Shaking her head, she smiled. “Well, it’s amazing. I really do love your attention to detail.” And she knew firsthand that attention spilled over into his sex life. Her damn knees wobbled at the memory. “Are we still on tomorrow morning?”
He blinked, as if trying to clear his brain, and she wondered if perhaps some memories from their night together had passed through his mind, too.
“Ah…yeah.” He nodded. “Ten o’clock.”
“Perfect,” she said, and with a nod, she left him on the sidewalk and entered the building, determined to be the one to walk away this time. Once inside, she smiled at the two women staring at her with interest. “Hi, Elle. Lea.”
The latter greeted her with a hug. “It’s great to see you again, Sophia.”
“You, too.” She drew back and raised a brow. “When do I get to see that little girl of yours?”
Happiness flushed the new mother’s face. “How’s tomorrow? I plan to stop by the theater.”
“Better make it before ten,” Phoebe said, coming up behind them. “She’s got a date with Ryder at then.”
Lea sucked in a breath. “You do? That’s wonderful. I was hoping you two would hit it off again.”
She shook her head. “It’s not a date-date.”
“Damn. That’s too bad.” Lea frowned. “My brother is single, disillusioned, and grumpy.”
For a moment, she’d forgotten Ryder was her brother.
“Sounds like another guy I know in town,” Elle said, with an eye roll. “Although, having met them both, Officer Mercer is definitely worse.”
Even though she’d never met Officer Mercer, Sophia joined in the laughter while they all took their seats at a table already loaded with slices of thick chocolate cake.
Her stomach growled.
Yeah, it was time to feed the monster.
She slid a plate closer, picked up a fork, then dug in. Her palate immediately rejoiced. Moist and rich, the cake melted in her mouth, and the deep, rich chocolate taste was to die for. Her moan echoed the others in a joyous melody.
“So, who is Officer Mercer, and how do you know him?” she asked Elle after devouring half her slice. “Did he pull you over for speeding or something?”
“No,” the author snickered. “I’m researching a police procedural. He’s letting me ride along with him for research.” She held up a hand. “Let me rephrase that. He’s beingforced to chauffer a bodice-ripper novelist around instead of doing his job. Those are his words.”
Sophia and the others laughed. “You don’t write bodice rippers. You don’t even write historicals. And your books are deep, and layered, and the sex enhances the story.”
“I don’t think he reads anything but newspapers,” Elle scoffed.
Lea smiled. “Man, this is awesome. I wish I could see his face as he’s force to drive you around. Don’t get me wrong, Jeremy is a great guy, but he does take his job seriously. This assignment would definitely disrupt his orderly routine.”
“Well, too bad, so sad for him.” Elle shrugged. “It’s not like I’m keeping him from doing his job, despite what he claims. I’m just there to observe, so I get it all correct in my book. It’s better than letting me misrepresent him.”
“Exactly.” Phoebe nodded. “I had to ride along with the L.A.P.D. when I was researching my movie role last winter. It was amazing, and scary, to see what their daily lives entail. And it was important to me to portray the police force correctly.”
“I told Officer Mercer the same thing,” Elle said. “But he still grumbles.”
“That’s because he has a penis,” Lea said, matter-of-factly, scooping cake onto her fork.
Sophia and the others chuckled. The woman was hysterical.
“It’s true.” Lea shrugged. “And the more alpha they are, the more they grumble.”
“Then Officer Mercer is as alpha as they get,” Elle said, distaste twisting her lips.
“Seems to me he’s kind of getting to you,” she said. “Does he happen to be handsome?”
