Taming Her Past - Protecting Her Future: BBW Erotic Romance (Hearts of Heroes Book 2) (2 page)

“Just what in the hell were you doing? I could have been seriously hurt because of your inattention,” she snaps.

There she goes again, grating on my last nerve! I can’t believe this! “Damn, lady! I just apologized and you are still giving me shit? Just because your father’s my boss doesn’t give you the right to be so bitchy to me! My mom taught me to respect a woman, but there has to be some exceptions!” I rage at her but still try to keep my voice down. We already have an audience, no need to garner more attention with an all-out yell fest.

“What!?” Harmony shrieked. I know I hit a nerve. The oh so cool and calm Miss Saint-Marks never loses her cool. She quickly steps in close to my broad frame bringing us to stand toe to toe. “You’ve got to be kidding me. I have never used my connection with my father for anything I have achieved. For you to say such a thing just proves how crude you really are. So here, let me bring myself to your level! Yes, I am a bitch, but only to people who are pricks to me,” Harmony growls out while poking me in the chest.

“I guess you just bring out the best in me, doll face,” I retort with a smirk on my face. Gripping her poking finger in my large hand, I push it down and away from my body. Eyes flashing in anger and breathing hard myself, I jerk on the files in her hand making her accidently stumble fully against me. Finding her pressed from hips to chest against me, my anger dissipates, leaving only heat in its place. The feeling of my hard body against her soft, pliant flesh sends my head spinning and my cock pressing painfully against my zipper.

Fascinated in Harmony’s eyes, I can’t pull away from the swirling yellow depths. I cannot help my tongue as it peeks out and moistens my bottom lip. Her eyes flare hotter and she immediately mirrors my actions. Fuck! Does she feel this too? Is that why she pushes me away?

Still caught in those cat eyes of hers, the only thought running through my brain is pushing her over to the nearest wall and sinking my aching cock into her hot pussy. I know for sure she would be hot and ready. A hellcat in and out of bed. No! No. This cannot happen. Jerking my files out of her hand I step back, taking myself away from her tempting body, and try to use the manila files as an erection shield. The last thing I need is for her to know how badly I want between those plump thighs. Fuck! Brain flow to the right head please!

I bend over and scoop up her still discarded briefcase off the sidewalk and thrust it into her fumbling hands. “Maybe you should use that from now on. Wouldn’t mix up files and what not when you run into people. Have a wonderful day, Miss Saint-Marks.” Brushing past her, I continue to make my way, once again, to my car.

I sit in my car with the air blasting full force and I am just not able to pull my eyes away from her ample backside walking away, until she disappears around the corner. Closing my eyes, I give my head a quick twist left then right, cracking my neck in relief. I need a cold fucking shower. Not having a lot of interest in sex for a good couple years now, I have somewhat forgotten what a pain in the ass it can be. Shit, if I’m popping wood around her, what’s next? Breaking into song and dance?! Maybe Will is right. I need to go out and get laid. Unfortunately, the guys at the firehouse had it right when they gave me my ‘official’ nickname. The Monk. How fitting. Remembering the guys I got to know from working the arson case, brings a smile to my face. Those guys were a hoot. Maybe I can give Alex and Rome a call and see what’s up. Damn, it’s been almost seven months since we last talked.
Wonder how their sweet thing, Cait, is doing?
Laughing at my thoughts, I start the drive home with a newfound purpose. Maybe Rob’s wife knows some women I can break my streak with.

Traffic was light so I am able to make it home in record time. Nobody wants to be out in this heat. Walking in the front door and slamming it shut I immediately start to take off my long-sleeved red dress shirt but I leave the white wife beater on and toe off my shoes by the door. Needing a drink I start rummaging through what’s left in my fridge and snatch up a beer, crank the AC up high, and finally collapse on the brown leather sofa.

Just sitting here staring at the black blank screen on the TV, I try to shake off the shittastic day. Sliding out my cell and finding the right number, I hit send, relax my head back against the couch, and close my heavy eyelids while I wait for a pick up.

“Whitlaw.” The gruff answer makes me smile.

“Whitlaw, Ariea here. You on shift?” I ask.

“Well hell! Nah, I’m at home with the ball and chain. How have you been?” Rob boomed over the phone. I chuckle at hearing a shrieking Sofie in the background. Uh oh.

“Baby, I didn’t mean it like that. Let me talk to Luc for a bit then I promise I’ll make it up to you, okay?” Rob pleads.

“What? Luc’s on the phone! Oh my God it’s been forever! Tell him to come for dinner tomorrow,” Sofie shouts happily, their fight apparently forgotten.

“You mean ask him to dinner? He might be busy, woman!”

“Don’t you woman me in that tone, and no I meant tell him to…oh for Pete's sake never mind.” I hear a scuffle and muffled thuds over the line.

“Luccas, babe! How’s it, man?” Sofie’s overly sweet voice comes at me loud and clear. Ah, that’s what the thuds were. She took the phone. Chuckling to myself, I answer her question.

“Hello, Sofie. It’s going alright. I just got a two week paid vacation so I was calling to see how you guys were? Haven’t seen you two in a while.”

“Two week vacation? Hmmm. You seem unusually happy about that. I picture you spitting nails when the chief ordered that. Don’t pretend with me, Luc,” Sofie chastises.

Feeling the blush spread across my tanned cheeks, I mumble a “Yes, ma’am.” Even though we are pretty close to the same age, with me being the older of the two, she always comes across as the mother figure. Mother hen. The nickname Cait has for her really fits.

“Now that I know you aren’t busy, we will see you for dinner tomorrow. Be here at five and don’t bring anything. Oooo. With your time off, we can have a BBQ! It will be fun, you’ll love it. Here is Rob back. Bye-ya, babe.”

Hearing the thuds and a muffled, “Yes you have permission to talk. Don’t be over dramatic,” from Sofie, I try to rein in my laughter before Rob hears it.

“Okay, she’s out of the room.”

“You mean you ran to a different room? Scared of the little woman there, Big Bear?” I tease.

“Laugh now, Monk, get it all out, ‘cause I’m tellin’ her you called her a ‘little woman’ and you will have to deal with her tomorrow,” Rob threatens.

“And now I grovel and apologize. Do not sic her on me, please, man,” I humbly answer.

“Damn well better grovel. So he forced a leave, huh? You start getting in too deep?”

“Yes, dammit, right in the middle of an investigation too! No I am not getting in too deep, fucker. He just pulled me out,” I vent.

“Right, he pulled you for no reason. Okay, well, I will see you tomorrow for dinner, apparently, so you can growl at me then over a few beers. Maybe Sofie can get you a date or something like that to mellow you out. If you want her to get her nose in all your business that is.”

“I was kind of thinking the same thing there, Bear. The woman, not your wife’s nose. I love her, but she’s not my type, sorry.” I chuckle as I stretch out more on the couch and bring my free arm around to pillow my head.

“Damn, well, better not want any part of her, she’s mine. Although, I don’t know why she wouldn’t be every man’s type…she’s beautiful and perfect!” Rob said enthusiastically.

“She’s behind you, isn’t she?” I ask. Everyone knows how Rob feels about his spitfire of a wife, but you never hear him lay it on this thick, unless he is in trouble and she is around.

“Maybe,” he hedged. “Are you really looking to get rid of your nickname?”

“Shut up, Rob…maybe I am. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yup,” Rob gruffed out before ending the call. That man was pure toasted marshmallow on the inside. That’s why he was the Big Bear at the station. Scary and growly on the outside, snuggle bug on the inside.

Tossing the phone on the coffee table and propping my feet up, I guzzle down the last of my beer and relax farther into the couch. Cool, relaxed, and sleep deprived, I feel myself shut down into sleep within seconds.

Harmony…

Don’t run, don’t run. Its okay, breathe. Forcing myself to walk normal, I briskly waltz into the air conditioned police station. I give a wave to Dispatch as I walk by, quickly turning left and into the ladies restroom. Propped against the door, my head thuds loudly on the wood as I let my head fall back.

That was so not good. Why do I keep running into him? I make every effort to stay away, I do. But it is like the universe wants to throw him at me. Actually getting to feel his rock hard body against mine, and getting an up close and personal view of his dark chocolate eyes, still has my body singing. I have never been so affected by a man this much! Why him? Yes he looks like a Greek god come to life, with his strong jaw and tanned broad body, but I should be able to control this! He is off limits! No, no, no. With shaking hands, I yank a paper towel from the holder and on weak knees, I take the two steps to the sink and turn on the cold water to full blast.

Pressing the folded towel to my flushed cheeks and forehead, I close my eyes and try to force the visions of Luc out of my head. A couple deep breaths later, my body settles down and I am focused again. Seeing my reflection in the mirror, I gasp at the sight. My make-up has melted in the heat and I am now sporting raccoon eyes. Shit! Please don’t tell me I looked like this when I was with him! Re-wetting the towel, I hurry to fix my face trying not to turn the black rings into red patches of skin.

Happy with my quick fix, I give a pat down to my short black hair and tugging on my suit jacket, I twist one way then the other checking my clothes. Good, my outward appearance is ready for the world. Now for my inner self. Looking straight into my mirror image’s eyes, I say out loud the words I say to myself every morning.

“You are a courageous, beautiful, smart, professional woman. You will let nothing stop you in achieving your goals today. You will not let any man bring you down.”

I give a quick smile to the mirror me then quickly turn on my heel and head out of the bathroom. I have a lunch date I do not need to miss.

I give gentle nods and smiles to the acquaintances I pass on the way to my adopted father’s office. Three quick taps to the frosted glass door and a muffled ‘Enter’ has me inside Chief David Marks’ office in seconds.

“Harmony.” He welcomes with a smile. “I started to worry a bit, you aren’t usually late. Everything alright?”

“Of course everything’s okay, Dad. You worry too much. I know how to take care of myself, you taught me how,” I answer as I make my way around his large oak desk to give him a hug and a small kiss on the cheek.

With quick gentle movements he places his hands on my shoulders, somewhat trapping me before him and I get the full force of his scrutiny.

“What happened, Harm?” he asks me with concern in his kind hazel eyes.

“It’s nothing, really. I just had a run in with Detective Ariea outside. You know how we rub each other the wrong way. He did seem more out of sorts than usual though,” I explained.

Chuckling, Dad releases me and sits back down into his old worn desk chair, rubbing a hand over his greying buzz cut, and motioning for me to sit in the chair opposite his with the desk between us.

“I have ordered some Thai for us today. It should be here soon. Sorry we can’t leave the station today, sweetheart.”

“You know I have no problem eating here. With both of our schedules, I am lucky we get to have the time we do. I had lunch with Mom yesterday.”

“Yes, she told me last night.”

My next words were cut off by a commotion from outside his office. Dad's wiry frame quickly rounded his desk and flung the door open standing tensely taking in the drama. With a chuckle I see his body relax. “That’s my food you bunch of scavengers, order your own,” he yells good-naturedly. Food gathered and paid for, we sit back down and dish out our plates.

“How’s your case going? The one you were worried about?” he asks.

Caught by the abrupt question mid-mouthful, I swallow and wipe my mouth. “It is going great actually! All the red tape is finished and he will be legally adopted by Friday,” I say smiling. Social work is not a lot a giggles and tickles but being a kid of the foster care system, I know how they feel and I want to help as many kids out of a bad situation as I can. Like David did for me.

“That is great, sweetheart! How old is he again? Seven?”

“Yes, seven. He has been in the system since he was three, and has been shipped to numerous houses. His new family is lovely. When the papers are all signed and filed on Friday, I have put in for some vacation, so the next two weeks is R & R for me.” A gasping choking sound hits my ears and I jerk my eyes up to find my dad laughing around a mouthful of food. What did I say that was so funny?

“I know I don’t normally take time off but Mom insisted and I think it’s a good idea, what’s so funny about it?” I ask flabbergasted.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart, it wasn’t you that I was really laughing at. It’s the timing.”