“It’s simple. You can come stay with me.”
Chapter 7
God, she was sexy. Eating cookies had never seemederotic to him. The way her face went slack with pleasure and her deep moan filled the air, it was the purest form of erotic viewing material he’d come across. All he could think about was what other pleasures would make her moan that way for him.
And even now, with her mouth slightly opened as the apparent shock of his suggestion washed over her, all he wanted to do was run his thumb across that full bottom lip.
Not what you’re here for, Michael.
“Absolutely not.” The sharp tone of her voice snatched him out of his not-so-proper thoughts as he raised his eyes to meet hers.
“Why not?”
“Uh, I don’t know you from a hole in the wall. Why the hell would I go to your house?”
“Because it’s either my house with a spare room and a comfortable bed or the high-back chair behind you.”
She narrowed her eyes into slits while the cutest pout settled on her lips. If he didn’t stop looking at her like she was as tasty as he knew those cookies were, he’d probably never convince her to accept his offer.
“Listen, if you’re worried about your safety, I’m the sheriff. There’s no safer place than in my home. And you can ask Hannah if I’m mannerly enough to bring a respectable woman home as a guest.”
“Ask Hannah?” She parroted his words with a sharp, raised eyebrow. “I don’t know her either. For all I know, besides making excellent oatmeal raisin cookies, she could be part of your secret abduction ring here in Mayberry.”
She squinted again. This time her lids were even tinier slits and her puckered lips tempted him to lean in even more. He was certain he could resist the urge, no matter how much it permeated his being.
Yet when she let her gaze slide down the length of his body and he could feel the resulting heat trail quickly after it, he groaned. He closed his eyes and gave himself a quick shake, hoping she’d attribute it to his frustration with the situation and not recognize the desire her simple gestures were stoking in him.
He steadied himself before opening his eyes again and meeting the fire burning in her stare. He couldn’t tell if it was anger, but something about the way she looked at him made him think he might just see a flicker of appreciation there.
“Well, it’s the only solution I have to help your situation. Other than letting you spend a night in one of my cells at the office.”
She cut sharp eyes at him and folded her arms. “Not even funny.”
He shrugged. Aside from her sleeping in her car, those were the only accommodations he had to offer her other than his home.
“It’s all I got since I can’t prove I’m not a kidnapper in any acceptable way.”
She dropped her hands, pulling her phone from her back pocket.
“No worries, I have my ways. Give me a sec.”
“What?” he queried. “You have a contact in the FBI?”
She shook her head. “No, I’ve got something even better. A sista circle.”
It was his turn to lift a brow. He had no idea what she meant, but if it would hurry this process along, he’d go along.
She tapped on the screen and put the call on speaker. It rang several times. Just before it went to voice mail, the call connected.
“Hey girl, what’s up? You in Monroe Hills yet?”
“Janae, thank goodness I caught you.”
“What’s going on, Vanessa? Is everything okay?”
“Not really. I’m here. Regrettably, they canceled my reservation at the inn.”
Michael heard a familiar snicker fill the air.
