Dangerous Deputy Read online

  He looked down at their intertwined hands. “I’m a fucking sap, I know. Not to mention a lowlife for not telling you. But I didn’t want to risk it. I figured I’d tell you eventually, but not then.”

  “And what about Jim’s statement about the weekend?”

  “That was him being an ass. He’d made a comment about us shacking up to get you off his hands. Had even said he’d pay your rent. I don’t think he was serious. Just his twisted sense of humor.”

  Unfortunately, Julia knew exactly what he was talking about. More than once she’d been the butt of one of Jim’s bad jokes or stupid comments. Sometimes she wondered how the man had managed to keep any friends. And then she would meet them and be reminded that the majority of them were as immature as he was.

  “Why the hell are you his friend, anyway?”

  Dennis snorted. “Coworker more than friend. Trust me.”

  “Okay, well then, how about you explain your actions tonight?”

  “Fuck.”

  Julia waited.

  “A combination of things. I’d been trying to talk to you all week, but every time I called, your sister blew me off. And Jim wasn’t any help, all he could do was complain about the fact his wife was being a bitch to him and he didn’t know why.”

  He shook his head. “Hell, even if I’d gotten through to you, I don’t know what good it would have done. Our work schedules were completely at odds with each other. Every time you came off, I had to go to work an hour or so later, and the same for me. I wanted us to be able to actually have some time to talk. Then tonight, when I saw you pull up with Howie, I saw red.”

  “You know Howard?”

  “We all do. He does the work on the department cars.”

  That would explain how Carrie and Jim knew him. Small town. She’d never get used to everyone being so closely connected. Forget six degrees; this town was closer to three.

  “He hasn’t dated since Sarah died. So when I saw you with him, well, I guess I got a bit jealous. He’s an incredible guy and would be a great catch for any woman.”

  “We only went out as friends. He said he wanted to placate his daughter.”

  Dennis smiled. “That little thing is only twelve but you’d swear she was twenty. And she has Howie wrapped around her finger.”

  “Yeah, well, that was it. He fixed my car. We went out to dinner.”

  “I knew he wasn’t ready to date yet, but it was you in the car. I forgot everything I knew about him and thought I’d already lost you. When you took a step back from me, I was hurt. I didn’t understand why. Then when you got angry at me, I started to get angry, too. You wouldn’t even look at me, never mind talk to me.

  “I didn’t think. Or maybe I did. This whole thing started with me pulling the stupid stunt of cuffing you and throwing you over my shoulder, so I guess instinct-stupidity kicked in.”

  “You really don’t think before you act, do you?”

  “Apparently not where you’re concerned. If you ever told my coworkers that, they’d never believe you. Normally I think everything through before I do it. With you, though, I lose all sense.” Dennis squeezed her hand. “When you stepped back, all I could think was that you were afraid I’d really hurt you. Like maybe I had already hurt you. And I have; I know that. Shit. Maybe I should just give it up. Apologize for hurting you and let you go.”

  Julia sat there for a long moment, thinking about everything he’d said. It made sense. All of it. Just because Jim was an ass didn’t mean everyone around him was. Assuming the worst of Dennis because of Jim wasn’t fair. And tonight—well instead of acting like a reasonable adult, she hadn’t even given Dennis a chance.

  He dropped her hands and stood up. He took a couple steps before stopping and turning back to her.

  Julia waited only seconds before going to him. She placed her hands around his waist. “Is that what you want? Do you want me to leave?”

  He turned around so quickly she almost lost her balance. “Hell no. I want you to stay here. Be with me. To hell with Jim and his stupid-ass ideas. Trust me. Believe me when I say that I hadn’t planned last weekend but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”

  “I do trust you, Dennis. I know you would never hurt me. I stepped back in surprise. In embarrassment. Shame, even. I left you Sunday without any explanation.”

  He opened his mouth, and she quickly covered it with her hand. “Yes, I heard the message Jim left. But I know Jim. And I’d like to think I know you. The man I was with all weekend wouldn’t agree to fuck someone’s sister-in-law to get her out of his friend’s hair. That man wouldn’t do any of the things the message made me think.” She pursed her lips. “I reacted too. Just as badly. And, unlike you, I didn’t try to fix it. I ran from it, avoided it. So which one of us is worse?”

  “Well you had every right to react like that. Hell, as soon as I heard the message, I knew exactly what had gone through your head, and I couldn’t blame you. Unfortunately, I couldn’t blame Jim either. He is who he is.”

  “We could sit here all night—hell forever—arguing about who is more wrong. But I don’t want that. I want to just—” She wanted them to move on, to try to see if they could salvage any hope of a relationship. But she didn’t know what he wanted.

  “I think it was Saturday night when I realized I was in trouble.” He reached for her and cupped her face.

  “Huh? What are you talking about?” She was thrown by his apparent change in subject.

  “When we were making love. When I stopped. I realized then that I was in trouble. That I wasn’t going to be happy with just that weekend. That I wanted more from you. Thoughts of us together in the future, doing things, spending time together ran through my head. It kind of threw me for a loop.”

  Understanding dawned for Julia. “That was why you cursed? Why you stopped?”

  He sighed. “It just hit me so fast. I didn’t know what the hell I was going to do. Then I remembered how I had gotten you to spend time with me, and I realized I really was screwed.”

  Julia didn’t say anything for a long moment. She didn’t know what to say. He’d realized he wanted more from me that early? She hadn’t even thought about it being what she truly wanted until days later. After she thought she’d lost him.

  “Julia Sharp, would you consider going on a date with me?”

  She laughed. “I think we’re a little bit past that, don’t you?”

  He smiled. “Okay, well, then, Julia Sharp, would you spend the night with me and let me show you how sorry I am and how much I’ve missed you?”

  “Only if I get to do the same.”

  Loose Id Titles by Talya Bosco

  Dangerous Deputy

  Kansas City Shuffle

  Redesigning Adele

  The Healing Curse

  Talya Bosco

  Talya is an avid fan of all forms of the printed word. She has been reading for as long as she can remember, and has dreamed of being an author for almost as long. On any given day, when she’s not working, you can find her at the computer or curled up somewhere in her house writing or reading whatever has caught her fancy that week. She has been known to push the limits of her deadlines, or go to work on little to no sleep, only so she can finish a book she is reading.

  Her reading habit was the bane of her family’s existence while growing up, but she has found a wonderful man that shares her evil inclination. They live quietly, reading books, playing on computers, practicing martial arts and enjoying one another’s company.

  Talya feels all that reading has helped her to become a better author. She has devoted her professional life to writing fun, erotic stories that make you believe in second chances and happily-ever-afters.

  Table of Contents

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six


  Loose Id Titles by Talya Bosco

  Talya Bosco