Good Girls Don't

“Cheeseburger with guac,” she said quickly. “No onions. And park behind the house.” With that reminder of how idiotic they were both being, Tessa hung up the phone, probably afraid he’d call it off. Because any sane man would.

Yeah. That sounded about right. Any sane man.

At least he could claim one small comfort. There was no possible way he was sleeping with Tessa Donovan tonight, so she was probably the safest woman he could have dinner with.

“Even I’m not that stupid,” he muttered as he packed up his files and grabbed his keys. “No way.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

HE WASN’T A MISOGYNISTIC asshole with a pregnant girlfriend. He was just a hot single cop who was bringing her a cheeseburger.

Tessa smiled as she fired up the stereo, damn happy with the way this day was turning out. It might even call for a little Van Morrison. Yeah, it definitely called for Van Morrison. Tessa turned on “Brown Eyed Girl” and danced into the kitchen to finish tidying up.

She’d saved the day—probably—and now she was going to get the man—maybe. What more could a girl ask for? Feeling a lovely bond with all the other women in the world, Tessa typed up tonight’s Twitter message and sent it out.

Feeling my Celtic roots tonight, ladies. You know what that means. Come on by & and say sláinte.

Jamie had been wearing his kilt tonight, and their Twitter feed was already buzzing with it.

She was still grinning when a car door shut in the alley behind her house, and Tessa rushed to the back door to open it. But her smile fell when she saw Luke. He looked exhausted. As if five days had passed since she’d seen him and he hadn’t slept a wink since.

“Luke! You look awful!”

His brow crumpled even as his mouth turned up at the corners. “That’s a terrible way to greet a man who comes bearing burgers.”

“I’m sorry! You just look tired.”

“Fair enough. I am.”

Tired, but still hot and strong. So she kissed his cheek as she took the bag from his hand and led him into her lair. “Red wine with burgers, do you think?”

He raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t want to think about beer tonight,” she explained.

“Red wine, it is.”

Half a bottle and two burgers later, they were sitting snug on her couch with the music turned down to a whisper so they could talk. “So tell me why you look so beat up today. Big murder case?”

“You’re determined to turn me into a TV show, aren’t you?”

“Well, for a minute there, you were headed into Jerry Springer territory. I’m trying to steer you back toward CSI.”

“Oh, right. That.” The tightness around his eyes told Tessa that this was what had been weighing on him.

She raised her eyebrows and waited.

“I don’t really talk about it.” He paused as if that would be enough, but Tessa didn’t let him off the hook. “My partner. It’s complicated.”

“Complicated as in … you’re in love with her and she has a boyfriend?”

“No!” He shook his head. “But you put it in perspective, I suppose. Complicated as in, she’s pregnant and she won’t talk to me about it.”

Tessa felt the exact moment when her heart began to melt. She could actually feel it go warm and squishy inside her. “I’m sorry, Luke.”

“She’s not married. There’s no boyfriend. She’s alone.”

“Maybe she’s okay with that.”

His frown turned angry for a moment. “That’s the thing. Simone would be okay with that. So why the hell isn’t she?”

“She won’t tell you anything?”

“Nothing. And I …” He raised a hand as if he were going to make a point, but his fingers hovered, half curled, before he dropped his hand to his knee. “I just want to fix it.”

Aw. Tessa took his hand and curled her feet beneath her to scoot a little closer. Men were such adorable creatures. He was going crazy because he couldn’t fix everything for his partner.

She stroked his fingers until they curled around hers. “How far along is she?”

“Seven months, I think.”

“And she wasn’t dating anyone last year?”

“No. Not that she told me.”

She wove her fingers between his and stroked his thumb with hers. “Is she … Is it possible she, um, went to a clinic and did it herself?”

Luke sighed, and his body relaxed back into the couch as if someone had cut his strings. “It’s possible. I’ve never asked her if … She doesn’t date much, so there was talk. Stereotypical bullshit, and it’s nobody’s business but Simone’s.”

Tessa squeezed his hand.

“But … I thought she’d tell me.”

She cocked her head and studied his face as he stared at some faraway spot. “You’re sure you’re not in love with her?”

He smiled and his eyes finally found her. “It’s not like that between us,” he said. “Promise.”

“I’m glad,” she whispered, and his eyelids dipped. He stared at her mouth. Tessa suffered a nearly irrepressible urge to lean forward. To taste him. To lick at his bottom lip until he devoured her. But she didn’t kiss him; she just stroked his thumb, over and over. Luke blinked slowly, and then he pulled her in.

Triumph roared in her blood, but it was premature. Luke’s mouth hovered over hers, but their lips didn’t touch. Her breath quickened. His hand curved around her neck. For a long moment, Luke rested his forehead against hers.

Just as it occurred to her that he might not kiss her at all, Luke whispered, “Damn,” and his lips touched hers.

Tessa’s heartbeat jumped to a frightening pace. He kissed her so softly, but she could taste him as his mouth parted, slowly opening her body to him. His tongue touched hers and she gasped into him.

Oh, God, he tasted good. So good. Tessa’s body went hot in a sudden rush of lust. She spread both her hands on his chest, but Luke didn’t deepen the kiss as she’d expected. His hand stayed light against the back of her neck. His tongue still teased her. He seemed content to taste and taste again. But Tessa wanted to drown.

Something about this man inspired a strange mix of urgency and vulnerability that turned her into a bundle of need. Clearly, Luke wasn’t laboring under the same burden. His tongue slid over hers with such slow sensuality that she found herself whimpering, hoping he only needed a hint.