone new."

Drew stood there stunned that she'd outmaneuvered him again. One day, he'd learn his lesson and not underestimate her.

"Allison..."

"I'll make sure you get a copy so you can't accidentally default."

She was ignoring him, the imp. “Allison!"

"I need to go; I have a dress to get fitted, a gift to buy, a date to find, and..."

Drew wasn't letting her distract him again; she was way too good at doing that to him. “Come home with me, Allison. Give me the chance to prove I'm worth having around.” He was wearing her down, he could feel it. If he could just find a way to keep her around a little longer, he'd break through that damned wall of hers.

"Ali, you can't leave; you promised to speak to my special English lit class, remember?"

Allison looked around the room, trapped. “Jeremy, I..."

"Please, you can even have my room if you stay. I'll sleep on the couch,” Jeremy begged.

Drew so owed the kid. Allison wouldn't be able to say no now. “That, son, won't be necessary; she can stay with me. I've only been telling her that for the past hour."

"But...” Even at a loss for words, she was irresistible.

Drew was enjoying her indecision; finally, he had her where he wanted her. “You can stay in my spare room, if that's what you prefer."

"Okay..."

Drew sighed in relief. “I knew you'd finally agree."

"I wasn't talking to you, Sheriff.” Turning her back on him, she looked at Jeremy, obviously torn between her need to get away and her obligation to the boy. “Jeremy, when exactly am I scheduled to speak with your class?"

"Thursday.” The relief in his voice matched the relief Drew felt.

Four days. I can do this. I have to do this, if only to prove that Drew is wrong.

Looking at each man in turn, she took a deep breath. “Okay, this is what's going to happen. I'll fly home and get fitted for my dress, pick out Mark's gift, and talk to Jason. Then I'll be back in time for your class, Jeremy."

Grabbing her shoulders, Drew turned her to face him. The anger on his face didn't scare her one bit, nor did it attract her unlike the endearing look of annoyance he had on his face.

"Who's Jason?"

"Let me go.” She was getting really tired of his hands-on aggression. The man was more attractive than anyone she'd met in her life, and she wanted him more than she cared to admit, but damn, he was a pushy prick.

Glaring down at her, he sneered. “He your beau?"

"Maybe. What do you care?” His jumping to conclusions was truly annoying. She knew without a doubt that in a few seconds he'd be professing his love again. Perhaps she truly was the first woman he'd ever wanted a future with. Drew was certainly acting like a love sick fool.

"You must not like this Jason very much; I mean you cheated on the guy with Jimmy!” Drew spat cruelly.

Tearing herself away from him, she resisted the urge to slap him. The emotional roller coaster he was putting her through was driving her insane. “That's between me and Jason. Jeremy I'll be back to talk to your class, I promise. But right now, I need to get out of here. I can't do this anymore."

Getting out of bed, Jimmy grabbed her arm and pushed her out the bedroom door. “Allison, can I speak to you for a second?"

Allison saw Drew's spine stiffen; he was still jealous of Jimmy's touching her. Good. “Of course, all you had to do was ask."

Slamming the door of Jeremy's room shut behind them, Jimmy turned on her angrily. That was one look she'd never thought she'd see on his face.

"You can let me go now, Jimmy."

"Not until you explain yourself. Drew's right; you don't seem like the type to cheat on anyone. I know you better than that."

The minute Jimmy let her go, Allison sighed in defeat and sat on the bed, her legs giving out as all the fight sapped out of her. “I haven't cheated on anyone. The Sheriff, as usual, jumped to conclusions."

"Then who is Jason?"

Allison stared down at her hands. “He's a friend...” Looking up she could tell that Jimmy didn't believe her. “Fine. He's my ex, but we're still really good friends."

He narrowed his eyes at her. “Why are you trying to make Drew jealous? And while we're discussing it, why won't you call him Drew?"

"He's so damned arrogant, automatically assuming that I was interested in him...Kissing me without permission..."

Jimmy grinned at her knowingly. “Is he wrong?"

She hated that look, hated it more than Drew's assumptions. “How the hell did you become my best friend? People who just met shouldn't know each other this well."

His grin widened at her affirmation. She hated that he could see right through her. “It's what fate had in store for us, Love, and you're avoiding my question."

A hot blush made her cheeks burn as if they were on fire. Getting up, she walked over to the windows and stared out at the beautifully-sculpted back yard. She knew he wouldn't stop until she answered his question, but she couldn't do it while looking at him. “He's not completely wrong, but hell will freeze over before I'll admit it to him. He needs to find some humility first.” She heard Jimmy get up and move up behind her, and waited for his next question.

"What are you afraid of? If it's Drew not being truthful, I can tell you right now he's completely serious about this and you."

Allison mentally steeled herself for this conversation, then jumped in with both feet. “I'm terrified that once he gets what he thinks he wants, he'll realize it really isn't what he wants.” Feeling Jimmy's arms around her, she relaxed and leaned back against his chest, relieved that he hadn't tried to tell her she was being foolish.