It’s not embarrassment.

She tried to hush the voice in her head, at the same time as she acknowledged it was proper. Sure, there was some embarrassment concerning the issues he’d witnessed, and the truth that she’d fallen into his arms so quickly after they’d met. However largely what she felt when she noticed Mike Santori was this unusual, pressing rigidity. Presently her blood was gushing and a type of electrical vitality surged by means of her, making the hairs on her arms rise up. Her foot was tapping on the ground, her fingers doing the identical on the desk, as if she simply wanted to maneuver.

It was consciousness. Attraction, too. She hadn’t been capable of get Mike out of her thoughts because the second they’d met.

“Right here you go, Chief,” Angie mentioned, handing him a foam cup with a lid. Clearly he was taking his to go.

Lindsey held her breath, questioning if he would depart with out a phrase to her. After the whole lot they’d mentioned on Saturday, about how neither of them was eager about any romantic entanglements, what they need to do was proceed exchanging nothing greater than these well mannered smiles in public. If he really sat along with her and began a dialog, the gossipers would have them engaged by midnight.

She knew that, knew she ought to be hoping he’d flip round and depart. However as an alternative, one thing inside her blossomed and warmed on the thought of him sitting within the empty seat at her desk. And inside fifteen seconds, he was.

“Is that this seat taken?”

“You’ve simply taken it,” she identified, attempting, unsuccessfully, to cover a smile at that reality.

“True.” He sipped his espresso, eyeing her over the cup. “How are you doing, Lindsey?”

“High quality, thanks. No extra seasickness.”

“The island doesn’t transfer fairly as a lot because the ferry did.” There was a twinkle in these brown eyes, and little crinkles beside them. The man whose very profession ought to make him dour, was quick-to-smile, as an alternative. She favored that about him. Among the many many issues she favored about him.

His mouth, his fingers, his physique.

His kiss. Oh, good lord did the person know how you can kiss!

She shook off the ideas and replied, “That’s good. I doubt I’d survive one other sea voyage anytime quickly.”

“Are you settling into the cottage okay?”

“It’s a bit drafty,” she admitted. “Being near the lake, these watery winds are likely to sift by means of the eaves. However I’ve received numerous blankets on my mattress.”

Shit, Lindsey. Don’t speak about your mattress with this man. As a result of, in case you do, the look in your face will make it clear to everybody within the room that you just wouldn’t thoughts if he shared that mattress.

Thankfully, Mike didn’t take the opening she’d so stupidly left there. In all probability as a result of, in contrast to Saturday, they had been surrounded by curious busybodies.

He leaned over the desk, conserving his voice low. “Have you ever had any extra issues with…anyone?”

“Not a one,” she mentioned, figuring out he was referring to his obnoxious junior officer.

“Good. I’ve been attempting to maintain him busy.”

“I admire it.”

He nodded and requested, “What concerning the job? How’s faculty?”

“It’s okay,” she mentioned, lifting her personal cup. “Totally different.”

“, you talked about that you just’re not recurrently a instructor, however you by no means did inform me what your actual job is.”

He waited. She didn’t reply, attempting to determine how you can reply the unasked query.

Lastly, he mentioned, “Okay, state secret.”

“No, it’s not,” she mentioned, feeling silly. However sure, it’s. “I’m type of unemployed proper now. That’s why this substitute place labored out so nicely, for me and for Callie.”

“The place did you’re employed earlier than?”

“In Chicago.” She’d deliberately misinterpreted the query, sticking to geography.

That appeared to shock him. Clearly he hadn’t learn her license very carefully final week when he’d pulled her over. “Actually? Me, too.”

“Oh!” He’d talked about he was a latest transplant. Dumb of her to by no means ask the place he’d come from. “The place did you reside?”

“Little Italy. Close to the college. I labored for the Chicago P.D.”

Now she was one who was shocked. “Severely?”

“Yeah. I began after I was twenty as a beat cop. Stored going to varsity at night time, labored my approach up. After I completed faculty, I landed my detective defend.”

“You had been a Chicago Police detective, and now you’re…”

“Chief of the Tinytown Police Division?” He sighed, sounding rueful. “Yep. And, earlier than you ask, it was my alternative. I didn’t get fired for taking bribes or something of that kind.”

“That thought by no means crossed my thoughts.” She won’t know him nicely—but—however she was already positive Mike Santori was one of many good guys. “Are you cheerful together with your determination?”

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