Just a few days ago, I would have thought it would be impossible. But then she stepped into my life. And now it’s like I can feel the continent moving beneath my feet.
My eyes travel up her body as she takes the steps down to the parking lot. She’s wearing the same torn-up jeans and another T-shirt beneath her apron that’s seen better days. Butsheis still a goddess. A bolt of lightning in the darkness of my life.
She may not know it yet, but she was made forme.
I’m fighting back a smile as she walks up to her car. I watch her face light up as she sees the repairs: a fixed broken taillight, new back door panel, new wipers, new driver’s side door handle, and of course a wash and wax.
When she finally looks back at me, I see the probing curiosity in her eyes. “Are you messing with me?”
I have to laugh. “And how would I do that?”
She waves her hands aimlessly at her Honda, stunned. “I–I dunno. You replaced my car with another one?”
“No, that’s your car, Briar. Just had a little work done on it.”
She frowns and walks right up to me. “You just ‘had a little work done’ on my car in less than a day?”
I shrug. “What can I say? I pulled some strings.”
Her eyes flash again, like they’re holding something back. Something she desperately wants to reveal but is afraid to.
I hear the door groan behind me and look back to see the girl she was sitting with step out. “Briar, Ross is shouting about wanting some hash browns.”
“I have to finish my shift,” Briar mutters.
My body goes cold. I want to call after her as she walks away, but I just watch as she goes back into the truck stop.
She was touched by what I did. I know that.
“So you’re the corrupt cop.”
I stop, looking back at her over my shoulder. “Depends on who you ask,” I reply. Her expression flickers. I get back into the cruiser.
I guess Briar told her about me. Shit, I wish I’d been there for that conversation. Did she tell her everything? Or did she leave out the most intimate details?
Even as I sit in my car, watching Briar through the window, I can’t stop playing back every moment of her ‘interrogation.’ Christ, what I wouldn’t give to be back there with her right now.
I close my eyes and replay everything. A vision of her body enters my mind, playing out in slow-motion. Her sweet curves, tender breasts, smooth thighs, delicious pink pussy.
The truck stop’s sign flickers, the siding is peeling, and the roof looks ready to fall in, but Briar shines through it all like a beacon of beauty. She’s a work of art surrounded by scraps. She deserves a better life. And I’m gonna give it to her.
I sit here for the next two hours watching her work. Every time she bends to wipe a table, tucks her hair behind her ear, orserves someone a drink, my pants get tighter. But I don’t touch myself. I’m saving that for her.
My abs tense as two truckers walk through the front door. One of them blatantly checks Briar out and pretends to jerk off to his friend. They both laugh, and I’mthis closeto hopping out of the car and breaking both of their noses when Briar tosses her apron, grabs her bag, and comes outside.
It’s midnight. Her shift must be over. Thank God. The last thing I need right now is two random assault charges.
I wait for her friend to drive off, then pull up to Briar’s car as she’s about to get in. “Excuse me, miss? I’m gonna need you to come with me.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” she replies, a fresh sassy tone to her voice. “Except back to my place for a nice hot shower.”
“I’ve got a shower at my house.” I grin. “Along with a few further questions.”
Her eyebrows fold above her nose into the most adorable frown. I drag my eyes down her baggy T-shirt, picturing her ripe breasts beneath, and my mouth starts to water.
“More interrogation?” she asks. She licks the side of her bottom lip and glances away like she’s thinking, then shakes her head. “No. I have to get home.”
She reaches for her car door, but before she can open it, I raise my handcuffs out the window and shake them. The metal clang of steel on steel echoes through the parking lot.