Page 12 of Taken by the Lawman

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Deegan tried his best to keep his eyes off Kiersten’s ass as they climbed the stairs of the B&B in Folklore, after all he was a red-blooded man who knew exactly what she looked like under those slacks. She intrigued and frustrated him all at the same time. Made him feel incompetent. Made him want her so damn bad that he couldn’t think clearly.

From the second he was introduced to her he’d wanted her. He’d tried without success to not want her, to keep their relationship in the work zone, but every time she walked into the room his gaze naturally found her. From the way her dark hair fell to her shoulders in large waves, her fascinating smile or the way she worked her bottom lip when she was concerned or thoughtful. She’d always been professional, almost snooty, until the New Year’s Eve party when he’d been floored when things had taken a turn. They’d ended up down a dark, empty hallway, going at each other like two raving lunatics, tearing at each other’s clothes until he’d finally dragged her into a shadowed conference room and bent her over the table where he took her fast and hard. What probably should have been the hottest five-minute encounter of his lifetime turned into an all-nighter back at his place that left an impression in him that would last years.

Up until earlier when he’d pulled off the highway, he’d believed that she didn’t think of that night and didn’t want more too until he saw that look in her eyes. Like the look on New Year’s Eve. The one that lured him in and crushed all his defenses.

Unfortunately, no woman made him feel these same things. He’d tried to get her out of his brain, her scent off his skin, but no other woman came close. He was left semi-satisfied with the others. Left wanting more than just a sexual encounter. He needed all his molecules enlightened. There came a point in a man’s life when he needed to look at his future with a skeptical eye and where he wanted to be. Deegan had been doing a lot of thinking lately and there was a huge void in front of him that he needed to fill.

Once they were inside the room with the door closed, she turned on him and crossed her arms, tapping the toe of her boot. “Now tell me why you made out to the woman at the desk that we’re a couple?”

“I booked the room before I knew you were coming with me and we both know how small towns are.”

“And how are small towns?”

“We have to fit in. They won’t give us any information about Mont if they think we’re Feds. That’s where my plan comes into play.”

“Plan?” She tilted her head in question.

“Maybe we should grab something to eat. I’m hungry. I wonder if they have room service here.” He dropped his bag on the bed and searched around for a menu.

“Don’t try to change the subject. Food can wait. I cannot.”

“Why are you so uptight?”

She pursed pink, glossy lips. “What you call uptight, I call mindful.”

He blew out a long breath. “We’re a couple visiting this amazing town. No one will be suspicious. Come on, it’s not like you haven’t worked undercover before.”

Her eyes narrowed. “I didn’t agree to this.”

The room contained a queen-sized bed, dresser, and a TV. He finally found the menu on the nightstand and busied himself reading through the list. “With any luck we’ll only have to play these roles for a few hours and we can head back home.” He flashed what he hoped was a bright, good-natured smile when inside he was thinking about how good she looked and the one bed in the center of the room. That would give her all the reason she needed to stay clear of him, and that wasn’t what he wanted.

She dropped her arms to her sides. “Don’t get any ideas that this is anything more than an assignment.”

“A man and woman can be in the same room, alone, and not have thoughts of depraved sex, but maybe you’re worried that you can’t control yourself.”

Her lashes fluttered lower. “Trust me, I can handle myself. I was just simply making the rules clear.”

“Do you like grilled cheese?” He looked at her above the menu. “Or a BLT? Those are basically your two choices.”

She was still looking at him in confusion and working that lower lip like it was candy. When she shoved her hands into her back pockets and shifted her feet, he realized her agitation had come back. “You had this planned all along, didn’t you?”

“No.” Her gaze penetrated him. He should feel mortification that all he wanted to do was dive into her cleavage, but he didn’t. A man could want what he couldn’t have. “I had no clue you’d come with me. We’ll fit in better as a couple. You even have that expression that my mom gives to my dad when she’s upset. You’re good at this.”

Her hands came up in frustration. “I’m catching the next bus home.” She swiveled and started for the door, but he was quicker and blocked her path. “Get out of my way! I’m not staying in this room and pretending we’re a couple.”

“Why are you afraid of me?” he asked in a lowered voice.

She blinked. “I’m not afraid of you.” Her irises widened, betraying her words.

“I’d never do anything to put you at risk or pressure you into something you don’t want to do.” He reached up to brush away a strand of hair latched onto her cheek, but he caught himself and dropped his hand to his side, clenching it into a fist. “It’s like any assignment. Sometimes we do things we don’t want to do…or things we secretly wish we could do. If you really want to go home, I’ll give you the keys to my truck.”

She brought her chin up. He could practically see her thoughts turning through her eyes. “I’m hoping you didn’t bring me here under false pretenses.”

He swiped a hand down his jaw, grinning. “Now who has the ego? I’m not desperate, sweetheart. I get it. We had one night together that meant nothing more than a blip in space. For someone who preaches professionalism, you should try acting upon it. You want to keep accusing me of being stuck on that night when I think we both know you’re the one who can’t get over it but can’t admit it.”

“Wouldn’t you like to think so. I mean, sure, it was a good time, but I’ve moved on. In fact, I moved on with the man you saw me with at the restaurant.” She shrugged.

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