Page 20 of Loving My Enemy

The sheriff gasped and pushed his chair away from the table. “That wasn’t the intent, Elka.” And now he was doing that whole southern gentleman thing, all out of sorts because he took my words the wrong way.

“I know, sheriff. That’s why I invited you to stay for lunch. I made too much and I thought it would give you a nice reprieve from the heat.” Now I was rethinking the whole good manners part of my upbringing because, once again, it caused more problems than it solved. “You know what? Fine, let’s eat.” I grabbed another of my colorful Fiestaware bowls and took a seat. Right across from Deputy Vargas.

“I don’t like this.”

I let out a long sigh and stared at the handsome sheriff. “Eat. It’s a fair trade and now you’ve got me eating even though I don’t want to. So eat.Please.”

“If you insist,” he said and flashed a boyish smile as he pulled his chair back to the table and dug into his big bowl of chili with gusto. “Damn, this is some good chili, Elka. We might make a Texan out of you after all.”

Doubtful, but I smiled at his compliment. And then I made the mistake of looking at Deputy Vargas who wore an indecipherable look that could have been contempt or suspicion. It was probably both. “Is chili a Texas specialty?”

He snorted and shook his head. “You’ll have the answer to that when the chili cook-off rolls around later this month.”

A chili cook-off sounded perfectly quaint and small town, and exactly like something I never would have gotten to do even if such things existed in Washington state. “I’ll have to mark my calendar.”

“What calendar? It seems you don’t keep a regular schedule.” Deputy Vargas’ dark eyes were so intense, it felt like he could read my thoughts.

“I’ll do better to make it look like I’m a productive citizen since the law is watching,” I told him and stabbed at my chili with a spoon, picturing myself gouging out his stupid hazel eyes.

“We’re not watching anyone.” Sheriff Henderson stepped in to reassure me, but his words did nothing of the sort. “Tulip is a small town and we all know everyone’s business, even when they don’t want us to.” His gaze slid to the deputy and I wondered what that was about, but not enough to ask.

Sick of the pretense, I pushed my chair back and stood. “Well, the people who actually care to know me, know what I do and what kind of schedule I keep. Just leave everything as it is when you leave.” This time, I filled a tall glass with tea and walked out of the kitchen with my head held high.

It didn’t mean anything that one surly police officer didn’t like me. I had my work and I had a few friends. For now, it was enough.

Chapter 11

Antonio

Iwoke up on my day off with a smile and decided to start the day right: with a five-mile run. It wasn’t my favorite way to stay active, but it was the only way to get exercise where half the town wouldn’t be able to stop and chat. It helped that I chose a path that was mostly on the outer edges of Tulip. I had plenty of thoughts to sort through and they all started and ended with Elka. I couldn’t stop thinking about that damn kiss or the way her curves had pressed up against me during it, just like they had in the stairwell of her basement.

I also couldn’t forget the look in her eyes right before she left her kitchen, too disgusted and too angry to finish eating in my company. It was a real blow to my ego. It also led to two lectures from Tyson. The first was as my boss. He told me my behavior did not reflect on the professionalism of the department. The second was as my friend. “Maybe if you learned how to treat a woman, you might stop scaring them off.”

It hadn’t been my finest afternoon as an officer, interrogating a woman who’d offered to feed me in exchange for my help—even though it was help she hadn’t asked for and didn’t want. Needless to say, I was happy to have a day to myself. As I mademy way towards the center of town, I thought about driving to the city for the day. Some time away from the people I loved and swore to protect might do wonders for my shitty disposition. Maybe I’d even find a woman to waste a few hours with.

The final leg of my run took me near Tulip’s Tribute, still looking sad and rundown. The flowers still grew, bright and colorful, which only made the statue and fountain look worse by comparison. Right there, in front of the statue of Tulip, was a familiar figure in a bright-pink catsuit that hugged every one of her curves. The sight was mouthwatering. The closer I came, the more tempted I was to run in the other direction. But that wasn’t who I was as a man.

“Elka.” Her body was contorted devilishly and I could hardly concentrate on the reason I’d stopped in the first place. That round tight ass was high in the air, making my fingers twitch to grab it again, while her head was practically on the ground. Her hands were flat on the ground behind her. “What are you doing?”

“Yoga,” she answered softly, not moving an inch.

“You can’t perform in the park without a permit.” My eyes snapped shut as soon as the words left my mouth, and I wanted to turn tail and run. I wasn’t that much of a dick—the guy who would harass a woman in the park.

She snorted but otherwise remained still. “I’m not performing, deputy. I’m doing yoga. The only audience here is you, and I was here first.”

“That’s not good enough, Elka. I don’t know where you’re from.”

Like someone had pulled a pin, she snapped back into a normal position on her feet, angry gaze settled on me. “That’s right, deputy, you don’t know me, and you don’t know a damn thing about me. Yet you seem to have all the pertinent information without any facts.”

“Who’s fault is that?”

She reared back like I’d struck her. “I don’t recall asking to be your friend, deputy, which means I don’t owe you any details about my life.” She crossed her arms, a move that pushed her breasts up even more. My mouth grew even more moist.

“You still can’t perform in the park without a permit.”

With a grunt and a professional-grade eyeroll, Elka stepped off her purple mat, rolled it up, and tucked it under her arm before she turned and marched away without another look back.

I enjoyed the sight of her walking away far more than I should have. My gaze was riveted to the swing of her hips until she was out of sight.

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