Soul Rest: A Knights of the Board Room Novel Read Online Free Page B

glance slid over her. “I can’t promise I won’t look. You can’t hold that against me.”
    “I'm not going to hold anything against you.” She couldn’t go to the home of a man she only knew from a convenience store bonding experience. Especially when that was the least dangerous thing about him. Telling herself a stern
no
, she started to backpedal toward her car.
    “Looks like you're striking out, Sergeant Keller.”
    She jumped at the whine of the speaker Jai had mounted on the gas pump island and glanced through the window. Jai clicked the button again, smiling at her. “Despite what you’ve told me, apparently cops
don’t
get pussy whenever they want it.”
    She choked on a chuckle as Leland threw a glare toward the store owner. Jai shrugged, lifting his hands in a posture of total innocence. But he looked toward Celeste again, his expression sobering as he pressed the mic control. “He’s okay, Celly. He’s good people. I’d trust him with my own daughters. If I’m wrong, come get me and we’ll shoot him. My gun’s bigger than his.”
    “But his aim’s so bad he couldn’t hit a parked car with it,” Leland muttered. “Unless he threw the gun butt first.”
    The three men came up to the cash register to pay for their items, so Jai clicked off. Leland turned his attention back to her. “I’m good people,” he repeated. “So see? You can trust my word. If you get tired, not a problem. I’ve got a comfortable couch where you can sack out until daylight.”
    She lifted a brow, blinked. “Do you usually ask strangers to sleep on your couch, Sergeant Keller?”
    He glanced toward the car. “I’m not sure that’s going to get you home, unless home’s across the street.”
    “You’d be surprised. That car’s a lot tougher than she looks. And I do have a cell number, Dad. I can text you when I get home safe.” Which would give him her phone number, and her his. Still a mistake, but a more manageable one in the rational light of day. “It’s kind of you to be concerned, but I do know this area of town.”
    “Which is why you should be jumping at the chance to find shelter until morning, when the worst riffraff crawl back into their holes.” He crossed his arms. “I wasn’t going to point this out, but you are about to be guilty of a serious code violation.”
    “There is nothing wrong with my vehicle. My tags and everything are up to date.” At least, she thought they were.
    “Not that. I bought you dinner. There’s a rule that says you’re at least required to eat it with me.”
    Swallowing the chuckle, she schooled her face into miffed indifference. She pulled the lasagna out of the bag and extended it to him. “A fair point. Jai has a microwave inside. I think it’s four and a half minutes on high.”
    Under his bemused gaze, she settled herself gracefully on the parking curb, glad the tight jeans had spandex as she stretched her legs out in front of her, crossed her ankles and leaned back on her palms. The release of pressure on her aching arches made her want to moan. She might not get up again for a while.
    “Open air dining works best for me.” She smiled brightly. “And if we’re talking code violations, when a man buys a woman dinner, dessert is supposed to be included. A Hershey bar should work, if you’re springing for the full-course meal.”
    Amusement crossed his handsome face, but something else, too. Dropping to his heels, he took the frozen box from her, but not to heat it in Jai’s microwave. He slid it back in her grocery bag, nudged it to the side so there was nothing between the two of them, and reached out.
    Celeste went still as he cupped her cheek. His large hand cradled her face as he studied her. If he’d touched her in a more active manner, she would have drawn back, but that steady stare, the light hold, kept her still. Mostly still. Her lips had parted, her breath held in a peculiar stasis. When at last he moved, it was to slide his thumb across