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  He looked over at her and gave her a toothy grin. “I’m not turning that siren on.”

  “It doesn’t automatically come on if you’re going over the speed limit?”

  Officer Montgomery roared with laughter. “No, Ms. Payne, it doesn’t.”

  “Elise.”

  “I’m Roman, but I’ll admit I kind of like the way you say, Officer Montgomery.” He cast a glance in her direction. “It sounds … encouraging?”

  She gave him a low, throaty chuckle. “Well, I don’t think you want to know what I was calling you before I read your name tag.”

  “Oh, I can imagine.”

  They drove in silence for a while as she watched him concentrate on maneuvering the post-rush-hour traffic.

  “Can you get into trouble for this?” she whispered, coming to a sudden realization.

  “I won’t tell if you won’t,” he winked.

  She zippered her lips and tossed away an imaginary key.

  The action had them both laughing.

  * * *

  Fifteen minutes later, Roman pulled in front of a silver and glass structure that stretched for half a block on LaSalle Street in front of the murky waters of the Chicago River. He stepped out and helped her to the sidewalk. She stood on tiptoe and pressed a kiss to his cheek.

  He smiled, then narrowed his gaze on her. “Now, the next time I catch you speeding, I’m giving you that ticket, young lady.”

  “The next time you see me, I’ll be able to afford that ticket … Officer Montgomery.”

  Roman’s smile was something that angels could sing about all day long. The woman who ended up with him would be getting the entire package—gentleman, witty, sexy, strong, and sensuous. Oh, and single—no ring on his finger. Why couldn’t she land those types of men?

  “And if you ever need anything—even just to talk—please don’t hesitate to call,” he said, holding out a business card.

  Elise slipped it from between his fingers. Their hands touched briefly, and that sliver of excitement vibrated between them again. She quickly tucked the card inside her satchel. “I’ll only call with good news.”

  “In my line of work, I could use it sometimes.”

  Elise pressed a kiss to his cheek, then stepped around him and couldn’t help the saucy little strut that took her to the revolving door.

  “Things will work out for you. Trust me,” he called out as her hand touched the glass.

  She gave him one last smile over her shoulder. “I’m going to hold you to that, Officer Montgomery.”

  Chapter 3

  Officer Roman Montgomery merged back onto the expressway, unable to get Elise Payne out of his mind. He was thrown by the abrupt beauty in her defiant will to rein in her tears. When she pushed up her chin and tossed her silky mane of dark hair, he wanted to pull her out of the car and kiss her. Such courage and perseverance in that small gesture.

  She was in pain. Her eyes said it more than her words ever could. Even her humor couldn’t hide it. She had been through something hard and rough and although she was battered, down, and sullen she was still determined to make it at all costs. He could admire that in any woman. He could admire that in his woman.

  What had caused such staunch pain in her? A man in her life? No, that couldn’t be it, not with the way she had laid that kiss on him. It was soft, inviting, sensuous—a thank you, but … damn! He had witnessed her transformation from a woman who had been ready to retreat to a woman who was very aware of herself. The pain had taken a back seat for just a moment. He was grateful that he was there to see it—and hoped to be around to see it again.

  Roman was no stranger to pain himself. His wife of eight years had been taken much too soon—the cancer that had ripped through her body had been as unexpected as Roman’s unanswered prayers. And then she faded away, leaving only memories and an empty hole in his heart where love should have resided.

  Only recently had the loneliness that had settled into his soul begun to lift. Ever since his wife died, he had been awakened by dreams in which she encouraged him to let her go and move on. He had ignored her so many times, but seeing Elise made something within his heart quicken.

  The heavy warmth of arousal below his belt was also trying to have its say on the matter. He wanted that woman! Every ounce of professional decorum said that it couldn’t happen. He had helped her today because he felt that it was the right thing to do, not because he wanted something in return.

  Roman couldn’t pinpoint why he’d made the decision to take her into The Loop, but the fact that she was doing something to change her circumstances was a definite plus, and he was glad to play a small part in it.

  Lately, officers nationwide were being called on the carpet for offering favors to female motorists who broke the law in exchange for a vertical tango. More than anything, he was a major proponent of staying on the right side of professional ethics. Elise stirred an urge in him, something that over-ruled his ethics, and as much as he enjoyed his paycheck, seeing her so vulnerable was something he could not allow.

  It was gut instinct not to ticket her, and rather a sudden remembrance of his oath—to protect and serve. His mind understood that, his morals understood that, too, but something about that woman called to him and he knew it would be a long time before he would get that encounter out of his mind.

  One thing was for sure, Roman could never see Elise Payne again. Her combination of beauty, strength, humor, and sexiness was more dangerous than a bullet straight to the heart.

  * * *

  Elise, get your mind in the game, young lady, and off of that sexy beast of man. No time for distractions.

  She chanted that mantra all the way up on the elevator.

  When security escorted her through the series of glass doors and into the reception area on the 37th floor, a perky red-haired woman was waiting. “I’m Theresa. Ms. Bernatz would like to see you.”

  Elise paused mid-step. “Isn’t that the human resources manager?”

  “Yes,” Theresa said and started down the hall.

  Elise hesitantly followed. “But I’m supposed to meet with Ms. Hippen to start a temp position.”

  “That’s changed.” Theresa halted, stashed a stack of manila folders in a cabinet to the right of the desk and picked up the pace again. “Right this way, please.”

  Elise’s heart fluttered with apprehension. She followed the slender woman past a row of offices that all had the same bright white walls, gray shades, and silver fixtures—absolutely no color whatsoever.

  Things will work out for you. Trust me.

  Theresa rapped her pale knuckles against a frosted glass door and got a, “Come in.”

  Elise was directed to take the chair across from a bottled blonde with a dour expression and hair pinned in a bun so tight that fresh air would have paid money to get to her scalp.

  Several ticks of time passed before Ms. Bernatz looked up and gave Elise a thorough once-over, taking in the classic navy power suit, lavender blouse, pearl earrings and necklace. Finally, she said, “I don’t think you’ll be right for the position.”

  Elise fought to smother her disappointment. To cope, she reminded herself that she had shown up on time and would at least be guaranteed four hours of work per the temp agency contract. That was a blessing. She would spend the rest of the day assessing the hours needed to re-launch her graphic design business and move forward with her life. That was a blessing, too.

  Things will work out for you. Trust me, echoed through her again.

  Elise exhaled a deep breath, lifted her head, looked directly at Ms. Bernatz and said, “I understand. Thank you for considering me.”

  She stood and the woman’s brow furrowed. “Where are you going, Ms. Payne?”

  “Home,” Elise replied. “You said I wasn’t right for the position.”

  The woman’s thin pink lips spread into something that was neither smile nor frown. “Sit down.”

  Elise complied.

  “The temp-to-pe
rm position we called you in for, yes you’re not the right fit.”

  Ms. Bernatz removed her rimmed glasses, cleaned them and put them back on. She flipped open a thick manila folder and added, “This file is for the managing partners you worked with a few months ago.”

  Elise’s eyes bulged. The file was almost three inches deep.

  “Yes,” Ms. Bernatz smirked. “I can tell by the look on your face you remember them.”

  Elise flashed back to three months earlier. She had enjoyed assisting the four of them with a national case that was still in the headlines. But more than that, they had treated her as if she was a member of a team, not a lowly assistant. That counted for a lot in her book.

  “Anyway, thirty minutes ago their current assistant tendered her resignation. She’s moving to Phoenix with her husband,” Ms. Bernatz said sourly. “Mr. Esbrook, Ms. Riff. Ms. Bucci, and Mr. Burrichter asked—hell, practically demanded—that we find out if you could fill the position. Permanently. Effective now.”

  Elise gripped the edges of the chair and tried to not to scream for joy.

  “The position starts at …” Ms. Bernatz passed over a new hire package, and the salary almost made Elise’s jaw drop. “We have excellent medical and insurance benefits that begin the day you do, seventy hours vacation the first year, seventy hours of personal/sick time, all major holidays, and one floating holiday to use as you see fit. Will this be acceptable to you?”

  Things will work out for you. Trust me.

  Elise closed her eyes, and Roman’s image swam into focus. She opened them to find that Ms. Bernatz was looking at her with an obvious impatient expression.

  Elise licked pursed her lips trying to pull it together. “When do you want me to start?”

  That woman brightened with just those few words. “Support Services is handling the workload and filing today. You can start with a fresh desk tomorrow.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Elise said as she began filling out the paperwork.

  Ms. Bernatz took the sheets as each one was completed. “You’ll be put on our payroll today, and I’ll see to it that you get a paycheck this Friday.” Ms. Bernatz extended her hand. “I’ll see you bright and early in the morning. Enjoy the rest of your day, Ms. Payne and welcome to Esbrook, Riff, Burrichter & Bucci.”

  “Thank you so much.”

  Elise left the building with a lot more pep in her step. She owed Officer Montgomery more than a simple thank you. She was going to send that man something that would curl his toes and put a smile on those sexy lips of his.

  Chapter 4

  “Yo, Monty. Package for ya!”

  Roman frowned at Ken Amorio, who had an annoying habit of shortening his last name to Monty. To him, Monty sounded more like some old man with a lisp, a bad comb-over, and a mouth that would put a sailor to shame.

  Roman sauntered toward the front of the station, past the cubicles at the end of the winding hall until he made it to the intake counter. Several of his fellow officers had gathered around the bright white box, which was tied with a purple bow and had a card wedged on top.

  Ken his partner, who had a wicked sense of humor and an even greater flair for creativity, slid the box toward Roman, who immediately plucked the card nestled under the bow.

  “She was very specific about making sure we didn’t tip it to one side or the other,” Ken said, stroking his goatee.

  “She?” Roman asked.

  Ken’s mouth widened in a sly smile. “Sweet little piece of thick honey candy. Curves that could turn corners before the rest of her.”

  “Who’d you piss off?” asked Annette, a petite, mocha woman sporting a short cap of dark curls with the barest hint of silver. She stood on tip-toe, trying to get a better peek at the box. “Think it’s a bomb?” With a hand sliding up her hip, she glared in Ken’s direction. “Should I call the squad?”

  Roman prepared to tear open the flap on the lavender envelope. “It’s not a bomb.”

  “Don’t know why she’d be looking for you.” Inez clapped a hand over Roman’s shoulder, her locks shifting forward with that small movement. “You’re still looking for Mrs. Right when I keep telling you you’d be better off looking for Miss Right Now.”

  Actually, her definition only had one description—Ms. Inez herself. Roman had been fending her off since she joined the force. Workplace romances almost never ended well and he couldn’t afford to have anyone hesitate to have his back if he was in a dangerous situation.

  Suddenly the group—all three of them—inched in. Annette, Ken, and Inez all had their focus on that white box as though Christmas had arrived and Santa had passed them over. But they were willing to share any gifts that Old St. Nick had bestowed upon Roman.

  Roman presented his back to his nosy brethren. When he saw the evenly-spaced script on the inside, he grinned.

  I got the position!! They hired me for a different full time position!

  Thank you

  Thank you

  THANK YOU!!!

  Elise Payne

  P.S. This is my favorite pan. Please make sure it finds its way back home - 312-555-6512.

  Roman’s smile widened. Ken, taller than Roman by a couple of inches, peered over his shoulder, trying to get a better look. The distraction worked.

  Annette managed to slide in and get an eyeful before Roman could snatch the card away. “It’s a woman, y’all,” she crowed in a fake Southern accent. “Betcha there’s some vittles in that thar box!”

  Chuckles sounded all around him.

  Ken, who was known for his hearty appetite, rubbed his hands together. “Well, they say that the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach.”

  “Actually, it’s through his mama,” Annette corrected, waggling her ring finger at everyone. “Ask me how I know.”

  Ken leaned forward and gave her a kiss, which caused a few grumbles from the rest of the crew and cries of, “Get a room!”

  “So open it already!” Inez demanded.

  Roman pulled up the first flap. The scent of nutmeg and cinnamon wafted up to him, and his stomach did a cartwheel of joy! He lifted the final flap, and the oohs and ahhhs that echoed around him matched his sentiments exactly. Evidently, Elise knew exactly how to get his attention.

  What lay before him was a masterpiece of peach cobbler. Perfectly layered lattice crust, juices trying to make a mad dash for the sides, golden peaches that looked ready to make a quantum leap into his mouth and swim for the borders of his taste buds.

  Roman reached for the silver fork that she was thoughtful enough to put in with everything else. He felt more like lifting that utensil and directing some unseen angelic orchestra. Time stood still. He scooped out that first forkful and suddenly remembered he had an audience.

  He scanned the area to find that several more co-workers had come over. Each and every one of them was watching him intently. He should have waited until he was back at his desk to unveil his prize. But it was too late to turn back now. He placed that first forkful on the tip of his tongue before sliding it all the way into his mouth and tasting … heaven!!!

  “Oooo, I know that look,” Ken offered. He turned to the others. “That right there is the look of a man who’s tasting something even better than good sex.” He slapped Roman on the back. “Am I right?”

  Roman could barely speak. “Ohhh, yes!” he moaned.

  Roman closed his eyes and let the flavors make love to his tongue as the image of the woman who prepared such a delectable dessert came to mind. That one taste was like having Elise Payne on a platter. The sweetness, the buttery, flaky layers, the—

  “I call cobbs!!!”

  Roman’s eyes flew open and narrowed on Annette. “Back off, short stack. This right here is a solo adventure,” he proclaimed.

  He quickly packed up his treasure and put as much distance between himself and the expectant crowd as he could.

  “Be like that,” Ken snapped, right on his heels. “Weren’t you the one begging me to teach you h
ow to Step?”

  “Yep.”

  “Didn’t I help you out?”

  Roman didn’t miss a beat. “Yep.”

  “So what’s the problem?”

  “No problem,” Roman shot back. “You taught me how to Step; I taught you how to Salsa. A fair exchange ain’t no robbery.”

  Ken shook his head, frowning. “I thought I was your boy. I can’t get some of that cobbler, man?”

  “Nope,” Roman slid into his chair before taking in another forkful.

  “Aw come on, man!!” Inez whined, moving to stand next to Ken. “Give up the good stuff.”

  “Not happening,” Roman shot back, smacking his lips happily. “Mine—all mine.”

  “That smells good, too.” Annette licked her lips, and for a moment Ken wasn’t focusing on peach cobbler anymore. His eyes roamed the petite curves of the unit’s sharp-shooter. That brother looked ready to spread his wife on the desk and have her for dessert!

  Their gazes locked, Ken’s eyebrow went up. Annette nodded toward the utility closet.

  Another bite made it into Roman’s mouth as he said, “Go away people. No means, no.”

  Roman looked up to see the newlyweds vanish quicker than he could take another bite.

  Captain Austin appeared at Roman’s desk. Everyone made a hasty exit to their respective places and suddenly pretended like they had some work to do. The Captain scanned the area, making sure the coast was clear before he presented an empty saucer and his own fork.

  Roman gathered his box to his chest like a wounded bird. “Sorry, Captain. This was a special delivery. A personal delivery.”

  “Does it have anything to do with your little off-the-clock excursion and those extra thirty-two miles on your cruiser yesterday?” the Captain asked with a wink. “Was that a personal delivery in company property?”

  Suddenly the box was at the end of the desk, all flaps open again. “Gee, Captain, would you like some peach cobbler?” Roman flashed an exaggerated grin.

  “Damn skippy,” he answered, sliding Roman a clean fork. “And take it from the side you didn’t dip in.” Captain Austin gestured to the treat and said, “She must be something special.”