Page 35 of Merciless Sinner

Oh my God.

Of all the things that could have come out of his mouth…

“I hope you don’t mind me coming by here. I thought we might need to talk.”

Talk? Was he crazy? I shook my head, words escaping me. I couldn’t function properly let alone form sensible words.

Suddenly my skin crawled with fear that everyone was staring at me and somehow they knew exactly what I’d done with Officer Jeremy. I glanced around the small space only to find everyone absorbed in buying or selling various desserts and not paying a lick of attention to anything else.

“Is there somewhere we can talk?” he asked.

“No,” I whispered for no good reason other than the heat of embarrassment crawling across my skin. “I don’t even have a private office here.”

“No problem, how about a walk?” When I hesitated he added, “Surely your boss will allow you to take a break. You look like you need one.” He reached up and brushed what I knew to be pretty dark circles under my eyes. The evidence of my not sleeping was written all over my face.

I sighed at his touch as memories of that night flooded through me again. Rough hands in all the right places of my body. Lips pressed to flesh. My desires at their command. I sighed. How would I ever get those memories tucked back in again?

Might as well get this over with. Then when they were done I could start rebuilding those stupid walls that keep crumbling. “Sure. Let me grab my coat.” I disappeared into the back and bent over the sink for two seconds, trying to slow down my racing heart. This was the last thing I’d expected. For a few brief minutes here and there I’d let an occasional romantic fantasy creep into my mind of Alex coming after me.

Maybe announcing his undying love for me. I laughed, a harsh sound even to my own ears. It sure as hell didn’t get more ridiculous than that, now did it?

I took a few calming breaths and then scooped up my coat from its hook and yelled at Jessie that I’d be back in fifteen. She merely waved at me, her attention too focused on the customer in front of her. I shook my head. That would be good enough. If there was one thing I could say about my place of employment, it was what a success it had become practically overnight.

Every one of us here were overworked, but Zia compensated us well for the hassles.

A perk of being owned by a newly minted celebrity chef.

When Jeremy spied me coming from the back, he turned and headed for the door. I followed, shrugging into my coat all while pretending I didn’t feel my coworkers staring at my back.

February in the city could be pretty unforgiving if you weren’t prepared for it. Thank goodness for a sunny day. I caught up with Jeremy and we walked in silence for about

a half a block.

“So you’re a cop.”

Jeremy laughed. “That’s exactly what everyone says when they find out. They always sound so surprised.”

“I don’t know what else I’m supposed to say in this situation.”

He stopped and faced me. “How about, ‘it’s great to see you again. Where’ve you been all my life.’ Or even ‘thanks for the great fuck’.”

I had to bite back a caustic response to his last statement. I didn’t need to attack Jeremy. It wasn’t his fault I was on the edge of whatever the hell this was. If anything I should feel guilty that I couldn’t be the woman he and Alex obviously wanted.

Instead I looked away and concentrated on each step I took on the sidewalk.

“Damn it, Harper. I’m sorry. That was completely uncalled for.”

“Not really. I probably deserve worse.”

A frown creased his forehead. “What? Are you crazy? Don’t say things that are going to make me want to spank some sense into you. That will get us both in trouble.”

I laughed then at the picture of Jeremy doing just that. Because after that night it wasn’t hard to imagine. Unfortunately, said laughter went from funny haha to hysterical in two seconds flat and the next thing I knew I’d released a flood of tears that resembled releasing the kraken in their intensity. Jeremy gathered me into his arms and rubbed my back while I cried it out. I felt ridiculous and yet, I couldn’t stop. My time with both of these men had opened a side of me I’d thought was safely forgotten and now I didn’t know how to put it back away.

When the racking sobs subsided Jeremy tipped my head back and wiped the remnants of the jag from my face. “Why aren’t you returning Alex’s calls? Did we hurt you? Did he?”

I shook my head, although I was surprised that Alex had sent Jeremy to question me. If he really wanted to know so bad why didn’t he come ask himself?

“No. It’s not that at all. You and Alex gave me an incredible fantasy night that I’m never going to forget.”

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