Love Bites (15 page)

“What’s wrong with you, Wade? You got a thing for that little—”

“Don’t,” he drawled. “You’ll regret it.” He stared at Elliott for several seconds, daring the man to defy him. He didn’t. “Someone attacked Miss Peterson yesterday outside her office. You can bet, no matter what their background, I’m going to find out who it was and I’m going to make that person really sorry.”

Elliott sputtered. “What? I didn’t—I wouldn’t. Are you crazy? I was on a date last night—
all night
—with someone much more deserving of my time and attention. If you don’t believe me, I’ll give you her name and number and you can call her.”

“You do that, because I’ll be checking into it. By the way…do you like licorice?”

“Licorice? What kind of question is that?”

“Just a question. Someone was telling me about a drink. Coffee and sambuca. It’s supposed to taste like licorice. You ever try it?”

“I’ve had sambuca neat. I found it disgusting,” he sneered. “Your friend must have horrible taste.”

“Right. Like I said. You’re a prick. And I’d lay off the sambuca for a while.”

Elliott's scowl was turning uglier by the second. “I just told you—”

“Excuse me, I need to speak with my grandfather.” Wade turned, walked to his grandfather and waited politely until the older man finished his conversation and turned to him. “We going hunting, Wade?”

Thomas frowned. “What’s he talking about?”

“It’s a private joke, Dad. Grandpa, would you like to talk to my friend, Ms. Peterson, some more?”

“Ms. Peterson?” his father said, but Wade and his grandfather ignored him.

“Don’t mind if I do. She seemed perfectly delightful. Reminded me of my sweet Pearl, may she rest in peace.”

“Wonderful. Let’s go.”

He saw Molly slip onto the patio and led his grandfather toward her.

Molly took in the sight of the garden grounds. It was gorgeous and reminded her of the greenhouses in California her grandparents had taken her to when she was little. She glanced at her watch, literally ticking down every second until she could leave. Nina was her best friend and didn’t enjoy these things any more than she did, otherwise she’d never have come. But a promise was a promise and—

“Molly.” The smooth and sexy male voice came from behind her. “Are you enjoying yourself? It’s sure beautiful out here.”

She turned and saw Wade and his grandfather coming toward her. She smiled. “Yes, it certainly is.”

His father called out to him from inside. “Wade, can you please come here. There’s someone important I want to introduce you to.”

The implication being that he didn’t think Molly was important. Wade gritted his teeth. “I apologize for my father’s rudeness. Would you excuse me for just a minute? Grandpa, do you want to come with me or—”

“We can chat a little while you’re gone,” Molly said. “That is, if you’d like,” she said as she looked at Paul, who smiled.

“I’d be delighted, young lady.”

“I’ll be right back,” Wade said, his expression grim as he stalked toward his father. By the way they spoke, Molly could tell Wade wasn’t afraid to get into it with his father no matter where they were.

She was growing more fond of him every time she saw him. Could he really be what he’d presented himself to be? A kind, charming man who adored his grandfather. A cop devoted to protecting and serving others. Even his inability to completely ignore his rude father indicated he was a man with a high degree of integrity. But past experience had taught her that first impressions could be deceiving.

“I adore my grandson, but my son sometimes acts like a bag of wind. Lizzy saw something in him, though, and once in a while Thomas reminds me why. I try to remember that. I apologize for his rudeness.”

“Lizzy is Wade’s mother?”

“She was. She’s gone now, just like my Pearl.” He looked wistful, and she automatically thought of Boyd and the young wife he’d lost. It hurt to lose those you loved. She knew that from experience, even if the only loved ones she’d lost were her own grandparents. That was painful enough, and she couldn’t imagine losing a spouse who was supposed to be with you when you were old and wrinkly.

Her eyes instinctively sought out Wade. He put his life on the line every time he went to work. She barely knew him and the idea that he could get gunned down, that his vibrant life force could be extinguished, made her sad.

“Are you ready to go duck hunting, Molly?”

She jolted at Paul’s words. She studied him intently, but his eyes were clear. “Um— Right now?”

“I’ve got the hunting dogs waiting for us. As soon as Wade returns, we can be on our way.”

She gave an exaggerated grimace and took his arm, leading him away from the elderly couple that was walking toward them. “To tell you the truth, sir, I’m not that fond of hunting.
I’m quite squeamish about it, actually. Especially since I inherited my grandfather’s parrot and became friends with the little guy.”

“A parrot?” Paul looked intrigued.

“Yes. He belonged to my grandfather. His name is Gator and he quotes lines from action-movie heroes. He’s even starred in a couple of movies himself.”

“How delightful. I’d have loved to meet him if I weren’t going duck hunting.”

She tilted her head. “Perhaps I can arrange for you to meet him later tonight. After your hunt, if you like.”

“Yes, that would be wonderful.”

“I’ll arrange for it with Wade?”

“Yes. Please do.” He squinted, deepening the wrinkles around his eyes, and took a good look at her. “You’ve got stunning eyes, my dear. Reminds me a little of my Pearl. She had fire in her eyes, too.”

“Me? Fire?” She put a hand to her chest. “Well, Paul…nobody’s ever said that to me before.”

“I know fire when I see it.” He nodded, clearly in his own world. “Wish I weren’t going duck hunting so soon. It would’ve been nice to spend more time with you.”

His eyes were still clear, but something was obviously off. “We’re on for tonight, though. Don’t forget.”

He nodded again. “Wouldn’t miss it.”

Wade returned then.

Her belly flipped, but she simply smiled. “Wade, I need to be going to work, but your grandfather mentioned the, uh, duck hunting. He said he could stop by the clinic to meet Gator before he goes, though.”

Concern immediately flashed across Wade’s face.

Automatically, she placed a hand on his forearm, trying to reassure him. She felt his muscles tighten before the jolt of electricity zipped up her arm. She dropped her hand.

“Do you think you can be there by nine?”

He glanced at his watch. “Yes. You’ll be there?”

He looked so uncertain and worried about his grandfather.

It melted her heart and made her long to comfort the strong male in front of her. Both of them. “Yes. I’ll be there.” She turned to Paul. “Until then, sir.”

Grandpa Paul picked up her hand and kissed it. She turned to Wade. This time, he kissed her gloved hand as well. Before he released her, she went with instinct and stepped forward to hug him. He jerked in surprise, but she held on and patted his back. “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “We’ll find out what’s going on. I promise.”

He held himself stiff for a second, then nodded and gently kissed her below her ear. She stifled a gasp at the flames of heat that swept through her, and drew back.

He stared at her. Nodded his head. And whispered, “Thank you, Molly.”

An hour later, they left the gala and Wade used his own car to take his grandfather straight to the medical clinic. It was the best situation, really. Anyone who might care where his grandfather was was already at the gala, so that lessened their chances of being “found out.”

The parking lot of the medical clinic was even emptier than it had been last night, but Wade saw Molly’s small white hatchback. Something inside him fluttered with anticipation as he parked his car beside hers, then walked his grandfather into the building. They passed by Danny McKinney, the guard who’d been on his rounds when Molly had been attacked. The same one who’d provided Wade with the security tape from last night, the same security tape that showed him squat. Tonight, the sullen-faced young man directed him to an office a few hallways down.

As they walked, Wade remembered the convenience store on the other side of the parking lot. If it had a security system and cameras set up, it’s possible they’d caught a glimpse of Molly’s attacker. He made a mental note to find out.

When they entered her office, Molly was sitting by herself and talking on the phone. She’d changed into casual clothes and was sitting behind a small glass partition, the fluorescent lighting making the bruises on her face stand out far more than they had earlier.

She looked up at him, smiled politely and pointed a finger in an “I’ll be with you in just a minute” gesture.

But one thing she also did was blush, a pretty, feminine shade of pink that had him immediately wanting to take off her clothes and see if her skin was that pretty all over her body. He just bet it would be.

“Good taste continues to run in our family,” his granddad said. “She’s a pretty one. Seems smart, too.”

“Yes.”

“And kind.”

“Yes.”

“She brave?”

Wade thought of the way she’d fought off her attacker last night. The way she’d tried so hard to hold it together afterward. The way she’d refused to let him in her house the next morning until she’d called the station and confirmed who he was.

“Definitely. But she’s already turned me down.”

His grandpa’s eyes narrowed as if he were trying to figure out what he meant.

“I invited her for coffee earlier today and she politely declined.”

Instead of looking disappointed, his grandfather looked amused. “You’ve got King blood running through your veins, so I’m sure you won’t let a little thing like that stop you.”

Wade had never really talked about women with his grandfather, so he didn’t know how to answer that. He was right, of course, but still.

When his granddad didn’t say anything else, Wade turned to him. “Well?”

“Well what? I said you had great taste. I’m just wondering why you’re still sitting here with me when she’s off the phone.”

Wade stood as she approached them, a smile on her face and Gator perched on her shoulder. “Hello, Wade. Sir. It’s so nice to see you again.”

She nodded her head at Grandpa Paul, who beamed.

“Pleasure to see you again, ma’am. Thank you for making time for my grandson to come calling. He’s certainly smitten with you.”

She looked at Wade and gave a nervous laugh when he didn’t refute the statement.

“Uhm.” She coughed. “If I don’t answer, calls will be forwarded to another hotline. So I have time to see Paul now.”

“That duck’s a mighty fine specimen, Molly. You bag it yourself?”

Wade frowned, his pleasure at seeing Molly dissipating at his grandfather’s continued hallucinations. “Grandpa—”

“It’s okay, Wade. Paul, this is Gator, my parrot. Do you remember me telling you about him? He—”

“I’ll be back.”
Squawk
. “I’ll be back.”

She looked relieved, and Wade winked, knowing she was glad Gator hadn’t yelled out, “Bastard.”

“That bird does a mighty fine Arnold impersonation.” He waited a beat. “You told me he quotes action-movie heroes, remember?”

“That’s right, Paul. I did! Would you like to come in the back room with us and keep us company? I’d love to get to know you a bit more. Wade said you haven’t been feeling all that well lately, but that you’ve been a bit…happier since you’ve started duck hunting?”

Grandpa Paul winked at Wade. “So, we’re here to discuss the duck hunting.” His brows furrowed. “My wife didn’t really approve of duck hunting….”

“Your wife? That would be Pearl, right?”

“She’s passed.” Grandpa Paul looked at Wade and, for the first time, worry pinched his face.

“Hasn’t she, Wade? But I could swear I was just talking to her the other day.”

“Grandma’s been gone three years, Grandpa.”

“Well, yes. Of course she has. Not a day goes by that I don’t miss her,” he said to Molly.

Molly nodded. “I understand. I recently lost my grandparents and I miss them terribly. Gator does, too. So, would you like to come back into my office, Paul? I’d just like to ask you some questions and then I have a lab tech here who wants to do a few tests. Is that okay?”

She looked at Grandpa Paul first, then at Wade.

Wade nodded. “I trust you, if you think it’s necessary.”

“I think it could help us rule out some things.”

“Okay. Grandpa Paul?”

“If it’ll make you feel better, sure. And I’d love to spend more time with you, little lady.”

Wade watched as the two of them walked back into Molly’s office.

“It’s not serious,” Molly told Wade thirty minutes later. “But he has a UTI.”

Wade frowned. “Excuse me?”

“A urinary tract infection. I know it sounds weird, but on rare occasions UTIs can cause psychological disturbances like the kind he’s been suffering. We believe his hallucinations were coming and going as his body fought off the infection.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes. The doctors are prescribing him antibiotics right now. You should note a gradual improvement, and then hopefully his desire to duck hunt will be gone completely.”

“Thank God. Thank you.”

“You’re very welcome. He’s wonderful. I can see why you care so much about him.”

“Can I see him now?”

“I think he’s just getting dressed, so you might want to wait a couple of minutes.”

“You didn’t leave Gator with—”

“Uhm, no. I put Gator back in his cage. I figured it would be best until your grandfather was completely better.”

“There’s no one waiting for you? On a call, I mean?”

“No. It’s been a pretty slow evening.”

“In that case, can I have another hug?”

Her eyes widened, but she looked far from displeased. “Excuse me?”

“Earlier, you hugged me, and I wasn’t in a state of mind to fully take advantage of it. But now that you’ve told me my grandfather is going to be okay, I’d like to give it another try.”

She looked around, but they were the only ones in the medical office.

He didn’t push her, and perhaps that’s what prompted her to step up and hug him. This time, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back.

When he pulled away, they were both gasping for air. From a single hug. Jesus.

“What time do you get off work?”

“I have a twelve-hour shift. Then—then I’m off for the rest of the week. Why?”

“Because after I get my granddad settled in, I want to see you.”

“I want to see you, too.”

“No, I mean I want to
see you
. After your shift. I know that you were reluctant to make things personal between us. And as I already said, it’s complicated with me being the cop that saw your assault. So if you're not interested, just say it one more time, Molly. Just know that I am interested. More than interested. I want you. I want to take you out and I want to take you to bed. Not necessarily in that order, but I can take it as slow as you need me to. Just tell me what you want. Because what happens between us now is completely up to you.”

Molly knew if she said yes she’d be agreeing to a heck of a lot more than a polite social call. She could see it in his eyes. In the quiver of his lips. In the way he clenched and unclenched his fists, as if fighting the need to touch her.

“I’m single, Molly. I’m healthy. I’m trustworthy. I know this is crazy, but say yes,” he urged.

“Please. But only because you want to. Because you want me as much as I want you.”

She licked her lips. Watched his gaze follow the movement. Then whispered, “I’m all those things, too, but you’re right, this is crazy.” She held her breath. Then, before disappointment could mar his expression, she said, “I want to see you, too. And I don't want you to go slow. Not if—not if you really want more. Because I want it, too.”

He took a deep breath and nodded. “I’ll be back at the end of your shift to drive you home.”

“You don’t have to do that. I have my car.”

“I want to. Then I want you to rest. Catch up on your sleep. Because once we’re together, I plan on keeping you awake for a long time.”