Page 11 of Mess With Me
“Please don’t call me ma’am.”
“Will do. I’ll pick you up at twelve thirty. Got the address from your license.”
“Oh, wait! I recently moved. I’m in the apartment complex in Clover Park now.” She rattled off the new address.
He returned to his hard-cop stare. “You need to file a change of address and update your license.”
“Yes, sir! Keep up the good work, Sergeant Case!”
He shook his head, smiling, and headed back to his cruiser.
She blew out a breath, momentarily dazzled by his male beauty and forgiving nature. She quickly pulled down the visor and checked her look in the small mirror. Her eyes were dilated, her cheeks flushed with the damning evidence—lust. Worse, her hair was up in a messy ponytail and she was wearing the least sexy outfit she owned, an old gray T-shirt and purple and white polka dot leggings. She slammed the visor back in place, mad at herself for caring so much what she looked like. She reminded herself how great she felt with her new single me, happy me lifestyle. She wouldnotbe wasting time lusting over a guy, obsessing over a guy, or twisting herself into heights of painfully beautiful perfection (which was never perfect anyway). No man would be responsible for her happiness. She needed to learn to find her own happiness.
Besides, she guiltily reminded herself, Ethan was with Cali. She pulled her shirt away from her overheated body and fanned herself a bit. So, okay, her lusty hormones had perked up after an excruciatingly long dry spell, but that wasn’t anything her vibrator couldn’t take care of, right?
She glanced in the rearview mirror. Ethan was waiting for her to drive away first. Probably clocking her speed too. She drove off at a very sedate thirty miles per hour. An old man on a scooter could pass her at this rate. Ethan made a U-turn and headed in the opposite direction. She eased the acceleration a teensy bit faster. Close call with that speeding ticket, but it all turned out okay. And now she had another new hobby—hiking. Talk about expanding her horizons! Fitness, nature, what else could she do? Maybe she’d learn to be a gourmet cook, or start her own business on the side, making something cool no one ever thought of before, or maybe she’d learn ballroom dance or…pole dancing! Ooh, gardening, though that would have to wait until spring. Suddenly her whole life seemed full of possibilities!
She arrived home to her apartment, stepping inside to the empty quiet that still unsettled her. Setting her bags down, she took a deep breath. Now that she’d given up the fantasy of a romantic happy-ever-after, this could be her future, always coming home to emptiness. A life without love. She crossed her arms, hugging herself, and then with sheer determination, she pushed the dark despair down. No one ever said change was easy.
One step at a time.
She just had to believe she was worth it.
Ethan headed for Ally’s apartment, walking at a brisker pace than he normally would to pick up a woman. She was just so damned appealing. He liked her easy cheerfulness, her big smiles, and natural enthusiasm for life. Sometimes he felt like he’d been born hard and jaded. Being around her was like breathing lighter air. He shook his head at himself and his unusually silly thoughts. He headed briskly upstairs to her third-floor apartment. All the hallways and staircases were open to the outside under a covered roof. He liked that, more fresh air circulating.
He rang the bell and the door popped open a minute later. Then he merely stared, speechless.
“Hi!” Ally said cheerfully. “I looked up hiking recommendations online and put together this outfit. You think it’s good?”
This had to be a trick question. She looked utterly ridiculous in a large straw hat, white long-sleeved shirt tucked into khakis with white tube socksoverthe pants, pulled all the way up to her knees. Sneakers were fine.
He cocked his head. “Why’re the socksoverthe pants?”
“Protection against ticks, silly. I’m wearing light colors so I can spot them more easily. Lyme disease is no joke.” She looked at the ends of his jeans. “Here, let’s fix your socks too.”
“I’m good. I shower and check for ticks after the hike.”
She stepped outside and locked the door behind her. He took in her adorably geeky self and decided he respected the fact that she cared more about protecting herself than what people thought of how she looked. It showed a certain confidence and fuck-all-the-haters attitude that he’d long ago embraced.
She headed downstairs, a small pink backpack bouncing on her back. “The website recommended a shower as well. I’ll do that too.”
He kept up with her, forcing his mind away from the tantalizing idea of showering together. “What’s in the pack?”
“Water and a granola bar. Where’s your backpack?”
“Left it in my Jeep.”
“Let me guess, Gatorade and an extra-heavy pack for maximum workout.”
He barked out a laugh because she was right. “Yup.”
“How much weight?”
“Twenty pounds.”
She shook her head and her big straw hat tipped. “I’m going to work up to that. How long is the hike anyway?”
“Usually runs from one to four.”
