Pierced: Pierced Trilogy Boxed Set (90 page)

After dinner, he drags me off to the shower and we stay in there so long, bathing each other and making love, that my fingers and toes are pruney when we come out. I stand at the sink with my towel wrapped around me as I begin to brush through my hair when suddenly Josh’s arms are around me.

“I’m not finished with you yet, baby,” he grumbles in my ear, his voice husky and deep. Then he swoops me up into his arms and carries me off to the bedroom with a smile on my face.

Chapter Seven

Joshua

It’s been a week since Lois Colby’s threats and her subsequent confrontation with Sam. But despite any lingering apprehension I may still feel, I stride into the station ten minutes late on Friday with a confident swagger and a smile, thinking about Samantha and breakfast. Or rather … Samantha
for
breakfast!

She certainly is a creative little thing. I’m sure the look on my face when I walked into the kitchen this morning was priceless. The sight of her lying across the kitchen table wearing only the strategically placed silver dollar pancakes and sausage links she had made stopped me in my tracks. I had just gotten dressed for the day, and I was mid-sentence when I looked up and noticed her.
“Your breakfast is ready,”
she said with that sassy glint in her eyes.
“And don’t forget the syrup!”
I was completely undressed in about two seconds flat, eagerly eating my breakfast! And she was a beautiful, sticky mess by the time I walked out the door. God, what that woman does to me! She is so amazing. I still can’t understand what in the world she is doing with me.

“Well, if it isn’t the superstar! You late because you had to swing by a Hollywood red carpet this morning, Guy? Or maybe you and your billionaire girlfriend had an early morning photo shoot with the paparazzi, huh?”

“Fuck you, Simon,” I grin and keep on walking. It’s been like this all week long, ever since my picture was in the freaking
Seattle Times
society section, ‘rubbing elbows with the city’s crème de la crème,’ as the caption explained, at one of the biggest weddings of the year. Apparently, Samantha Colby dating the cop who rescued her from her serial rapist stalker is big news for some reason, and the talking heads on the
Seattle Social
TV show can’t get enough of the story. They’ve even gone so far as to stake out the parking lot of the police station with their monster camera lenses, trying to get shots of me coming or going. So the guys at the station have been having a field day at my expense all week long. It’s exactly what I feared would happen, and I just keep trying to remind myself of Dave’s words from a week ago:
“If you love her, you will find a way to put up with just about anything to be with her.”

I head into the detective’s bullpen and over to my desk and, as I take my seat, from behind me I hear someone making camera sounds and I take a deep breath and shake my head. How long is this ribbing going to go on?

“Sorry I’m late, Dave. What I miss at roll call?” The camera noises continue.

“Not much, the usual dog and pony show,” Dave answers. “Had some thoughts on our frat boys I want to run by you, though.”

“Oh yeah, what’s that?” I ask, trying to ignore the dicks behind me making the annoying camera sounds. But I’m sure my expression must show that I’m getting pissed because Conner pauses and shoots a warning glance over my shoulder. I can’t take it anymore. I turn around in my chair and face the two guys seated at the desks behind me. The camera sounds immediately stop.

“You got something you want to say to me, Nettles?” My voice is an annoyed growl, and I know my pissed-off look is now firmly in place.

“Why yes, Detective Pierce,” he says in a high-pitched, fake female voice. “You’re such a big, strong,
famous
officer, I was wondering if I could have your autograph?”

Half a dozen detectives within earshot are instantly doubled over in laughter, and all I can do is shake my head and smile. I know that if it was happening to someone else, I’d be joining in on the jokes. I’m glad they’re having so much fun with my discomfort. “Yeah, I got your autograph right here,” I snicker, cupping my hand over my manhood as I turnaround back to my desk, and Nettles laughs.

Conner and I get to work then, following up on a theory about our case involving the two college guys at the bar, and it takes most of the morning. But it pays off because by lunchtime, we have ourselves an arrest and a confession. Case closed.

After we finish filling Lieutenant Marcos in on the details, Conner and I are busy patting ourselves on the back, about to head out to treat ourselves to a hot dog for lunch, when we see Gary Butler walking in as we’re going out.

“Hey, y’all might as well just give me your paychecks right now ’cause I’m feeling lucky today,” he says triumphantly, and I frown wondering what the hell he’s talking about. “I’m gonna take it all tonight!”

“Yeah, in your dreams, drummer boy,” Conner shoots back at him. “When have you ever taken it all?”

“Yo, I’m telling ya, tonight’s my night, sucka!”

And suddenly I remember … poker!
Shit.

“Keep talking smack, we’ll see,” Conner smiles as Butler disappears into the building and I stand watching the exchange like it’s happening in slow motion. “What’s wrong, Guy?”

“Huh? Nothing,” I say distractedly. I can’t believe I forgot. Sam and I were going to go to a movie tonight. Suddenly Conner breaks out into a huge smile and he laughs at me. I frown at him. “What?”

“You didn’t clear it with the little woman, did you?” His voice is full of real glee as he watches me squirm. I’m instantly annoyed at his amusement.

“She’s not the little woman!”

“Maybe not but, you’re scared shitless right now because you have five big, sweaty guys coming over to play poker tonight and your girl knows nothing about it! Am I right?”

“No! You’re not right,” I lie to him. “Sam knows all about it. I just forgot something else.” He gives me a look that tells me he’s not buying it as he continues to laugh heartily, but I ignore him. “Look, I’m gonna have to take a rain check on that hot dog; I got something to take care of.”

“Uh huh,” he smiles, and I continue to ignore him as I hurry out of the station and over to my truck.

I pull out my cellphone as I get in and dial, taking a deep breath as I do. What is she going to say? Shit. Shit.
Shit!
Things have going so well between us this past week, I don’t want this to fuck anything up. But I also don’t want to have to tell the guys our game is off and have to listen to Dave ride me about it forever.

“Hi, Joshua!”

“Hi, baby.” She sounds like she’s in a really good mood. “How’s your day going?”

“Not bad,” she sighs. “I spent most of the afternoon at the gallery with Lola, going through my sketches. How about you?”

“My day’s been good. Got a confession in the double assault case this morning.”

“The fraternity guys?” she asks me.

“Yeah. I’ll tell you all about it when I get home.”

“Okay,” she says lightly and I swallow nervously.
Just tell her, Pierce!
Only I must hesitate a beat too long because Sam picks up on my anxiety. “Is everything all right, Josh?”

“Yeah, everything’s good. Except I, uh … I sort of … forgot something,” I stammer.

“Oh?”

“Yeah. See, every so often … I get together with a few of the guys. Usually about once a month, and we go to someone’s house and play poker.”

“Oh, I see.” Her voice is neutral and unreadable. “Let me guess; you forgot that tonight is poker night and you’re worried that I’ll be upset?”

“Well, we made plans to go to a movie…,”

She giggles lightly. “It’s all right, Josh. I don’t mind if you go play poker tonight. You should spend time with your friends; I wouldn’t want to keep you from that.”

“Yeah?” I can hear the surprise in my voice, and I’m guessing that she can too.

“Yeah,” she giggles again.

“Well … it’s good to know you feel that way, but … well, see the thing is … the game, it’s uh … it’s supposed to be at my place tonight.”

“Oh.” There’s a long pause then, and I wonder what she’s thinking. Finally, I hear her take a breath and she says, “Okay. Uh, what time?”

“We usually start around seven or eight,” I mutter, still wondering how she’s going to react.

“Okay. Do you need anything?”

“Need anything?”

“Yes. Do you … have food at these poker nights?”

Food? “Um, well just the usual, pretzels and chips … that sort of thing. Which reminds me, I guess I need to pick some up on the way home.”

“No, that’s all right. I’ll take care of it,” she offers quietly. And I can’t help but wonder what’s really going through her mind right now. She seems to be taking this all in stride. That can’t be her true feelings. Can it?

“You don’t have to do that, Sam. I can get it.”

“No, I want to. Should I get some beer?”

I hesitate at her words because I still don’t quite believe how agreeable she’s being. “Um … well, the guys will usually bring whatever they want to drink so, maybe just some Corona.”

“Okay.”

“Listen, Samantha … I’m sorry to spring this on you. I … I can just tell the guys we need to go to someone else’s place tonight if you want me to.”

“Josh, it’s all right,” she insists. “I really don’t mind. Besides, I’m the guest here. You can do whatever you want to in your own home.”

Her words bring me up short for some reason, and I frown. “Sam, you are not a guest!”
Whoa, think about what you’re saying here, Pierce!
I swallow anxiously. “I mean … I don’t want you to feel like a guest, baby. I want you to feel at home.”

“I do feel at home, Josh,” she says quietly after a slight pause, and I think I can hear the smile in her voice. “And I don’t have a problem with your friends coming over tonight. Okay?”

“Okay,” I answer quietly, still feeling slightly uneasy.
She’s really not angry?

We hang up soon after, and I go back to work wondering about what she’s really thinking and how tonight is going to play out. I don’t think my place is big enough for six loud, obnoxious guys and one beautiful, refined goddess. Should be interesting. I fret about it the entire rest of the day, with Dave needling me about being whipped. Between that and the constant wise cracks about being in the news with my rich girlfriend all week, I will be more than happy to see the work day come to an end. Or at least, I would be if I wasn’t so worried about what was going to happen once I get home.

“Still on for tonight, son?” Lee looks at me questioningly as he passes by my desk.

“Yeah,” I nod distractedly and he stops, frowning down at me.

“You sound real excited about it,” he notes.

“Aw, don’t mind him. He’s just worried about how the little woman is going to react to having a bunch of sweaty, smelly guys come over, invading the love shack,” Conner offers. Lee laughs with him and looks back at me.

“Is that right? Samantha giving you a hard time about poker night?”

“No,” I snap at them. “She is not giving me a hard time! Conner’s just being an ass, that’s all.”

Lee continues to laugh at my obvious discomfort and walks off.

“God, it is fun to see you scared and rattled by a woman!” Conner smiles and turns back to his report. And I sigh heavily, rolling my eyes at myself. Am I scared? Is that what this is? Fear of upsetting Sam? Fear that the guys might see her angry at me? Or that they might see me acting like a love-sick fool around her? Shit.

I struggle through the rest of my work day, the temporary high I felt with the close of another case quickly evaporated by the uncertainty of the evening. By the time I slide into my truck and head for home, I am a nervous wreck. Damn Conner and his good-natured ribbing.

Pulling into the driveway, I feel a ripple of butterflies in my stomach. It’s a sensation I never remember having before Samantha stepped into my life. Now, it seems, me and butterflies are well acquainted. How does she do this to me? I sigh as I get out of the truck and head inside. I have only about an hour or so before the guys start showing up so, better face the music early and see what I’m dealing with.

When I step inside the house, I am immediately overtaken by the most delicious aroma. It’s familiar somehow and strangely comforting, but I can’t place it. I stand for a moment and look around my place, thinking about the last time the guys were over here. Looked much different then, without Sam’s additions. I’ve actually gotten used to all the things she’s done around here. I guess I even kinda like it. The place looks cozy now and it feels … I don’t know … nice. Warm and inviting. Like Sam herself. It feels like a real home I guess, since Samantha came in and started changing things.

“Hey,” Sam says brightly, coming down the hall with a big smile on her face. She looks gorgeous as ever in a pair of dark green sweatpants and a matching long-sleeved t-shirt.

“Hi, baby.” I return her smile, wrapping my arms around her tightly. I kiss the side of her head as I hold her to me.

“How was the rest of your day?”

“Not bad,” I tell her. “What is that amazing smell?” I inhale deeply, taking a big whiff, and she looks at me strangely.

“Pulled chicken.”

“Pulled chicken?”

“Yes,” she says pulling away from me and walking into the kitchen area as I follow after her. “I thought your friends might enjoy some real food so, I put some barbequed pulled chicken into the crockpot. And I got plenty of buns so, you can have pulled chicken sandwiches with your pretzels and chips.”

“You made us dinner?” My voice is a quiet, astonished whisper as I look around at the steaming crockpot and all the buns and paper plates and napkins. I can’t believe she’s done this and I turn to look her in the eye.

“You do like pulled chicken, I hope?”

“Samantha, you … you just found out about this a few hours ago. I sprung it on you out of the blue, with no warning at all. And not only did you not get upset that our night was ruined but … you made the guys dinner?”