Moving_Violations (14 page)

Jackson was laid back, affable, but always silently suspicious. His trust in Rebecca shocked him for a minute though. He didn’t really know her, she could have been there to play traitor, but he knew to his soul she wasn’t. They were using her, and damned if that didn’t make him madder than hell.

Jackson growled under his breath as he unlocked the car and got inside it. He needed to get back to the office and call Ted back. He needed another Detroit cop checked out now. At this rate, he was going to owe Ted a whole week away from Candy, and damned if that wouldn’t suck. Candy was pure mean when Ted dropped her off for one of his hunting weekends. So mean that Jackson refused to let her stay last year. Damn, he hoped his ole buddy was in a gracious frame of mind when he called.

69

Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick

Chapter Fourteen

The morning off had done wonders for Rebecca. The hot pounding spray of the shower had her tight muscles yielding, leaving her feeling lithe and flexible again. She had put her hair up into a ponytail, shaved her legs and applied her makeup so that it nearly hid the bruise. At exactly eleven forty five Rebecca swung open the station door feeling cocky and self-confident. Let the bastards show their asses today. She felt good, sated, ready to deal with anything, even a good ass kicking if it was warranted and she’d deliver it with a smile.

The station was only marginally cooler than outside and just as humid. Big metal fans blew dust around the small dim area. A coffee pot sat half full on an old metal cart huddled in the corner. Bryan made the best coffee and he always kept it fresh when he wasn’t on patrol. If for no other reason, Rebecca thought, her transfer was worth that coffee. Bryan smiled cautiously up at her from behind the large metal desk facing the doors. It was as neat and orderly as Officer Matthews himself.

“Hey, Taylor, you’re with me today.” He grinned. “Uh, on patrol.”

Rebecca grinned back. “Cool.”

He blushed a little, his blonde brows pulled together over those curious pale blue eyes of his. “Oh, and Sheriff said you were to come to his office as soon as you reported.”

“Thanks, Matthews,” she said without glancing back at him.

“I don’t reckon it’s anything to worry about though, I don’t think he was pissed over anything,” Bryan said following her down the hallway. “Sheriff seemed to be in a pretty good mood.”

“That’s good.”
I’m sure he is,
Rebecca thought and couldn’t help but smirk.

She turned into the locker room and noticing Officer Davis, chose to ignore him. She stuffed her purse into the locker and took her uniform shirt off the hanger.

“I was wonderin’ if you was plannin’ on puttin’ some clothes on,” Davis spat.

Evidently he wasn’t going to ignore her. It was going to be a hot day, she wished she could get away with the uniform trousers and white cotton tank top she wore into the station.

“Hey, I’d vote for tank tops on a day like today,” Bryan piped up and laughed nervously.

Davis just shook his head with a derisive harrumph. “Yeah, I know what you’re up to.”

Rebecca shut her locker and locked it then turned on her heel. “All right, Davis, let’s hear it. What am I up to?” She stood, hands on her hips, waiting for an answer. She could feel the anger rising but she kept her face placid.

He jutted out his jaw and glared at her. “All’s you need to know is, I know, Martin knows. Hell, we all see through you, missy.”

70

Moving Violations

Rebecca tilted her head and narrowed her eyes looking at him like he’d just spoken Greek. “Davis, have you been drinking? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Hell no, I ain’t been drinking. I don’t disrespect my uniform.” His gaze ran the length of her body and he smirked. “You just need to know we ain’t gonna put up with it.”

Put up with what?
She thought. She clenched her teeth, deciding that arguing with this man was a waste of energy and time. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah and we ain’t a bunch of idgits you can just come in here and handle with a swing of your ass, either.”

Rebecca’s smile looked more like a grimace. She looked at him a while. “Look, Davis, if your libido can’t handle working with a woman then that’s your problem…”

“My libido ain’t interested in anything a little slut like you has got!”

“Hey! Officer, that was inappropriate…” Bryan started forward but Rebecca put up a hand to stop him.

Her smile faded. There were so many things she could say. She wanted to get in his face and cut him to shreds with the words that were pounding in her brain for release.

But instead, she walked away with a wave of her hand. “Whatever.”
Stupid old man,
she thought.

She walked out, punching Bryan lightly on the arm as she passed him. “You eat lunch yet?”

“Nope, hey, you okay?”

“Matthews, it would take more than a crotchety old, insecure man to ruin my mood today. You wanna run by the Sonic when I get done in there?”

“That sounds good, sure.” Bryan nodded and gave her a smile then started back to the front.

* * * * *

She stood at Jackson’s door and changed her mind about tucking her shirt in. With a devious smile she undid the buttons she’d already done, swept her uniform shirt aside and plucked at her nipples till they pushed, hard and erect, through her thin bra and tank top. She didn’t knock, she just turned the knob and sauntered into the office, shutting the door behind her.

Jackson looked up at Rebecca standing there, her uniform shirt swept back, her hands on her hips; her full breasts stretching the fabric of the tank top, nipples pressing forward, and forgot what he was saying.

“Uh, I’ll call ya back. Yeah, uh huh. Bye.” He hung up and stared at her with unmistakable admiration in his gaze as he stood and walked around the desk.

“Hey, Sheriff Sugar,” she said in a sultry growl. That look in his eye made her think she might be playing with fire, nevertheless, she wanted to tease him. She wanted him to lose that iron-fisted control of his. She closed the distance between them in a few slow strides and pressed her breasts against him, raising her lips to less than an inch from his.

“You wanted me?” she breathed.

71

Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick

His groan reverberated against her chest as his hand gripped the back of her head and his mouth closed possessively over hers. His other hand seized her ass and pressed her close, his hips grinding against hers. Her body ignited, instantly reacting to him on a primal level. His tongue plundered her mouth, stroking and teasing. He had turned the tables on her playful seduction with one kiss. Damn, she was always in over her head with him. Her breath quickened and her heart pounded in her ears. Before her sanity left her and she surrendered, she lifted her hands and shoved firmly against his hard chest.

“Okay, stop, stop,” she said breathlessly refusing to look up into his eyes.

“Just answering your question, sugar.” His fingers slid down her cheek and lifted her chin till their gazes met. Sure enough, there was that Cheshire cat smile of his. Like he’d just caught the canary. She licked her lips slowly and his eyes narrowed.

She fought the need to strip him naked. He was so warm, his hands were always bordering on hot. She wanted them on her bare, aching breasts. She stifled a moan and lifted a brow, hoping sarcasm would cool her lust. “I was referring to the summons I received when I came in.”

“Did you bring lunch?” His hand moved to her ribs, his thumb made slow

seductive circles on the underside of her breast. His other hand was still on her ass, massaging her and moving lower. She swallowed and tried to block out the sensations he was causing to tighten and unfurl low in her stomach.

“No, we agreed to keep this thing between us a secret, remember? What would it look like if I came skipping in with a lunch basket?” She frowned at him. Frustration and arousal were making her snippy. She gripped his wrists and moved his hands, stopping their torment.

“If you want to keep this thing secret then you ought not come in here with your shirt open, tempting me with those juicy berries all ripe and ready to be plucked.” Her scowl only prompted another grin from him. “Hey, that might be an interesting fantasy.

You be Little Red Riding Hood and I’ll be the wolf.” Even his laugh was sultry. He waggled his brows at her again and she tamped down on the urge to smile.

“You know…” In an attempt to change the subject, she took a few steps back, sat in the chair facing his desk and began buttoning her shirt. “You really need to hire a secretary.”

“Nah, we don’t have enough work for a full time secretary. Besides, Bryan likes waiting up there like a lovesick puppy for Officer Becca Sugar to walk in and make his day.” He gave her a pointed look and Rebecca couldn’t resist.

“He’s a sweetheart and one hell of a sexy man.”

“He’s no man, he’s a boy,” Jackson said incredulously.

“But he has a nice ass and loads of potential.”

“He’s green.” His smile faltered, his voice lowered. Rebecca kept her expression as blank as she could.

“But oh so eager to learn.” Rebecca wrinkled her nose and lowered her lids on the word “eager” and Jackson’s frown deepened.

“You gonna raise him the way ya want him, huh?” he said with raised brows.

Rebecca shrugged. “That’s the best way.” She picked at a nail, trying to hide her smile.

72

Moving Violations

“Problem with that, Becca Baby, is you don’t know what you want.” He pushed away from the desk and sauntered over to her chair, looming over her. “So see, after all that training and raisin’ up, all you’d have is a worn out confused little boy and an unsatisfied Officer Becca.”

Rebecca glanced up at him, meeting his hot gaze. “You think you know me, do you?” she whispered.

“Hell no.” He leaned in closer till she could feel his warm coffee-scented breath on her lips. She couldn’t look away, his eyes were dark and stormy and focused on hers.

“You were a lot simpler to deal with when you were a pesky little love-sick girl. Hell, if I’d known then what I know now, I would have paid closer attention. Now that you’re all grown up, I don’t know half as much as I want to…as I’m going to.” His flicked his tongue over her bottom lip. “But I do know enough to understand that you need more than a pretty boy with a nice ass to make you scream, Becca.”

Rebecca scowled and shoved him away as she stood. She moved back and began tucking in her shirt. “You are so arrogant.”

He took a step toward her, his gaze still locked on hers. “So are you.”

She retreated a step. “Me?” Her eyes widened. “You’re the one who has to feel like he’s calling the shots.”

He took another step toward her. “Yes, you, and I am calling the shots.”

She retreated, feeling a bit off center, hot, irritated. “Maybe, but that doesn’t mean you get to have whatever you want.”

Slowly he stalked her. “I want the same thing you want, Becca.” His voice was a near purr, pulling at her, making her want contact. The memory of the feel of his hot skin against hers flashed in her mind and she nearly gasped. She backed into the wall, his hands braced on either side of her head, and he pressed his body into hers. “God help me, I may want more.”

“Jackson,” she said softly, shaking her head. He moved against her, pressing his thigh between her legs against her mound. An explosion of sensation flooded her body.

How could she be so aroused so quickly? She closed her eyes and bit her lip against the hungry moan clawing from deep inside her.

The knock at the door sounded like a gunshot and had almost the same effect on Jackson. He jumped away from Rebecca, his hand going to the weapon at his hip.

The door opened and Bryan popped in. “S’cuse me Sheriff, …uh…” His eyes scanned the room from the desk to the bookshelves to his left. He blinked twice when he found them. Rebecca moved, her arms crossed over her chest, to stand in front of Jackson, afraid Bryan would notice the bulge pressing aggressively against the sheriff’s fly. Jackson glared at Bryan, his hands on his hips. “Oh, hey, Sheriff, sorry to barge in…I didn’t mean to interrupt…I mean.”

“No big deal, Bryan.” Jackson had meant to sound cool and casual but his voice was husky with arousal. “Just going over some things with Officer Taylor.”

Bryan looked from one to the other and nodded, but Rebecca got the distinct impression that Bryan wasn’t buying Jackson’s statement. He stood, a bit fidgety, with a hand on the doorknob and cleared his throat. “Well anyway, shouldn’t have barged in…Officer Taylor, you have a call. I explained that you were in a meeting with the 73

Lora Leigh and Veronica Chadwick

sheriff and offered to take a message. But he seemed kinda insistent that he talk to you immediately.”

Rebecca knew before she asked. “Who is it?”

“An Officer Todd Lawrence. He said he’s a fellow officer from Detroit.” Bryan’s brows knit together as he watched her.

Rebecca stilled; her blood seemed to freeze in her veins. That asshole was never going to leave her alone. She gritted her teeth and nodded once. “I’ll come take it.”

Before she could take a step she felt Jackson’s firm hand on her shoulder.

“Just put it through to my phone, Bryan. You can take it in here, Becca.”

“No, I think it would be best if…” Rebecca began.

“You can take it in here.” His tone left no room for negotiation. Bryan frowned and backed out of the room.

Rebecca frantically tried to think of a way out as Jackson strode across the room to his desk. The short, shrill rings began just as he turned the phone toward her then sat back in his chair, crossed one leg over the other and folded his hands together over his stomach. She could feel Jackson watching her as she stared at the phone. She moved mechanically to the desk and picked up the receiver as she lowered herself to perch on the edge of the big overstuffed chair.

“Officer Taylor.”

“Rebecca, sweetheart, it’s so good to hear your voice.”

74

Moving Violations

Chapter Fifteen