Page 169 of Hot Cops

Blake frowned. “Of course it does.” Before he could say anything more, Blake’s cell phone beeped. He read the screen and sighed. “I have to go. Domestic dispute. The neighbor just called it in.”

She nodded. “Okay. I’m late for my shoot with Caliph anyway.”

“I want to talk about this, Chloe.”

She walked toward the driver’s side door and opened it. “I meant what I said. You and I are ancient history, Blake. I think it would be best if we just left all of this in the past and got back to life as normal.”

“I’m not going to do that.”

She gave him a sad smile. “I wasn’t asking.”

Blake’s eyes darkened with a determination that told her she wouldn’t win this fight. “I’ll be at Mama Lewis’s house on Sunday for dinner.”

Fuck. The photo shoot. “I have a friend who is a photographer. She’s really?—”

“No. You’re taking the pictures.”

“Blake. Please. Why can’t you just let this go?”

He walked toward her, cornering her. “I made a mistake, Chloe. Shit, I’ve fucked up a million times. But if I let you walk away right now, without explaining, without fighting for you, it’ll be the biggest mistake of my life.”

He took advantage of the fact her mouth had fallen open. Blake’s lips landed on hers, kissing her roughly, telling her in no uncertain terms thatthiswas nowhere near over.

CHAPTERFIVE

Blake loadedChloe’s equipment into the motorcycle bag he’d borrowed from a friend as she watched, quiet and tense. She’d been the same way all through her family’s Sunday dinner. Her mother had even remarked on her silence, but Chloe simply dismissed it, saying she hadn’t slept well the night before.

Blake had followed her to her apartment on his Harley, refusing to budge when Chloe insisted she could drive herself to the lake. They were evenly matched on stubbornness, so Blake pulled out the “you owe me one” card, forcing her to give in.

He turned to find her on the sidewalk, her arms crossed stiffly. Blake tapped her on the nose, hoping the playful gesture would help her loosen up. “You’re not facing the firing squad here. We’re just going for a ride on my Harley, taking some pictures and having a little talk.”

Her shoulders slumped slightly as she released a sigh. “Fine. You’re right. Today’s conversation is about ten years overdue. Let’s get this over with.”

Blake swallowed heavily as he considered what he’d say. They’d only dated for three months all those years ago. When he thought of it that way, it blew him away. Those ninety days had had a huge impact on his life.

Problem was he’d been a jackass when he was younger, too embarrassed by his home life to come clean to his pretty little girlfriend. He’d painted a picture of some badass guy who went through life with no regard for following rules or obeying authority figures. It was easier to pretend he didn’t care what anyone thought of him than admit to Chloe how much he wanted her to look at him and see someone who was worthy of her love and respect.

He placed a helmet on Chloe’s head, helping her with the strap before putting on his own. Then he threw his leg over the bike and gestured for her to hop on. The second her thighs rested against his, Blake felt himself transported back to the first time they’d ridden together. He’d watched her and her friends studying in the back corner of the sub shop where he worked for several weeks, his gaze constantly drawn to her bright blue eyes and her loud, infectious laugh.

Most of the time, Blake lived in a rundown apartment on the wrong side of town. That was whenever his dad didn’t drink the rent money. During bad times, they crashed on the dirty floors of neighbors or even on the street. There weren’t too many happy people in his world and Blake felt as if he were constantly wading through a sea of misery.

Chloe was the complete opposite of all that. She was light and sunshine and fresh air and laughter—all rolled into one beautiful package.

Blake fired up the engine on his Harley, loving the way Chloe leaned into him, pressing her breasts against his back. He weaved his way carefully through city traffic, glad when they hit Interstate 10. Blake pointed the nose of the bike toward the west and pulled back on the throttle.

Blake was never more at peace than when he was on his motorcycle. Sometimes it felt as if the roar of the engine was the only thing that could drown out his bad memories. He’d recognized that the first time he straddled a Harley. The feeling of peace the bike gave him hadn’t waned since.

Chloe’s grip tightened around his waist, but he didn’t give way, didn’t slow down. He knew her, knew she loved this feeling of flying as much as he did. It was another way they were alike, in synch. Sometimes it amazed him how many similarities he and Chloe shared, given their completely different upbringings.

For nearly an hour, it was just the two of them, soaking up the sunshine and the silence while letting the wind blow all the hurt away. Blake didn’t pretend that pain wouldn’t resurface, that the next few hours wouldn’t be difficult. He’d never talked about his past or his father. Ever. But complete honesty was the only chance he had at possibly regaining Chloe’s trust. And maybe even her love.

He’d bare his soul to the world if it meant getting her back.

Once they turned on Old 51 Highway, the traffic all but disappeared and soon, they arrived. Blake parked in such a way that Chloe could capture him and the bike with the picturesque view in the background.

She studied his choice and nodded approvingly. “This will work.”

She removed the helmet and started to retrieve her equipment from the bag. Glancing up at the sky, then back at him, she gestured toward the sun. “We’ll have to work fast in order to take advantage of the light.”

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