To Trust a Cop. Sharon Hartley

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СКАЧАТЬ stood beside her with a frown. “Slow down, Merlene. You don’t have to drive to Ocala, remember? Since you haven’t got anywhere else to be, why not enjoy the game with me?”

      “Thanks, but no. I—” She looked around, searching the bench so she didn’t leave something behind. Like her good sense. Or maybe she could find an excuse for why she had to run away from him. And, Lord, she needed to. Her flesh burned where he’d touched her. She resisted the urge to stroke the spot.

      “I have to catch up with Dr. Johnson again,” she said. There. That was the truth. “My client wants me to maintain constant surveillance on her husband.”

      “But I wanted to—”

      She stuck out her hand to shake his. He took hold and squeezed, so she quickly withdrew her arm. She needed to get away from Cody before she did something really stupid. “Thanks for letting me know about Dr. Johnson, Detective Warren.”

      “Sure,” he said. “Why don’t you—”

      “Really, I appreciate it. But I’ve got to get back to work.”

      Refusing to meet his gaze again, she fled toward the parking lot. When she got to her car she unlocked the door and collapsed inside.

      What had happened to her just now? For those few moments it was as if Cody had put her into some kind of a trance. She frowned. No, not exactly. She’d been conscious of every hammer of her pulse, exquisitely aware of him, silently urging him to take her into his arms and kiss her.

      She glanced back the way she’d come. At a baseball field. In front of children.

      Dear heaven, what was wrong with her?

      Long ago she’d promised herself to never, ever lose control of her actions. Losing control was what had happened to her parents when they drank. She’d learned to never let anything but logic and common sense rule her life.

      So obviously she had to stay away from this detective if he could make her forget where she was with a mere touch.

      * * *

      MERLENE SIGHED AND stretched her legs, trying without success to get comfortable in the Toyota’s bucket seat. What was that old country song about being back in the saddle again? Yep, that was her. And nothing doing at Doc Johnson’s house—as usual. This promised to be another long night. She’d have to remain on this stakeout until after midnight.

      After a conversation with her client, she’d resumed surveillance on the good doctor, picking him up again at his office where Cody said he’d be. Johnson arrived home after dark and hadn’t budged since.

      And her mind wouldn’t budge from thoughts of her encounter with Cody Warren this afternoon at the ballpark. Now that she’d calmed down, in hindsight she wished she hadn’t run away like a big chicken. She’d behaved like a scared little girl who’d never been kissed.

      Well, truth was she’d never been kissed by somebody as exciting as Cody. What must he think of her, running away like that?

      She lightly stroked a finger across her shoulder, tracing the path of his touch, remembering the flood of sensation he’d aroused. Part of her wished he had kissed her. She rubbed her finger across her lower lip. What would kissing Cody feel like?

      And, really, how could a simple touch, a hand resting on her shoulder, make her behave so crazy? Maybe her reaction had more to do with the haunting emotions the baseball field had dredged up, bittersweet memories of her younger brother.

      Yeah, right. She laughed at herself. Blame poor Donny. Of course, that was it.

      She did the math and realized this year Donny would be twenty-two years old. Imagine that. What would he be doing now? Would he be in college? Working? She liked to think he’d have beat the odds and made the major leagues in baseball. He could even have kids of his own.

      A loud bang on the car door jerked Merlene from her reverie. Startled, she looked up to find Cody grinning at her through the open window.

      Placing her hand over her racing heart, she closed her eyes. How had he snuck up on her like that?

      “Unlock the door, Merlene.”

      She opened her eyes to glare at him, but he was already at the passenger door waiting to climb in. She reached across the front seat and flipped the lock.

      “You scared me half to death,” she accused as he positioned himself in the small seat. A delicious spicy aroma floated from the brown paper bag he carried.

      He shrugged, obviously unconcerned by her fright. “You should be aware of what goes on around you at all times, Madam Detective. Especially at night. Maybe it’s a good thing you don’t carry a gun.”

      She bristled at his words even knowing he was right. “Did you come to give me a lecture?”

      “No. I brought you dinner.” He held the paper bag in front of him and rattled the contents. “Smells good, doesn’t it?”

      Yes, it did smell good, and she hadn’t had a decent meal all day. She’d been too nervous about testifying to eat breakfast or lunch and had only grabbed some cheese crackers to nibble during the surveillance.

      “What is it?” she asked, eyeing the bag.

      “My sister Annie’s homemade vegetable soup. When I told her I was coming by to check on you, she insisted I bring you some. She saw us talking at the game this afternoon.”

      “That was nice of her.” Merlene swallowed. And nice of Cody to bring her food, especially considering how she’d acted this afternoon. What was with him? This was probably a bribe meant to insure her cooperation. For sure cops loved cooperation, but so far it had traveled mainly in one direction.

      “You don’t need to check on me, you know. I’m a big girl.”

      He pulled a clear plastic container filled with a thick liquid from the bag. Heat had condensed moisture underneath the lid. “Better eat before it gets cold.”

      She gave in to her hunger. No sense letting homemade soup go to waste.

      “Okay, thanks.” When she pried open the lid, steam and an appetizing hint of garlic spread into the car. Cody handed her a spoon, and she took a tentative taste, closing her eyes as she savored the flavorful, warm broth. Best soup she’d had in ages. Of course, she couldn’t actually say it was better than her mother’s since her mom never made soup that didn’t come from a can.

      “What about you?” she asked between sips.

      “I already ate. My sister’s a great cook, isn’t she?”

      Merlene nodded, enjoying the soup too much to answer, not caring that Cody watched every spoonful she placed in her mouth. She hadn’t realized she’d been so hungry.

      He smiled, then glanced toward the Johnsons’ house. “Anything going on tonight?”

      “Uh-uh,” she mumbled, shaking her head.

      “You need to be more careful around Johnson. He’s involved with some dangerous people in high-stakes insurance fraud and pill СКАЧАТЬ