Perfect Partners (28 page)
“Charges dropped,” the cop restated. “As long as you agree to relinquish the car.”
My head whipped up. “That bastard.” He was still trying to control me. He knew I’d left with next to nothing, yet he still had to strip me of the one thing he knew I loved. Realistically, however, since I couldn’t afford to park my baby in the city, Lance had done me a favor.
“Deal,” I said to Gabe’s brother. “He can have the car.”
“I wasn’t negotiating,” the cop said.
“Decklan.” Gabe’s tone held a definite warning.
I didn’t need or want Gabe going to bat for me, and I ignored his hot—and I do mean hot—stare.
“Release me?” I jangled my chain.
Decklan—I now knew my jailer’s name—nodded. “Your boyfriend said he’d come down to get you so you two could talk out this … misunderstanding. In which case maybe you can keep the automobile.” He glanced at his watch. “He’ll be here in about thirty minutes, give or take.”
“Oh hell no.” I wasn’t going anywhere with Lance, and I certainly didn’t want the confrontation sure to come if he showed up. I jangled my cuffed wrist, suddenly desperate to escape. I had to get out of here
now,
and I needed a head start.
“Decklan! Unlock the damned cuffs,” Gabe barked at his brother in a baritone that ironically settled me.
His officer brother, however, jumped to do his bidding.
I shook out my hand and glanced down. A red stripe bruised my skin, and I rubbed my sore wrist.
Gabe’s gaze followed my every movement, his eyes darkening once more. With a low growl, he lifted my hand and stroked my marked flesh with his strong, tanned fingers. A sudden vision of him gripping me harder, pulling me roughly against him, grinding his muscular body into mine, took form, and I trembled, aroused by his tone, his sensual touch, and my torturous thoughts.
“Are you okay?” Gabe asked gruffly.
His voice returned me to my current location and predicament. “Yes. Fine.”
An intimate smile curved his lips, and I would swear he knew exactly how hot he’d made me, how wet.
Shaken by the thought and my impending reality, I grabbed my sweatshirt from the chair. “I’m free to go?” I asked, pulling on the light jacket.
“You are,” his brother said. “Stay out of trouble, Miss Masters.”
I would, I thought, once I escaped his brother. I held out my hand, and Decklan handed me back my money.
“Thanks,” I said and winced.
What was next? Gratitude for arresting me?
At least I hadn’t gotten as far as the booking process and mug shot. I ran a hand through my wild curls, suddenly aware of how I might look.
“See you guys around,” I said on a wave and a forced laugh.
“Wait!” Gabriel’s deep pitch almost had me melting toward him again.
“What?”
“Do you have someplace to go?” he asked, too kind for me not to be embarrassed, and I refused to look him in the eye.
“I’ll be fine.”
“Isabelle—” Gabe’s voice deepened.
“Oh no,” his brother said. “Absolutely not.”
“Shut up, Decklan.”
I narrowed my eyes, wondering what conclusion the cop had arrived at that I wasn’t privy to. My gaze swung back to Gabe, who merely nodded at his sibling, as if all had been decided.
“You’ll come home with me,” Gabe said, his tone definitive.
“What?” I hadn’t seen that coming, nor could I begin to process the words.
He braced one hand on the wall beside his brother’s desk. “You’ll come home with me. I have plenty of room, and you can stay till you get back on your feet.” His words sounded confident, sure, and obviously made sense, at least to him.
Panic spiraled through me at the thought of going from one controlling man to another.
“Are you insane?” Decklan asked. Loudly.
I nodded, agreeing with him. “Listen to your brother. I’m not going anywhere with you. You’re practically a stranger.”
Gabe frowned at that comment.
“And she’s a stray,” Decklan added.
“Hey!” I turned to him and scowled. “That’s just insulting.”
“You have a thing for strays,” Decklan said to Gabe, ignoring me. Giving me more reason than just my arrest to dislike Officer Decklan Dare.
“Shut the fuck up,” Gabe muttered, his jaw set as he glared at his brother.
Decklan had hit a hot button, I noted, and wondered who the stray woman was to Gabe. What she’d meant to him.
I couldn’t afford to find out. “It’s been interesting,” I said on a rush. “Later, boys.”
And while the two brothers remained locked in a silent, combative stare, I turned and strode out of the station house without looking back.
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Bestselling Author Carly Phillips has written over 40 sexy contemporary romance novels. After a successful 15 year career with various New York publishing houses, Carly made the leap to Indie author, with the goal of giving her readers more books at a faster pace at a better price. Carly lives in Purchase, NY with her family, two nearly adult daughters and two crazy dogs who star on her Facebook Fan Page and website. She’s a writer, a knitter of sorts, a wife, and a mom. In addition, she’s a Twitter and Internet junkie and is always around to interact with her readers.
Please turn the page for Carly’s Booklist.
Below are links to my series on my website where you will find buy links for each novel!
Dare to Love (FREE)
Dare to Desire
Dare to Surrender
Dare to Submit
Dare to Touch (coming January 2015)
Look for more Dare to Love series books in 2015!
The Right Choice
Suddenly Love (formerly titled Kismet)
Perfect Partners
Unexpected Chances (formerly titled Midnight Angel)
Serendipity Series
Serendipity
Destiny
Karma
Perfect Fit
Perfect Fling
Perfect Together
Fated
Hot Summer Nights (Perfect Stranger)
Kiss Me If You Can
Love Me If You Dare
Lucky Charm
Lucky Streak
Lucky Break
Cross My Heart
Sealed with a Kiss
Hot Stuff
Hot Number
Hot Item
Hot Property
Summer Lovin’
Under the Boardwalk
The Bachelor
The Playboy
The Heartbreaker
Brazen
Seduce Me
Secret Fantasy