Page 17 of Recklessly You
Damn, do I want to lick the saltiness of those lips.
“Oh, that’s nice. I used to go to this bar in Manhattan. I would listen to jazz and have a couple of drinks with friends.”
Did I mention I love her accent? My dick twitches every time. I’ve never met a sexier woman than Sophie…never met one who drives me crazy like this. She’s feisty and straightforward.
“You miss Manhattan?”
She licks her lips, and I drool. “I do miss Manhattan. It’s been my only home. Never been anywhere else. Until now. Manhattan has a unique energy I miss. Broadway shows and jazz music are such a fun part of life there. People here in California are different… Well, in San Diego. They’re more outdoorsy and more relaxed.”
A man enters the room, his eyes fixated on Sophie with a longing gaze. A wave of intense jealousy floods through me. He must be Rake—or whatever his name is.
“Who’s that?” I tip my beer toward the man.
“A guy I was seeing. Ryder. We were casual. He wanted more, though…something serious. I didn’t. So, he called it off.”
So, she doesn’t want a serious relationship. Interesting.
“From what I’ve heard, you don’t do relationships either. Have you ever had a girlfriend? Or been in love?” Sophie’s cheeks turn a little pink.
Having her this close isn’t just frying my circuit, it’s sucking the oxygen from my lungs.
“No to both,” I admit. And will never happen. “If you’re not wanting serious, then why are you going on dates?” I ask.
She arches an eyebrow at me. “You’re very nosy, Officer,” she teases as she sips from her mixed drink, letting me glimpse her pouting lips.
Damn it, I’m getting aroused.
“When it comes to you, I am,” I reply before I can stop myself. This woman has bewitched me. I take a deep breath and clear my throat, playing it off.
Fuck me.
“When it comes to your safety,” I clarify.
She tilts her head, and her eyes sparkle. “Oh, I see. So, you interrogate all women about whom they date and how they date. For their safety.” She makes air quotation marks.
“No, not all women. You’re Mila’s best friend. You’re important to her, and Mila is important to me.”
She stays quiet for an awful minute. Her shoulders drop. “Have a good night, Officer. See you around.” She walks off without saying another word and joins her friend playing pool—not even a glance.
My heart deflates. Fuck, I feel like a dick. I want to apologize for making it seem like I don’t give a shit about her. I have nothing more to offer her. We are both not into relationships. I’ve never had such a mirthful conversation with a woman as with her. I’m about to approach her and offer her pool lessons, make my apology, but the asshole Rake beats me to it. He looks like a fucking wanna-be biker. Fucking wild hog. He draws her in for a hug. Her smile widens. My stomach churns with jealousy. I hate the feeling, so I shut it down quickly. I pay for my tab and walk out the door.
* * *
I’ve spentthe last two days searching for Rachel, Dominic’s mother. Shit has hit the fan. Mila found out that Dominic’s mother is responsible for her father’s death. She closed herself off and broke it off with Dominic. I’ve tried calling her and Sophie, and they’ve both rejected my calls. I completely understand. I blame myself for not arresting Rachel immediately. I felt obligated to tell my bros first. And I never thought she would run.
It’s been four weeks since I’ve seen Sophie at the bar. To say she hasn’t been living rent-free in my head would be a lie. I’ve stroked myself numerous times, thinking of her. She’s messed with my head and doesn’t even know it. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a bachelor party, and a gorgeous brunette took me home with her, but my dick wouldn’t cooperate. She wasn’t the blonde I desired. Damn grenade knows how to create chaos in my life. Fucking hell. I haven’t even touched her yet.
John and I prowl around Rachel’s work, hoping she’ll show up. My cell rings, and my eyebrows jog up—it’s Sophie.
“Hello.” She’s breathing heavily.
“Sophie, what happened? Are you okay?”
“Liam s-she has a gun…Rachel.”
Fuck, my heart rate speeds up. “Where are you? Where’s Rachel?”
“In the house. I just got home with Dante, and I saw her through the window pointing a gun at Mila.”
