Page 20 of Once Kissed

Her stare averts to the floor again. “That’s not necessary.”

“Yes it is,” I say, my cop face in place.

“All right, thank you,” she says almost silently.

She backs away and walks into the living room, giving me plenty of space as she follows me out. When we reach the door, she offers me her hand. “I appreciate the ride home, and, well, everything. You’ve been very sweet.”

Her voice is shaky. Did I spook her? I examine her face. Nah, that’s not fear etching its way to her sea-glass eyes. It’s something else.

And I like it.

Too much.

Shit.

She starts to withdraw her hand when I don’t take it, but I reach for it before she can lower it. I carefully round her fingers, brushing a kiss over her knuckles, my eyes never leaving hers. “You’re welcome,” I tell her.

Her eyes widen as I step away, those perfect lips falling open and that sweet blush coloring her cheeks.

Oh, yeah. I’m in serious trouble now.

Chapter 5

Tess

My back falls against the door. I stare into my open living room without really seeing it. Curran had what? Kissed me? Okay, not really—at least not technically, but I can’t deny it was a romantic gesture.

It was romantic, right?

I lift my hand and smile. For all his bluntness and inappropriate remarks, Curran can besexy.My smile widens as I think about how soft his lips felt against my skin. He didn’t rush the moment, allowing me to feel everything: his warm breath, his loose yet claiming hold, and the roughness of his fingers.

His actions stole my breath and about ten years from my life. I rush to the window and push aside the sheer curtain, watching him march toward his patrol car, his heavy feet leaving prints in the freshly fallen snow and his arms swinging loosely against his sides. He appears relaxed, but that hand so close to his holster tells me he’s prepared to strike—

Holy shit. I’m totally ogling him.

I should be embarrassed. But I’m not, mostly because it feels good to feel good. So instead of starting on the briefs I have due the next day, I return my focus outside.

Curran pauses when he reaches the driver’s-side door and glances up. Like a complete moron, I duck. I slap my hand over my forehead, hoping he didn’t see me. God, why did I just do that?

If it weren’t for the phone ringing, I probably would have stayed there a moment longer. I stand and hurry to answer it. “Hello?”

“Did you just fall?” Curran asks me.

I freeze in place. “Ah, no.”

“Tess, I saw you.”

“Saw me fall?” I repeat, because I have nothing better.

“Fall, dive—I don’t know…something.” I hear him shut the door and shift in his seat. “What were you doing?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” he asks. “Then why were you at the window?”

“I…was curious.”

“What were you curious about?” he muses.

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