Chapter Four

Jesse

Thinking about yesterday with Kat instead of finishing up some reports, I suddenly glanced up and found Dale leaning in the open doorway with a smile on his face. “Thought you’d want to know. She’s just pulled up around the side of the Bistro.” He looked out of the window and laughed.

It was music to my ears so I jumped up and walked out, ignoring everyone who wanted my attention. I had a mission. With determination in my step, I spotted her car…and Kat was still inside.

I moved along side and, to her surprise, I opened her door, leaned in and grinned. My mouth watered at the sight of her in the knitted sweater dress that fit her curves. Her eyes met mine and the blush coating her cheeks gave me hope. She licked her lips and swiveled to climb out, giving me a glimpse of her smooth thighs, her feet in a pair of knee high boots.

“You’re looking good,” I commented.

Kat’s blush deepened and, I wasn’t going to lie, my gaze dropped to her nipples, which were hard as pebbles while a noticeable shiver ran through her. I blinked to make the image disappear, but no such luck. They were like homing beacons, and weren’t the only thing pulsing with arousal.

Swallowing hard, I cleared my throat and held my hand out. “Let me help you.”

She slipped her hand into mine and, the minute our skin touched, I felt a shock of desire shoot up my arm. It made its way to my cock, which jerked, so damn eager to be buried in Kat’s softness.

Her dress slipped further up her thighs when she slipped from the car, so I briefly snapped my lids closed to hide them from view. Groaning, I took a heavy breath and met Kat’s shocked blue eyes. I was afraid to move because, if I did, our connection would be broken. Her hand felt right in mine and, even though it was cold as hell outside, I didn’t feel it. My blood was heated and, from the deep blush on Kat’s face, I’d say she was just as warm.

I cleared my throat, and asked, “Do you have everything?”

She turned back to the car, and tried to pull her hand free but I held tight. “I’ll get it.” I leaned inside the car, brushing against her, and grabbed the purse from the passenger seat.

When I straightened, we were so close a knife wouldn’t have gotten between us, and all I could do was close my eyes and inhale the delicious woman. Her fragrance was heavenly and it was so Kat. It fit her.

“Jesse?” she mumbled, her voice strained, thick with arousal.

What was I doing?

I snapped my eyes open, and admitted, “You smell so good. I don’t want to move.” My heart pounded and my body warmed with the smoldering look reflected back at me. “Any closer and I’ll be inside you.” I groaned.

She tried to pull free, but I couldn’t force my hands to release her.

“I need to get inside,” she whispered, becoming flustered the longer I touched her.

“I know.” I said with regret, and added, “I need to get inside…badly.” The look I gave her said exactly what I wanted to get inside of, and it wasn’t the Bistro.

“I…Jesse?” She appeared close to tears so I quickly shoved my desire away. Taking a deep breath, I backed down with the heaviness I’d come on to her with and started to walk her to the Bistro. “I’m sorry, Kat. I want you and, when I’m this close, I can’t think. Yesterday has only made me eager for more of you. All of you.”

No sooner had she taken two steps than her feet went from under her. She squeaked and threw herself into my arms—not that I was complaining. Reaching out, I hauled her against my chest, steadying us both. Her soft curves pressed against my hardness and I couldn’t think…my heart was pounding. She’d probably be feeling more of me than she ever bargained for, and while I was embarrassed, she laughed, and joked, “That’s a big gun you carry, Sheriff.”

I grinned and admitted, “My guns on my hip,” I smirked, “not between my legs.”

Her mortification was good and well underway. Her cheeks heated and she put some much-needed space between us.

Unfortunately, her eyes zeroed in on the bulge she’d been pressed up against. I growled, hands on my hips while I loomed over her. “Kat…you’re not helping.”

“I’m old,” she blurted out, much to my, and her, surprise, if I guessed. “I mean…oh, God. I’m still old. I was old yesterday,” she mumbled, glaring up at me because I couldn’t wipe the grin from my face.

“You are beautiful.”

Smiling, she shook her head and rushed out with, “Have dinner with me.”

I blinked and laughed. “Yes, although you beat me to the invitation by mere seconds.” I quickly pulled her against me. “Seriously though, I really want to get to know you, and until yesterday, I had no idea how to ask you.” I shrugged. “I thought you’d turn me down.”

“Why would you think that?” she asked, taking a step away.

“You always seemed to keep to yourself, so I thought you had little or no interest in me.” I narrowed my gaze. “I certainly don’t think that after you came on me.”

She looked surprised and a bit embarrassed. “You’ve taken up a great deal of time in my imagination.” She laughed.

“Imagination, huh? If you want to tell me what kind of thoughts have been passing through that gorgeous head of yours, I wouldn’t object.”

“I bet.” She snorted, and eyed me. “You may get them out of me before too long…wouldn’t take much.”

Delighted, I smirked. “I’ll remember that.”

“Are you going to let me enter the Bistro, Sheriff?” Kat pointed to the door I stood in front of.

“As long as you have dinner with me this evening, at my place…and as long as you wear those sexy high heels you’re fond of, then yes, I’ll let you go and meet Beth and Tasha.”

She swallowed in nervous anticipation. “I can do that.”

I moved out of the way, waited until I could slide my arms around her midriff and pulled her back against my chest. “I’ve wanted you since the first time my eyes landed on you, so be prepared,” I moved so close that she’d be able to feel the throb of my erection, “to spend the night…and lots of nights with me. I’m playing for keeps Kat.”

She groaned. “Yesterday was the first time in three years that I’ve been touched…I want you to touch me,” she whispered before turning her head and meeting my gaze. “I don’t know what else to say.”

“Say nothing, and be there tonight.” I kissed her on the tip of her nose, patted her on the ass, as I opened the door for her.

She looked bemused as I watched her join her two friends.

I turned around and headed back to the sheriff’s office unable to wipe the grin from my face and wondered how I’d become interested in Kat to the point that I couldn’t think about anyone else. I couldn’t come up with any one thing—lots of different things about her had attracted me. The first had been her looks, the second the shyness I’d thought she suffered with. Her dark brown hair gave me fantasies, her red lips made my body crave their attention. Her body was made for me—the slim, curvy figure, and tits that were begging for my mouth.

Every time our paths had crossed, Kat had smiled shyly at me, and I’d enjoyed coaxing some conversation out of her. Every time we talked, she’d seemed happier when we’d part company and her eyes had begun to fill with an excited light whenever she’d see me. It had become my mission to see that light in her and, slowly, she’d really gotten under my skin. And it wasn’t just her looks. She was amazing, loving, intelligent and her laughter lightened my heart while it sent heat through my body.

I’d fallen in love with her. Until yesterday, I’d wondered whether I’d fallen in love with the idea of her, of the woman who needed saving...one I wanted to save. But the minute I’d touched her, I’d known that she held my heart in the palm of her hand.

At one time, I’d have run the minute I thought I had deep feelings for someone but, with Kat, I wanted to run closer. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and keep her there forever.