I carried on walking, Mitch still dominating my thoughts.
Just before we’d fucked, he’d referred to me as a woman. The little girl thing dropped when his cock had hardened. And he liked my pubic hair. I did, always had, but other men had expressed different opinions. But why should I change what nature had given me? It was staying, so were my soft fluffs of underarm hair.
The office was air-conditioned and smelled of coffee. I said good morning to my three colleagues, Sarah, Jasmine, and Beth, and took my seat. My to-do list was ridiculously long, but I had all week to tackle it, so it wasn’t impossible.
“Good weekend?” Sarah asked without looking up.
“Not bad, you?” I fired off the first email of many.
“Quiet, went to see my parents.”
“They doing okay?” Jasmine asked her as she sharpened a pencil.
“Old and cranky, but yes, we had a nice lunch out.” Sarah chuckled. “And they paid. Always a bonus.”
“We had date night,” Beth said with a smile. “Our four-year anniversary.”
“Congratulations,” I said. “Where’d you go?”
“The Ivy, it’s a bit special.”
“Ah yes, very nice.” I nodded. “My friend, Becca, went recently and said it was excellent.”
“It is. You should find yourself a hunk to take you out for meals.” Beth gave me a raised-eyebrow look. “Once in a while wouldn’t hurt.”
I smiled and set my attention back down at my notebook. I wasn’t ready to tell them about Mitch yet. He was more than a one-night stand, I was sure. Hell, he’d already taken me outfor a meal and stayed the night. But I wasn’t confident enough to bring him up. I’d been let down by people too many times growing up to be able to trust my own instincts, even if I did feel I could trust him.
Fuck, this was complicated. Should it be? I rubbed my temple and tried to concentrate on a list of dates and matches and what would be needed at each.
The morning flew by, and before I knew it, Sarah was taking an order for lunch. She was heading to the local deli, Rasputin’s, and I ordered a falafel wrap and a pineapple smoothie.
“Can you add those New Zealand versus Wales scarves onto the itinerary for Cardiff?” Beth called across to me.
“Already done.” I smiled.
“You’re too good.” She laughed.
Sarah soon reappeared with our lunch orders, and I sipped my smoothie and worked.
Suddenly the atmosphere changed, sparked, intensified. Another presence filled the room.
“Can I help you, Officer?” Jasmine said, her voice more high-pitched than usual.
“I’m looking for Amy.” A deep, gruff, and familiar voice.
My heart squeezed.
Mitch!
He stood in the doorway to the office with his broad shoulders almost touching the frame. He was in uniform, black boots, trousers, short-sleeved shirt, and a stab vest that held a variety of gadgets including a phone. From his belt hung cuffs, a truncheon, and a torch.
Our gazes connected, and a tremble of excitement attacked my entire body. Him being unexpectedly in the room did strange things to me, including heating my cheeks.
One side of his mouth tipped into a half-smile. “Ah, seems I’ve found her.” He walked toward me.
I glanced at the girls. They were all wide-eyed, mouths half open, and frozen in their seats.
And not surprising, he was a sight to behold in his uniform—all big and masculine, domineering, and powerful.
