Jill Shalvis - Kiss Me, Katie! & Hug Me, Holly!

He alone could hurt her, and yet she’d hurt him.

She had to go to him and fix things, but there was only one way to do that, which was to give in to the physical attraction between them.

It was silly, especially since he’d never said he wanted more than sex.

So, what was holding her back? It’d been a long time for her; surely she deserved a little spice.

Right?

Wrong. Because even she, the master of ruining her own happiness, knew that getting a “little spice” with Riley wouldn’t end there. Couldn’t. Not the way she was beginning to feel about him.

With all that in mind, it was no wonder she took the streets a tad fast. She’d seen all her customers fed and out the door happy.

And now she was headed straight to the grocery store, in need of an entire carton of ice cream all to herself-double-fudge chocolate. It was her most secret, most standard comforter in times of need.

There’d been many such times over the years.

But right now she felt more needy than usual. The store was nearly empty, for which she was thankful. She bought a carton and a spoon because there was no way she could wait until she got home to begin pigging out. She was in crisis mode and needed immediate gratification.

A hug might have worked just as well.

The thought came from nowhere and she had to let out a rueful laugh. There was no hug available at the moment, so she’d do with empty calories.

She drove with one hand on the wheel, the other spooning ice cream into her mouth from the open container between her legs. At the red light she had to shove the full spoon into her mouth to down-shift, and she was still sucking on it when the light changed.

In her haste to get home and wallow, maybe she stepped on the gas just a bit too hard. So what? The streets were empty.

That’s when she saw the flashing lights in her rearview mirror. “Great,” she groaned around the spoon. “Great ending to a perfect day.”

Pulling over, she shoved another full bite into her mouth and was digging for her license when the knock came at her window.

Looking up, spoon dangling from her mouth, she found…Riley.

He took in the sight of her. She was undoubtedly a total wreck. She could feel him looking at her as she rolled the window down, but because of the dark night she couldn’t see his expression.

He couldn’t have missed the ice cream, or the fact she was eating all of it, by herself. An entire gallon. Slowly she took the spoon out of her mouth. “At least it’s you,” she said. “I thought I was getting a ticket.”

“You are.” He bent his dark head and began writing on his pad.

His stance was aggressive, his posture authoritative, and all thoughts of ice cream vanished, even as it chilled the insides of her legs. “But…”

“You were speeding. You were exhibiting reckless driving with that peel out you did at the light.” He peered into the Jeep, his gaze lighting on the ice cream, still resting between her thighs.

Even in the dark, she could see his eyes go hot, hot enough to practically melt the dessert. “You were eating and driving.”

“Not illegal,” she said.

“It is if you’re not paying attention. Step out of the Jeep, please.”

“What?”

He didn’t wait for her, but opened the door, unbuckled her seat belt and evacuated her without further ado. He pocketed her keys, slung her purse over his shoulder, locked her car and took her by the arm.

“What are you doing?”

“Taking you in.”

“What? Riley, stop this-”

His hands were gentle, but so firm she couldn’t break away. He settled her into his patrol car, even hooked up her seat belt. The backs of his fingers brushed against her breasts.

She sucked in a breath as her nipples hardened.

He went utterly still, staring down at her. Then he slammed the door and without another word, walked around and got into the driver’s seat.

“This is ridiculous,” she said shakily. “Where are we going?”

“I told you. I’m taking you in.”

“All I did was rev the engine.”

“You were speeding.”

“Not exactly a federal offense.”

His jaw was tight, he stared straight ahead. He hadn’t shaved and no way had his hair seen a comb. His arms were tense, so much so that she could see his every muscle delineated beneath his clothing. “Riley-”

“You really shouldn’t talk without your lawyer present.”

She stared at him, shocked. He was really taking her in.

She was his prisoner.

“WHERE ARE WE GOING?” Holly demanded in a voice that gave away nothing.

Riley didn’t even look at her, because if he did, he’d have to touch her.

Not yet. “That’s on a need-to-know basis.”

“And I don’t need to know?”

“Not yet.”

“You can’t do this.” Her chin was up, her eyes flashing.

So brave.

And yet Riley felt her nerves shimmering just beneath the surface. It was a tribute to how well he’d come to know her that he felt them at all.

A tribute and a curse because he was getting tired of fighting his feelings for her-which meant that what he was about to do was extra idiotic.

It didn’t stop him.

“Why can’t I do this?” he asked, his voice even.

“Because…” She stopped to fiddle with her top. A top that had gotten his immediate attention not only because it was snug and spaghetti-strapped, but because the right strap kept slipping down. “Because I need to make sure the restaurant is clean for first thing in the morning. There’s someone coming to look at the place.”

“A little grease isn’t going to sway them.”

“I want everything to be perfect.”

“So you can get out of here all the faster?”

She was silent. “I’m not in a hurry to leave,” she said finally.

“Could have fooled me.”

“Harry needs to be let out.”

He couldn’t help it, he laughed. “Is that the best you’ve got?”

“He does! And the dog, he’ll be wondering what’s happened to me.”

“The dog. Do you think you’re ever going to name him, Holly? Or would that be too close to admitting you’ve come to care about those two animals in the same way you’ve come to care about this town?”

She opened her mouth, glared at him, then shut it again.

“Speechless? Isn’t that a first?” Frustration built in him, both because she wouldn’t let him in, and because that’s where he wanted to be. He took the next corner a bit tight.

Grabbing the dashboard rather than eat it, she glared at him. “I told you why I couldn’t name him before. What if his owner had come and gotten him?”

“Then he’d have two names, and all the love he could ever want.”

“Buster,” she whispered.

“Why can’t you just admit the truth? That you’re too chicken? Too chicken to admit he’s wormed his way into your heart the same way Harry did. The same way Dora did, and all the others. You’re afraid,” he said flatly, bluntly, turning away from her pale face. “You’re afraid of feeling something for the animals, for the people, for the town. For me.”

“Buster,” she repeated softly.

“What?”

“I named him Buster for the way he’s busted into my heart. Like the people around here. Like the town.” She paused. “Like you.”

He risked a look at her now. “You sound uncertain.”

“Not about that. What I’m uncertain about is my future.”

“You don’t have to be.”

“It’s…complicated.”

“Yeah.” He took another turn and the wheels squealed.

“You’re speeding.” She pointed to his speedometer. “I think that makes you a hypocrite. If you’ll just stop and let me out, we’ll call it even.”