Page 4 of Tripp in Love

A half-dozen people showed up at the funeral. He guessed most were there to see for themselves that the town pain in the ass was truly gone. Tripp wasn’t surprised Lorn’s dad hadn’t shown up, if he was as bad as Toya had hinted. Lorna Cane, Lorn’s mom, sat on the same bench as Toya, the only one with tears running down her cheeks. Toya’s eyes were dry. He wondered if the two women had ever met.

At some point, she must have felt his eyes on her because she turned to look back at him. Her expressive eyebrows rose, and her mouth formed an O. He wanted to taste that mouth, and if he had his chance, he would.

When the service was over, she walked back toward him. Did she realize how her hips swayed with each step, tantalizing him? Yeah, she did. This woman was well aware of her beauty, and she used it to her advantage. Every one of the guys down at the station had been putty in her hands. Even the chief, who had arranged for the impound fee to be waved on her car and had a temporary license faxed down for her use in traveling here and on the road back home.

“Officer Tripp, what are you doing here?” she asked. His cock stirred for no reason other than the sultry tone of her voice.

“It’s just Tripp.” He held out his hand, and she put hers into his palm. Damn, she made him feel like a giant. That wasn’t a bad thing. “I wanted to take you to dinner.”

She grinned up at him. If she didn’t stop, he might forget the food and take her right here. The tilt to her head told him she knew just what was on his mind. “Just dinner?”

“We can discuss that at my favorite restaurant. I think they have something you’ll enjoy.”

He followed her to the hotel where she’d booked a room and arranged to pay for with a withdrawal from her bank branch in town, and they dropped off her car and rode in his personal SUV. The company vehicle he’d left at home since he figured she might not like to be so conspicuous riding in it. Seeing her frightened earlier had gotten to him, and awakened a protectiveness he didn’t want to repeat tonight.

“So what are you drinking?” he asked.

“Beer.”

His turn to be surprised. “I would have taken you to be a white wine kind of woman, or maybe something fruity.”

She burst out laughing. “Seriously? Yeah, no thanks. A light beer. How about that?”

He grinned. “Okay, watching your figure.” Purposely, he let his gaze travel to her breasts and the amazing cleavage she displayed. Something told him she wouldn’t be offended, and she wasn’t.

She rested a hand at the side of he

r dress’s V-neckline. “I think you’re watching it enough for the both of us.” Her words held breathy wonder rather than satisfaction or annoyance.

Tripp waited until the waitress had taken their drink order and left to fill it before he spoke again. “How can I not? You’re beautiful. But you know that. Tell me more about you.”

“Oh no you don’t, copper.” She waggled a finger at him. “You know more than I wanted you to know about me. Hell, you even have my home address and probably my phone number. I only have your name. You do the talking.”

Her hands folded and chin rested on them to present an intriguing picture. A woman so interested hadn’t happened for a while. “What would you like to know?”

“That’s for you to decide.”

They paused once again to receive their beers and then gave their food orders. At her insistence, he shared a little about himself. “Let’s see. How about family, since you told me about yours. Last year my parents decided to travel the United States in an RV. Sold their home and, well, I haven’t seen them in about six months. We talk regularly on the phone though.”

“Hm, siblings?”

“I have one brother who owns a hardware store not far from here.” With each admission, he felt more and more like a bore. A big-city woman like her would never be impressed with a small-town cop like him. Hell, even the crime down this way must be nothing compared to New York. Yet, her gaze never wavered from his face, which he found very attractive in her.

“Ever been married?”

He choked on a gulp of his beer and put a hand up to cough it out. “Once. I got off duty early one day and found her in bed with another man.”

Toya’s eyes rounded. “Is she insane?”

He grinned. “I’ll take that as a compliment. Yes, well, needless to say, we are no longer together. She got pregnant by the guy.”

“Let me guess, single mother?” Her lips curled in her annoyance at his ex.

He nodded. “Either way, I decided then and there that getting serious with anyone wasn’t what I was looking for.” He didn’t know why he’d thrown that into the conversation. Maybe it was to let her know if they did get physical, that’s as far as it would ever go. He would never remarry. For that matter, he would never classify any woman as a girlfriend. Sure, he admired his parents and how they had managed to stay together so many years, but that was all it was—an example.

Her lips curled on one side, and the amusement in her eyes was clear. “Consider me informed.”

He liked her sense of humor and the way she smiled. She was a breath of fresh air, oddly enough, which surprised him. When their food arrived, they ate for a few companionable minutes and then continued a casual conversation. Tripp waited for the right moment to bring up what he already knew they both wanted.

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