An Act of Obsession (Acts of Honor Book 3) (31 page)

“You got it. Go ahead and grab your drinks and I’ll bring it over when it’s ready,” she said, handing us each a large paper cup.

I made my drink and found a seat at one of the booths, propping one arm up across the back.

Waiting.

The bell rang and my eyes automatically shifted to the door.

Second week in a row.

The first time I laid eyes on her, I’d wanted to approach her. She was not only beautiful, but there was also something about her that tugged at my gut. I couldn’t explain it. A familiarity of sorts. But I hadn’t been able to place it. Or see her eyes. And the large diamond ring on her left hand had kept me at a distance.

She was perfect. Petite, with blonde hair and a killer pair of legs. I’d thought of at least a dozen ways I wanted to worship each one over the last week, as well as the rest of her. But what I was really dying to see were her eyes. Each time she came in, she’d kept them shielded with an oversized pair of sunglasses.

I shifted in my seat, the hard-on between my legs letting me know he was just as intrigued as the organ beating with vigor in my chest.

She’s married, dickhead, stop dreaming.

Felix slid into the booth across from me, drink in hand, tossing the balled up paper from the straw at my forehead.

I picked it up as it landed in front of me, rolling it around between my fingers. “What the hell, man?”

“She’s married, dude, stop staring.”

“It’s not a crime to look.”

He shrugged, taking a sip of his drink. “Why bother looking at the menu when you can’t even have a taste?”

Thanks for reminding me, asshole.

Felix and I graduated from the academy together and had been partners for nearly four years now. If I were to call anyone my best friend, it would be Stoddard. He was nothing if not straightforward and blunt. I appreciated it.

Most of the time.

“Holly still wants to fix you up with her friend, Adrianna. Just say the word, bro, and it’s a done deal.”

“Nah…I’m good.”

“Why the fuck not? She’s hot, single, and has ass for days.”

I raised a brow, curious why he’s checking out another woman’s ass when he has a beautiful wife at home who caters to his every need.

“What? It’s not a crime to look, right?” He smirked, tossing my own words back at me.

“And if it doesn’t work out? Holly will be all up in my shit. No, thanks. I love your wife. She feeds me home-cooked meals. I’d like to keep it that way.”

“Well, eventually, you need to find a woman of your own to cook for you. Then you can quit trying to steal mine.”

“It wouldn’t be hard, asshole. She likes me better anyway,” I joked.

He threw up his middle finger just as Devina placed our tray on the table between us. “I added extra mayo for you, Ry,” she said with a wink before walking away.

Picking up my sandwich, my eyes once again drifted to the mysterious blonde. She was only a few feet away, standing off in a corner waiting for her order, but it was as if I was attuned to her every move. The way her arms were folded across her chest, the defensive stance, it screamed
do not approach
. She was doing her best to appear invisible.

But she was all I could see.

The tiny white ticket slipped from her fingers, and as she bent down to retrieve it, that’s when I saw what she’d been hiding. The designer shades slid down her small nose, revealing the fading bruise around her right eye.

I dropped my sandwich, shoving from the plastic seat, my pulse thrumming with suspicion.

“Excuse me, ma’am. Are you all right?”

My hand had a mind of its own, reaching out for her elbow, but she flinched away from my touch before I could make contact.

The rejection was a blow to my chest.

I held both hands up, letting her know I meant no harm.

“I’m fine,” she said, standing up straighter, ensuring her sunglasses were still in place.

Fuck, why did she look so familiar?

I extended my hand, unable to deny my need to touch her. “My name is Ryker. Yours?”

Her mouth parted on a gasp, and standing this close, I could make out the faint shape of her big round eyes underneath her glasses and knew they were a breathtaking color of blue.

No fucking way.

“Oh my God, Ryker Cunningham?”

My hand fell to my side as confusion swept through, along with a landslide of other emotions.

“MaryAnn Glover. Do you remember me?”

Remember?

How the hell could I ever forget?

She was the first girl I ever kissed.

The first girl I ever loved.

It killed me when she had to move away after her parents died in 9/11. They both worked in the Twin Towers, and her only living relative was her grandmother who lived in Oklahoma. After she left, I never heard from her again.

Memories began assaulting my mind one after the other, reminding me of the pain, the heartbreak that came from losing her. Something I thought I’d gotten over a long time ago. But I realized now I’d been fooling myself.

There was no getting over her.

My chest constricted with pain and a deep sense of longing, as I leaned down to pull her in for a hug. She wrapped her tiny arms around my neck, squeezing me tight.

I never wanted to let go.

I wanted to hold her hostage, demand answers. Why didn’t she keep her promise? Why did she return all of my letters, unopened? Why wouldn’t she talk to me?

But none of those answers mattered.

The only question I was worried about finding the answer to was how she got that black eye.

“I guess I should’ve known you’d become a cop. That’s all you talked about when we were kids,” she said in her small sweet voice with the slightest hint of a southern accent she must have picked up while living in Oklahoma. “And I suppose it’s a good excuse to eat doughnuts every day.”

I held her gaze. “I don’t eat doughnuts anymore.”

She shifted on her feet, my comment making her uncomfortable, but it was the truth. They didn’t taste the same without her. Nothing was the same after she left. Nothing
ever
looked the same.

Hell, the sun didn’t even shine the same.

“Ryker, I’m so sorry. I never meant to—”

“How’d you get the black eye?” I asked, interrupting her. That was my main concern.

The rest could wait.

She lifted her hand to ensure her glasses were still in place. “Oh, um, I accidentally ran into a door. I’m such a klutz.” She laughed but it was broken, and I could tell right away she was lying.

Not only that, but I’d been on more than my fair share of domestic calls, and I’d heard that line before.

Anger swelled in my veins.

“So, who’s the lucky guy?” I asked, nodding to her wedding ring.

The damn thing kept taunting me. It was big, gaudy. Unlike anything my MaryAnn would wear.

She’s not yours anymore, asshole.

“Ticket 183!”

“Well, that’s me. I have to go. Good to see you again, Ryker. Please tell Reese I said hello,” she said before rushing off, as if she couldn’t get away fast enough.

Every bone in my body screamed to chase after her, but my legs wouldn’t move. My mouth wouldn’t work. A war raged inside of me. So, I stood there, and watched helplessly as she walked out the goddamn door. And out of my life.

Again.