Shelter by Rhyll Biest

Author:Rhyll Biest
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises, Australia Pty Ltd

***

Underpants? Given that she’d made it clear she didn’t want to fool around, the last thing he needed to be thinking about was her underpants. Or had she raised the metaphor because she did want him to think about her underpants?

He didn’t pick her as the type to play games. ‘So your old man was a cop and you didn’t like him. Is that why nothing is going to happen between us? Because I’m a cop too?’

‘That’s one reason.’

‘What makes you think all cops are the same? That’s like me saying that all RSPCA inspectors are the same, but you’re nothing like Nick.’ He sipped his coffee. It was hot and bitter, just like the woman sitting across from him.

‘I’m not saying cops are all the same, I know they’re not. But I don’t want to ever be in a relationship with someone who could make it impossible for me to leave if I wanted to.’

About to lower his coffee he stilled. ‘Is that what your father did to your mother?’

‘I don’t want to talk about this anymore.’

She had that bruised look again. He hated that look. To make her feel comfortable he gave her a light razzing. She’d feel better once she was mad at him. ‘Alright, you don’t want to talk about your parents, and you don’t want to wear my underpants—thank Christ—what do you want to do?’

‘Eat lunch. Quietly.’ She bit her sandwich far more savagely than was warranted.

‘Are you sure that’s safe? What if you find a phallic-shaped pickle among the tuna?’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘You know what? I regret ever bandaging your hand and making you toast. I should have let you die of sepsis.’

‘You made me toast?’ He didn’t remember that bit.

‘Yeah, but then you fell asleep before ravishing me, so you didn’t get to eat it.’

He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. ‘The way I recall it you were the one who ravished me. But you remember it however you need to.’

She sent him a dark look. ‘What does that mean?’

‘Oh, you don’t want to know.’

Her eyes narrowed. ‘Would I have asked if I didn’t?’

‘Alright, I may as well say it.’

‘Yes, you may as well.’

‘I think you’re afraid of relationships.’

She sucked in a deep breath. ‘That’s rich coming from you.’

‘How so?’

‘Everyone knows how emotionally constipated men are, especially cops.’

‘Well, congratulations on joining the man club, hon, because you are right up there with some of the most hard-core repressed men I’ve met.’

‘Can I expect my honorary balls to be sent to me in the mail? Or are you just going to hand over yours?’

‘Can’t, sorry, I’m still using them.’ He stuffed more sandwich down to hide a smile.

‘Right, I forgot about Sharon, your one true love. Will you two be knitting together tonight?’ She used her fingers to make air quotes around the word ’knitting’.

He sipped his coffee, raised an eyebrow. ‘You just told me you’re not interested, so why ask?’

‘Just making conversation.’

‘I see. So, you coming to de-escalation training again?’

She frowned.

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