hulking, silent man beside her.
âNo, thanks.â
She shrugged. âSuit yourself,â she said, more uncomfortable now that the mood between them had shifted from connected to awkward. But awkward was the way things had been since his return. She turned and headed for the door.
âCara.â
Surprised, she pivoted back toward him. âYes?â
âThank you. For calling 911 and making sure Sam got here quickly.â
It was as much of an apology for his earlier rudeness as she was likely to get. If she hadnât been in the room with him that night three months ago, under him, over him, him deep inside her, his recent behavior would have convinced Cara that the most spectacular evening of her life had never happened. But it had, she thought, shivering as her body recalled the intimate connection. And that brief time together along with the flare of heat in his eyes today had convinced her she wasnât crazy. Heâd been as affected as she was, whether he showed it or not.
It was his choice not to acknowledge it that proved he wanted nothing to do with her. Heck, he clearly didnât even want a repeat performance, which merely reinforced Samâs point. As heâd informed Cara before sheâd left the bar with his brother, Mike viewed everything and everyone in life as temporary. Heâd even reminded her of Tiffany Marks, the woman heâd dated before leaving for Atlantic City. Everyone in town knew sheâd gone so far as to make inquiries into booking the only church in town for a wedding Mike had never planned on happening. Except Tiffany had been certain Mike was on the verge of popping the question, and sheâd been heartbroken when heâd left.
When Cara had agreed to their one night, sheâd been okay with that. She knew that while he didnât stick around, she was a small-town girl at heart, with small-town aspirations. Sheâd happily remain in Serendipity long after the big-city detective left his temporary job as chief of police behind. She had no doubt if she got involved with Mike again, sheâd end up with a broken heart. But he wasnât asking her for anything.
Yet if he pressed, sheâd be tempted. And what did that say about her? She shook her head to dislodge thoughts of a man who clearly wasnât interested. Cara wouldnât chase after a man any more than sheâd let one take advantage of her. Her mother and fatherâs unbalanced, unhealthy relationship set an example Cara refused to follow.
With that reality firmly in mind, she went for coffee.
*Â *Â *
Mike had faced down drug dealers and embezzlers with enough at stake to warrant killing him in order to keep their activities secret, and he hadnât been afraid. Heâd be damned if heâd let one pint-sized police officer with ocean-blue eyes get under his skin. His brother would be okay, and that was what he needed to focus on, not the way Cara, the always-in-control cop, had nearly broken down, reminding him she was also soft and female. He already knew that all too well.
After seeing Cara at the hospital yesterday, Mike had promised himself that except for work, heâd steer clear. Heâd even thought his self-imposed directive would be simple. But when he came to visit his brother the next morning, Cara was already there, having stopped by on her way to work. He heard her laughter from the hallway as he approached Samâs room.
Though he wanted to come back later, Mike wasnât a coward. He gripped the handle and let himself inside.
âNice way to get some attention,â Mike said to Sam, who was laid up in bed.
âIâm not stupid.â His light-brown hair was messed and sticking up at odd angles, his face pale, yet he managed a grin.
âNo, youâre not. The nurses are lining up to take care of him,â Cara said, catching Mikeâs gaze.
She rose to her feet. In her blue uniform, she looked every inch the
âNo, thanks.â
She shrugged. âSuit yourself,â she said, more uncomfortable now that the mood between them had shifted from connected to awkward. But awkward was the way things had been since his return. She turned and headed for the door.
âCara.â
Surprised, she pivoted back toward him. âYes?â
âThank you. For calling 911 and making sure Sam got here quickly.â
It was as much of an apology for his earlier rudeness as she was likely to get. If she hadnât been in the room with him that night three months ago, under him, over him, him deep inside her, his recent behavior would have convinced Cara that the most spectacular evening of her life had never happened. But it had, she thought, shivering as her body recalled the intimate connection. And that brief time together along with the flare of heat in his eyes today had convinced her she wasnât crazy. Heâd been as affected as she was, whether he showed it or not.
It was his choice not to acknowledge it that proved he wanted nothing to do with her. Heck, he clearly didnât even want a repeat performance, which merely reinforced Samâs point. As heâd informed Cara before sheâd left the bar with his brother, Mike viewed everything and everyone in life as temporary. Heâd even reminded her of Tiffany Marks, the woman heâd dated before leaving for Atlantic City. Everyone in town knew sheâd gone so far as to make inquiries into booking the only church in town for a wedding Mike had never planned on happening. Except Tiffany had been certain Mike was on the verge of popping the question, and sheâd been heartbroken when heâd left.
When Cara had agreed to their one night, sheâd been okay with that. She knew that while he didnât stick around, she was a small-town girl at heart, with small-town aspirations. Sheâd happily remain in Serendipity long after the big-city detective left his temporary job as chief of police behind. She had no doubt if she got involved with Mike again, sheâd end up with a broken heart. But he wasnât asking her for anything.
Yet if he pressed, sheâd be tempted. And what did that say about her? She shook her head to dislodge thoughts of a man who clearly wasnât interested. Cara wouldnât chase after a man any more than sheâd let one take advantage of her. Her mother and fatherâs unbalanced, unhealthy relationship set an example Cara refused to follow.
With that reality firmly in mind, she went for coffee.
*Â *Â *
Mike had faced down drug dealers and embezzlers with enough at stake to warrant killing him in order to keep their activities secret, and he hadnât been afraid. Heâd be damned if heâd let one pint-sized police officer with ocean-blue eyes get under his skin. His brother would be okay, and that was what he needed to focus on, not the way Cara, the always-in-control cop, had nearly broken down, reminding him she was also soft and female. He already knew that all too well.
After seeing Cara at the hospital yesterday, Mike had promised himself that except for work, heâd steer clear. Heâd even thought his self-imposed directive would be simple. But when he came to visit his brother the next morning, Cara was already there, having stopped by on her way to work. He heard her laughter from the hallway as he approached Samâs room.
Though he wanted to come back later, Mike wasnât a coward. He gripped the handle and let himself inside.
âNice way to get some attention,â Mike said to Sam, who was laid up in bed.
âIâm not stupid.â His light-brown hair was messed and sticking up at odd angles, his face pale, yet he managed a grin.
âNo, youâre not. The nurses are lining up to take care of him,â Cara said, catching Mikeâs gaze.
She rose to her feet. In her blue uniform, she looked every inch the
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