Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 94512 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 473(@200wpm)___ 378(@250wpm)___ 315(@300wpm)
He also wasn’t in uniform, and with a hint of scruff on his face, he was even better looking. He wore a faded gray T-shirt with the police department logo and the acronym SPD emblazoned on the upper left side of his chest. His gold-flecked dark brown hair was messy and casual, and oh boy, he had a tattoo that curled around his left bicep. She hadn’t noticed it the other night. His shirt had to have covered the marking because no way would she have missed it otherwise.
The only thing stopping her from drooling was that he’d seen her and those gorgeous eyes locked with hers.
“Liza!” She vaguely heard Faith’s voice over the noisy crowd.
All she could focus on was Dare.
His hot gaze slid over her, making her acutely aware of her body’s reaction to his stare. Thinking she’d be meeting two women at a casual bar, she hadn’t thought about her clothes. She’d run home after work and changed into the first things she’d found on the laundry basket of clean clothes she’d yet to put away. Never mind that he’d seen her in damp running gear—suddenly, her skinny jeans and cropped top that exposed a hint of her stomach felt way too snug and revealing.
Drawing a deep breath, she forced her gaze away from his, walked to the table, and smiled at Faith. “Hi.”
Faith nodded. “So glad you could make it on short notice. This is my sister-in-law, Kelly, and she’ll be working with us on the fundraiser.”
Liza glanced at the woman she knew by name, though they’d never been formally introduced. Unlike Faith, who possessed an uptown look no matter how much she dressed down, Kelly was more like the pretty girl next door with her straight brown hair and blond highlights.
She greeted Liza with a warm smile. “Hi.”
“Nice to meet you,” Liza said in return.
“Do we have a place where we can talk about the gala?” Liza asked without looking at the rest of the table, though she knew they all stared at her.
Faith shook her head. “Can you believe I forgot it was Ladies’ Night here? Silly me,” she said, tapping the side of her head with her palm.
“Yeah, silly you,” Dare said in an odd tone.
“Well, since it is like a zoo, there’s no way I can concentrate on little details,” Faith said. “I think we should enjoy the night here and meet up another time to do fundraiser business.”
“I’m all for enjoying girls’ night,” Kelly said, raising her beer bottle. “That okay with you?” she asked Liza.
As if she had a choice now? Liza nodded. “That’s fine.” She’d drink and be merry with the cop who made her think of nothing but sex whenever he was around.
“Can I get anyone another drink? I was going to get up and go to the ladies’ room anyway,” Kelly said.
Everyone murmured no-thank-yous since they’d just had their drinks refilled.
“Liza?” Kelly asked her.
Still feeling the heat of Dare’s stare, Liza managed a nod. “I’ll have a glass of white wine. And thank you.”
“No problem. Next round’s on you.” Kelly grinned and rose from her seat, winding her way through people more easily than Liza had.
“So, Liza, are you going to sit down and join us?” Dare asked, forcing her to look directly at him again. He leaned back in his chair, muscular arms folded across his chest, a pleased smile on his lips.
“Where are my manners?” Faith asked, laughing. “Yes, Liza, please sit.” She patted the empty chair beside her that Kelly had just left behind.
Which just happened to be next to Dare. “I couldn’t take Kelly’s seat.”
“Sure you can. I’ll just head to the back room and take one of Joe’s spares,” Sam assured her.
Amazed that the cop who’d arrested Brian was being so nice to her, Liza smiled. “Thank you.” Out of options, she walked over and lowered herself into the seat, only to find herself squeezed between Faith and Dare.
Faith she could handle, Liza thought, suppressing a nervous laugh. Dare, on the other hand, was way too close, his body heat radiating off him in enticing waves. He smelled like Ralph Lauren’s Polo. She’d sniffed the woodsy fragrance in Neiman Marcus with her teenage girlfriends, and Liza had been a sucker for the masculine scent ever since. Now she had a man to associate with the heady cologne, and her body throbbed in response.
“That’s better,” Faith said, oblivious to Liza’s runaway hormones. “Now, just in case not everyone knows names, Liza, this is Dr. Alexa Collins.” Faith pointed at the auburn-haired woman. “And these are Officers Sam Marsden, Cara Hartley, and Dare Barron. Who also happens to be my brother-in-law. Everyone meet Liza.”
“Nice to meet you all,” she said politely.
“Likewise,” Cara said, watching Liza intently over the rim of her drink.
“Happy to have another woman among these Neanderthals,” Alexa added with a welcoming smile.