Her Secret Wish (8 page)

The other officer, Noah Burns, circled his car to pound Dean on the back. “We knew you hadn’t worked much in this district. Don’t be too mad at him, West. All the newbies get sent here eventually.”

Shaking his head, Dean turned to look at Rachel. Her skin was flushed with delight and her golden caramel eyes sparkled with fun. She seemed totally okay with the situation.

All of the aggravation he’d felt at having the joke played on him washed away. If it made her smile, it was totally worth it.

Then she reached out, resting a cool palm on his forearm. It sent a shock across his skin and drew his focus straight to her. “They’re just playing. I’m not offended at all. Actually, I think we need a picture.”

That was how he found himself in the middle of the parking lot with a giant, prickly, pink dick the backdrop to a selfie of the four of them.

He couldn’t resist dragging Killian into a headlock, though, and wrestling a little. “Just you wait,
Buddy
. You are so fried. I don’t know when or where, but you have retribution coming.”

Killian wiped tears from his eyes and pounded Dean on the back when he let him go. “I know, West. I can’t wait.” He turned to Rachel and held out a hand. She took it immediately. “I hope you know we were just yakkin’ it up with our boy. He’s a good man, putting up with all the ribbing we’ve given him since he hired on.”

Rachel grinned and shook his hand before releasing it. “No, you’re totally fine. I get it.”

Dean leaned in to catch his buddy’s eye. “She’s a former Marine and works at that detective agency on the East side, Lost and Found.”

Killian’s eyes widened. “Oh, hell. Well, you know all about the ribbing that goes on with the newbies then.”

Rachel nodded, her eyes shining.

“I’ve been a cop for years,” Dean groused.

“Not here, you haven’t,” Killian corrected. “Hey, one of the detectives were able to decipher the plate from the surveillance cam at the quickie mart. They picked up the guy today and impounded the truck. Thought you’d like to know that.”

Rachel appreciated that he’d remembered to tell them. The truck had been a loose end niggling at her mind. “Thanks, Killian. You just made my night that much better.”

He grinned, enjoying her praise.

Their radios came to life and both of the uniformed officers’ concentration sharpened, then they turned for their cars. Burns keyed his mic as he climbed behind the wheel and took off, siren screaming. Killian was right behind him.

“That was abrupt,” she commented.

“Domestic case, they had to go.”

Dean watched them disappear down the street, his own heart pounding with shared exhilaration. He loved his job.

‡

R
achel looked up
at the rapt expression on Dean’s handsome face. There was an excitement radiating from him that she recognized in herself from years ago. She’d had the same expression every time she’d looked at the Super Stallion, twenty-four million dollars’ worth of ferocious machinery ready to carry her troops into combat.

And though she’d only just started with the investigative work she could see herself loving it just as well, in a completely different way. Would she ever fly helicopters again? Probably not. But she could modify her life to make it as thrilling and fulfilling as possible.

Dean had that look in his eyes. That look that said he could do his job happily for twenty-five years and retire extremely satisfied with his career. That confidence in what he was doing was so appealing. “Have you wanted to be a cop all your life?” she asked him.

His grin turned rueful. “How could you tell?”

“It’s that little boy look on your face.”

Shrugging those wonderfully broad shoulders he gave her a single nod. “Ever since I was a kid. I have pictures of me in a uniform when I was just little.”

“That’s very cool,” Rachel murmured. “My grandfather was in the Marines, too and I grew up listening to his battle stories.”

Nodding again, they moved toward the truck. “I don’t know about you but I’m still hungry. I do know of a restaurant a little north of here called Dazzle. Are you up for it?”

“Absolutely!”

They settled into the cab of the truck and belted themselves in. Dean started the truck and moved into traffic. Rachel watched his hands move on the steering wheel, a little entranced. He drove confidently, aware of everything around him. She wondered if he would make love the same way.

Definitely.

As he turned right, the muscles in his arm bunched and released, teasing her. Rachel wanted to reach over and explore, but it was too early for that. Right?

Her body urged her otherwise. Time to focus on something else.

“You know Killian was just ribbing you, right?”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his brilliant eyes. “Oh, I know. He was totally looking for my reaction. But I was a little disappointed too, because I thought it would be a nice place to take you.”

She waved a hand. “I’m sure where ever we go will be fine. I’m not picky.”

A few minutes later they pulled into a parking spot near the eatery. There were already customers heading in the door. “They don’t open till four on weekdays but they have phenomenal jazz. Hope you don’t mind.”

Rachel smiled. “I’m open for anything.”

Dean looked at her with narrow-eyed consideration then took her hand in his. Rachel knew it had to be a test so she kept her hand there, enjoying the closeness that was beginning to build between them. Dean was everything that she always imagined she would like in a man; tall, well built, and exceptionally kind. As they walked into the bustling restaurant, he held the door open for an older couple, then felt he needed to hold it for the party of eight that came next. If it wasn’t for a gentleman a shade more polite than Dean who ordered him inside, Dean would still be standing out there. But as she looked at his happy expression she could tell he would have been fine holding the door all night if he felt he was the man to do the job.

As he walked toward her where she waited just beside the hostess stand, his expression changed, became more watchful, more aware. Then his gaze drifted oh, so slowly down her body. Rachel had been waiting for him to do the completely male action the entire time she’d known him. It was as if he had waited until he knew she would catch him then she could see the carefully banked desire he’d been hiding. As she looked at the appreciation in his eyes, she vowed to go shopping for clothes that would actually flatter her.

Rachel’s heart began to race. She’d never had a man look at her like that before and it was a little shocking how her body reacted. Beneath the shirt and bra her nipples drew into hard peaks and a seductive warmth curled through her belly, then drifted lower. Moisture slicked her palms with nervous, anticipatory energy. She wanted to get up close and personal with Dean West but worried that he would find her naïve and inexperienced.

Yes, she’d slept with men before, but more to get her virginity out of the way than anything. She’d heard about some of the sexual abuse cases in the military and knew there was no way she was going in a virgin. As crazy as it sounded, she wanted to make the choice of who she gave her virginity to; Grant had been a nice guy but definitely no long-term prospect, perfect for what she’d wanted.

The second guy she’d slept with had been more because she’d wanted him. They’d crossed paths on base a couple of times and when they’d come together it had been more fun than she’d expected. They’d continued their affair for a couple of months until he’d been shipped home. She’d been sad but certainly not heartbroken. They hadn’t had that kind of attraction.

Dean, on the other hand, thrilled her on many different levels. They hadn’t gotten close to getting naked, but she had a feeling that when they connected, it would be making love rather than just having sex. The man was impossibly delicious.

When he stopped in front of her, in spite of the people swirling around them, he cupped her face in his palms. “For that look alone, you could ask the world of me right now, Rachel Searles and I would do my best to give it to you. What is your secret wish?”

The breath caught in her lungs and emotion suddenly tightened her throat. Yes, she was a strong woman, used to taking care of herself and doing what needed to be done but sometimes she would just like to give up control to someone else. Someone who would keep her best interests at heart and protect her through everything life threw at her. Was that too much to ask for?

He was waiting on an answer and she didn’t know if she dared tell him what she wanted. What if he laughed in her face at the crazy request or sidestepped her answer? He was such an exceptional guy she didn’t understand why he hadn’t been snatched up already by some other needy woman. Cops ran across women in distress all the time. What made her special? Why had he made it a point to take an interest in her life?

Maybe she
should
tell him exactly what she wanted. That way, if he bolted now he wouldn’t shatter her heart. She was into him but not so much that she would try to hold onto him if he wanted to walk away. At least, she didn’t think so.

Straightening her spine, she took a deep breath and cupped her hands over his. “I want a man who will respect me no matter what. I want a safe haven where I can relax my guard and not be expected to carry the weight of the world on my shoulders alone. I want someone who will hold me in the night when the nightmares of crashing, over and over again, wake me.”

There was a confident smile on his lips, as if she hadn’t said anything he wasn’t willing to give her. “I want a man that will take care of my heart as if it were his own.”

Dean smiled and leaned closer. “Done,” he whispered, before moving in for a kiss that made her gasp. Rachel knew there were still people moving around them. She was a little embarrassed at the display they were putting on, but she couldn’t pull away from him.

Dean’s mouth opened over her own and his tongue slipped out to taste her lips. Rachel groaned, opening for him. French kissing a man was not her favorite thing to do, but Dean did it
wonderfully
. As his slick heat invaded her mouth and Rachel leaned into the exploration. Reaching up and around his shoulders, she angled her mouth to fit more solidly against his. One of his hands settled on her hip, tugging her tight against him.

“Ahem, you’re kind of blocking the aisle way. Excuse me!”

Rachel would have ignored the irritating, voice but Dean pulled away, reluctantly it seemed. The black pupils of his glorious aquamarine eyes had expanded, telling her that he was seriously aroused. She would have known that without seeing his eyes though. With a final, gentle nudge against the erection she could feel against her hips, she stepped away, tugging her shirt into place.

The hostess stared at them tapping her toes in aggravation. “Your table is ready.”

She led them to a tiny table against the far wall, barely big enough for them both to fit.

“I think this is revenge for blocking her traffic flow,” Dean muttered.

Rachel grinned, agreeing, and opened the menu. Then, with her face hidden, she tasted her lips. God, she tasted like him now, spicy and minty.

When the harried waitress came around she ordered ice water and a grilled Alfredo pizza. It made her mouth water just reading the ingredients. Dean ordered a California burger.

“I love avocado,” she murmured. “That was my second choice.”

“Well, when she brings it I’ll let you have a bite.”

“And I’ll share my pizza, of course.”

Rachel sat back in her chair, a little amazed at the conversation. They sounded like a married couple, together for years and used to sharing food from each other’s plates.

“You are very comfortable for me to be around, Dean,” she told him honestly.

He winced a little. “Comfortable? Not exhilarating? Or stimulating? How about arousing?”

Rachel grinned. “You’re all of those, actually. And more, but comfortable is the most important, because it leads to the others.”

He gave her a narrow-eyed look. “You’re very comfortable for me to be around as well, Rachel.”

The waitress brought the food more quickly than Rachel would have expected considering how crowded the restaurant was. And Dean did exactly as he had said. As soon as the waitress left he gathered up the monster burger and offered her a bite. Rachel almost told him no but he seemed to be testing how comfortable she was with him. Leaning forward she took a healthy bite. Then had to sigh in pleasure. “Oh, wow, that’s really something.”

Using the spatula to scoop a piece of pizza, she made a motion for him to move his hands. She set the slice of pizza on the edge of his plate and he grinned. Then she put one on her own plate and dug in.

The restaurant was as incredible as Dean had promised, but Rachel barely noticed. She was more interested in watching Dean—the way his bright white teeth cut through the meat of the burger, the strong way he chewed. It was ridiculous the things she was noticing, like the tiny little mole on the edge of his right jaw bone.

The good news was he watched her as much as she watched him.