Escape in Passion Read online

  “It’s the least I can do.” She gave him that cute smile again, and he felt his knees shake “You just sit back and relax and dinner will be ready in no time.”

  Letting out a long breath, Vic headed to the living room, lifted his bottle of beer, and downed over half. When he set it back down on the coffee table, he took the stairs and went straight for the washroom. Once inside with the door closed, he braced his hands on the side of the sink, just breathing. When that didn’t work, he turned on the faucet and splashed cold water onto his face. Sweet God, he was horny.

  What the hell was he thinking? She was twenty years old, and he was thirty. Ten years older than her, not to mention she was still a baby. But damn it, she was a tempting baby. Maybe he really did need to call in a hooker to satisfy himself. If it helped to relieve the sexual tension he was feeling, well then, it would be worth it. If he didn’t get caught that was, because he was the head of the police department in a very small town that loved to gossip. Damn it.

  Toweling his face dry, Vic took a deep breath before leaving the room. The scent of cooking food aroused his appetite, and following his nose, he found Julia standing before his stove, tapping her feet to some unheard tune.

  God damn, he was horny.

  “I hope you’re hungry, because I’m making lots.”

  Oh, he was hungry, but not for food. “Uh huh.”

  “Good. You’ll have leftovers for tomorrow, at least. My tire’s fixed, and it didn’t even cost that much.”

  “That’s good.” He continued to watch her, drooling.

  “Even sold me a spare for cheap, so if it happens again, I can change it myself.”

  “Perfect.” Vic wet his lips, running his eyes over her body. She had a slender build. Her breasts were small and still maturing, and she had no hips to speak of. But her ass was damn fine, and he could easily imagine grabbing hold of those firm tight buns and—

  “Vic?”

  He jumped, coming back from his thoughts, heart pounding. “What?”

  “Are you okay?”

  “Yep, yep, just fine. What did you want?”

  “I’m not quite tall enough. Could you get that bottle of olive oil down from the top shelve here.”

  “Sure.” Drawing in a deep breath, Vic walked up beside her and reached up for the oil. As he turned to hand it to her, he bumped into her and his heart rate soared.

  “Thank you. Boy, do you have blue eyes. And long lashes. That’s rare for men.”

  She let out a tiny gasp when he grabbed her by the arms and yanked her against his chest. Without a thought, he sunk his mouth down onto hers and kissed her with a blinding passion. When he heard her moan, he came back to reality, quickly releasing her and stepping back.

  “Oh, shit. Sorry, damn it. I’m sorry.”

  “For what?” She licked her lips, and the sight of her tongue nearly drove him wild.

  “For kissing you. I never should have; I’m sorry. Damn it, I’m sorry.” And what he wasn’t telling her was that he was sorry he wanted more.

  She touched his face with her hand and smiled. “Don’t be sorry for kissing me. It was nice, and I enjoyed it.”

  “It was rude, it was—Christ, you’re still a baby.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “I am not. I’m nearly twenty-one years old.”

  He laughed, running a hand over his face. “Yeah, and I’m nearly thirty-one.”

  “And?”

  He laughed again. “And I should know better. I think you need to go.”

  “I’m not done cooking.”

  “Believe me, for both of our sakes, you need to go.” Because he knew if she stayed, he would end up taking her to his bed. “I appreciate the offer, and I can probably finish from here. If you tell me how much you paid, I’ll give you cash for the supplies.”

  “I don’t want cash; it was a gesture of thanks. You’re being silly, Vic. Just let me finish up in here, then I’ll go.”

  He hoped he could last that long.

  Vic left her to cook and stood out on the back porch to cool himself down. When she was finished, he thanked her and saw her out. For the next hour, all he could smell was her fragrance, and when he ate her food, all he tasted was her.

  ***

  Julia hadn’t bargained on wanting him the way she did when he was supposed to be the enemy. Yet when she sat down on her motel bed after leaving Vic’s place, her body ached to feel him touch her.

  He kissed like a dream.

  She picked up the telephone and dialed the long distance number, ready to put an end to it all. After several moments the line was answered and she sucked in a deep breath and went for it.

  “I can’t do it.”

  “What do you mean you can’t do it?”

  “He’s a nice guy. I can’t do it,” Julia insisted.

  “Must I remind you what he did?”

  “No, no, I know, but —”

  “He murdered your sister, and the RCMP covered it up. Why else would he be transferred away?”

  Julia sucked in a deep breath and knew that arguing with him would get her nowhere. “Okay, you’re right. I’ll do it.”

  “That’s a good girl. Keep me posted.”

  She hung up the phone, opened the nightstand drawer and looked down at the gun. The kiss she’d shared with Vic still tingling inside her mind. And as she ran her tongue along her lips, she could still taste him.

  How could she do this? How could she kill Victor Davis when all she wanted was to sink her fingers into all that blond hair and let him sweep her off her feet?

  Chapter 6

  His mind hadn’t been on his work for the two days since he had lip-locked with a twenty year old. His body ached to touch her, to taste her, to have her, and Vic knew damn well he couldn’t. It was killing him. Even the damn beer he drank like water after shift didn’t dull the ache. He’d woken several times during the night, drenched in sweat, panting over Julia Wilson.

  Damn, he wanted her.

  Vic yelped at the finger snapped against his head and, when he looked up, saw Tom looming over him. “What the hell?”

  “I wanted to snap you out of your daydream before you made a fool of yourself. Who were you lusting over?” he asked, pulling up a chair across from Vic’s desk.

  “I wasn’t lusting after anyone,” Vic lied

  “Right, then why were you panting like a dog in heat?”

  “I was not panting like a—Jesus, Tom. Why the hell are you here anyway?”

  “Came to say hi. I was in the neighborhood repairing some cupboards for Mrs. Andrews down the block.”

  “The world famous artist resorting to fixing cupboards. How very, very sad.” Vic pulled out a cigarette and lit it up.

  “Hey, at least I’m getting laid, unlike certain police officials who sit behind their desk daydreaming about it.”

  Vic narrowed his eyes at Tom over the tip of his cigarette. “You could share.”

  Tom laughed his usual big, bold laugh. “I’m an only child. I never learned to share. Who was it that had you all hot and bothered when I came in?”

  Vic let out a breath, expelling smoke as he leaned forward. “She’s a tourist, in town for a few days.”

  “Yeah? You looking for a quickie before she heads on her way?” Tom teased.

  Vic frowned. “She’s twenty years old.”

  “Oh, hell, Vic. Back away with your hands up.”

  “I know it; damn I know it, but still…”

  “No buts. Find someone your own age.”

  Vic snorted and had smoke drifting from his nose. “Yeah, easier said than done. Not that many to choose from around here, you know.”

  “Then go into the city and find someone. She’s a baby, Vic.”

  “She made me dinner because I helped her when she had a flat tire.”

  “And… You want to thank her with a quick roll in the sack?” Tom threw his hands in the air. “Back away with your hands up.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t reali
ze you had a visitor.”

  Vic looked up at the very woman he had just been discussing, and his mouth watered.

  “There was no one at the front desk,” Julia explained. “I thought I would pop in, but you’re busy—”

  “Wait.” Vic stood abruptly, and he knew how eager that made him look. “Was it important?” he said in hopes of justifying his actions.

  “No, not really. I just wanted to see how you liked your dinner the other night? I got busy yesterday and didn’t get a chance to pop by.”

  “It was terrific. You’re a damn good cook.”

  Julia smiled shyly. “Thanks. I love to cook.”

  When Tom cleared his throat, Vic realized how rude he was being. “Sorry, Tom, this is Julia. Julia, Tom. He’s an old friend.”

  “Old, old friend,” Tom emphasized to Vic as he stood. “Pleased to meet you, Julia.”

  “Wow, you’re big. Do you work out?” Julia asked, moving towards him.

  “Every day.”

  “I commend you. I don’t have the willpower to do it every day. I do some excising about once a week. Do you lift weights?”

  “I do.”

  “Can I feel your arm?”

  Tom laughed and held out his arm.

  “Oh, wow! Man, that’s tight. Nice, very nice.” She gave her head a shake. “Anyway, I’ll leave the two of you to get back to whatever you were discussing. Catch you later, Vic.”

  “Back away with your hands up,” Tom warned after Julia left.

  ***

  The bar was smoky and smelt like beer and sweat. And if it wasn’t for the fact that he was here on business, Vic might enjoy the atmosphere. He’d only come to Buster’s Bar twice since he’d arrived in town, and both times he’d enjoyed the company and the atmosphere. But because he was in authority, he reserved his heavier drinking for home.

  Right now he had a brawl to break up. No, he didn’t have to be here. He had two of his officers taking care of the job perfectly fine, but he’d been in the area and had happened upon his men as they were entering the club and decided to see what was what.

  “There is no fucking way I am paying him. He cheated,” Craig Larson shouted, his arms flailing.

  “I didn’t cheat nothing, you crazy bastard. You’re just too damn cheap to pay up,” Rusty Wiles retorted just as heatedly.

  “Okay, boys, let’s just settle down and work this out rationally,” Vic added calmly.

  “I don’t have to listen to the likes of you”

  Vic’s eyebrow lifted at Craig’s comment. He thought it best to ignore the attitude. “I think you’ve both had a bit too much to drink tonight. Why don’t you call it a night and head home. Either of you driving?”

  “I walked,” Rusty admitted, his voice slurred.

  “I’ll have my guys escort you home. Craig?”

  “I don’t have to do nothing you say. You think you’re some big man, coming in here from your big city, stirring up what didn’t need stirring, and turning the town upside down.”

  “You need to settle down now, Craig,” Constable Warrens warned him.

  “The hell I do.” He jerked his arm away when the constable reached out for him.

  “You don’t want to do this, Craig,” Vic advised.

  “Fuck you, pig.” Raising his fist, Craig slammed it into Vic’s jaw, sending him stumbling backwards.

  Both constables were on Craig faster than Vic could blink and cuffing his hands behind his back. Vic lifted his head, swiped the blood from his lip, and took a deep breath.

  “You okay, Sergeant?” Max asked while his partner took care of Craig.

  “Yeah, nothing I haven’t felt before.” Looking up at Craig, Vic could actually see the hatred spilling out of his eyes. “Take him in. I’ll be right with you after I drop Rusty off.”

  “You’re a piece of shit, a piece of no good shit that doesn’t belong here, Davis,” Craig shouted while being hauled from the bar.

  “He’s an ass when he’s drunk,” Rusty stated, staggering a bit as he stood beside Vic.

  “Why do you hang out with him? Thanks, Lisa.” Vic took the cloth with ice the waitress handed him and held it to his throbbing lip.

  “‘Cause he’s only an ass half the time.”

  Two hours later, after booking Craig and filing the report, Vic trudged his way through the snow to his back door. His jaw was throbbing like a bitch, and he wanted a cold beer to dull the pain—maybe two. Unlocking his back door, he hung up his hat and jacket, kicked off his boots, then grabbed a beer from the fridge before he headed up to change.

  Dressed in a pair of grey sweats and t-shirt, his beer in hand, he headed down to the living room to dull the pain and lull his mind with some mindless TV. Bending, he was about to sit on the sofa when his doorbell rang.

  He actually whimpered.

  Setting his beer down on the coffee table, Vic walked to the front door and, opening it, whimpered once more.

  “Hi, Vic.”

  “Julia.” She was the last person he wanted to see tonight.

  “Can I come in?”

  “I’m really beat, Julia.”

  Bursting into the house uninvited, Julia lifted her gloved hand to his face. “Holy cow! You’re bleeding. Oh, my God, what happened?”

  Vic didn’t need her touching him. He backed off as Tom had warned and shoved his hands in his sweatpants pockets. “Someone thought it would make their day to punch me in the face. Why are you here?”

  “I brought a movie.” She held up the movie, smiling. “Thought we could relax and watch a comedy. Great, you have beer. Can I have one?”

  “You’re too young to drink.” And without his consent, she stripped from her jacket and boots and walked into his living room. She was a persistent one.

  “I’m twenty years old, legal age to drink. Are they in the fridge?” she headed to the kitchen.

  “Julia, you can’t stay.”

  “Why not?” She grabbed a beer, opened the top, and took a sip.

  God, he wanted her. “I can’t be around you.”

  “Why not?”

  Vic closed his eyes and said a mild oath. “I just can’t.”

  “You’re attracted to me?”

  He nodded.

  “Really?”

  Vic’s brow lifted. “That surprises you?”

  “Well, yeah. You’re a babe.”

  He hadn’t been called that in a long time. “Thanks, but I’m still lost.”

  She shrugged her shoulders, taking a sip from her bottle before she spoke. “Look at me, now look at you.”

  She was confusing the hell out of him.

  “I’m no beauty queen.”

  “Julia—”

  “Just saying. So, you’re attracted to me. Cool.”

  He shook his head as she wandered past him to the living room. “It’s not cool. You’re too young for me.”

  She blew out a breath, dropping down on the sofa. “By whose rules? Age is irrelevant. Come on.” She patted the sofa beside her. “Let’s enjoy a movie.”

  “Julia…”

  “Just a movie, Vic, and a beer. I’m bored in my hotel room. I don’t know anyone here. There’s a snow storm coming in, so I can’t head out for a few days. Keep me company, okay?”

  He was going to regret this; Vic knew that but gave in and sat down to watch the movie with her. When it was over and she was heading out the door, she turned to him with a sweet smile, and kissed him right on the lips. “Age is irrelevant,” she reminded him, before walking out the door.

  He was doomed

  Chapter 7

  It was a pretty snowfall, the flakes all light and fluffy as they fell from a white clouded sky. Julia stood by the window, watching. The snow had started some time during the night, and by the time she’d woken at ten, the storm had already dumped a few centimeters.

  She’d lied to Vic about leaving; she had no plans of going anywhere anytime soon. But then again, all she did was lie to Vic. It wasn’t like she could com
e out with the truth. It would ruin everything.

  But damn, she felt guilty.

  He seemed like such a nice guy, so genuine, so…sexy. She could totally understand what her sister had seen in him.

  She let out a heavy sigh, leaving the window and catching sight of her sister’s picture on the nightstand. There wasn’t a day that went by that she didn’t miss Michelle dearly. They’d been close once, practically inseparable. Until Michelle had married Marshall Kent. So much had changed when she’d married Marshall; her closeness with Julia had been one. They still kept in touch, but not as often as they had before. And Julia had only managed to drive more of a wedge between them when she’d found out that Marshall was actually a drug runner.

  Her parents thought he was an honest businessman, but Julia had found out differently one day when she’d popped in to say hi to her sister, and found Marshall doing business of the illegal kind. She hadn’t said anything to him about it but had confronted her sister. And Michelle had been furious that she would even imply such a thing.

  But Julia knew better.

  She’d spied on Marshall a few times, and the more she found out, the more she disliked him. But he treated her sister well, and Michelle loved him dearly.

  Until Vic came around.

  Michelle had called her from work one day, shortly after Easter last year, and had told Julia she was having marital problems. And that she’d fallen in love with another man.

  Victor Davis.

  Julia had been ecstatic to find out he was an RCMP officer, and she hoped her sister would dump her husband and live happily ever after with the cop.

  But that hadn’t happened. Instead, the cop was responsible for her death.

  Or so Julia was led to believe.

  The police report had concluded that it had been a drive-by shooting that had taken her sister’s life, and the suspects had yet to be found. But Marshall had told Julia that the gunmen had been after Vic, and that he was a crooked cop with dealings in the drug cartel. Her sister had been killed in the crossfire, and the police had covered it up and sent Vic away to another job.