Legally Hot, Leigh, Lora [freenovel24 .txt] 📗

had the NYPD logo along with his badge number and contact information. “You can count on me keeping an eye on Carter,” Adam said. “As a precaution, lock every door and window. Pay attention to see if you’re being followed or watched. Call me if you notice anything that doesn’t seem right.”

She cocked her head. “Are you that concerned he’ll come after me?”

With a thoughtful look, Adam said, “I don’t think you should take chances.”

“I won’t.” She waved the business card at him. “I know how to reach you if I need to.”

Adam gave a short nod, then went down the hall to the front door. He paused, his hand on the doorknob. “Good night, Keri,” he said before he let himself out and closed the door and the screen door behind him.

  TWO

  Thirty seconds later a knock on the door startled Keri. She’d had one drop-in guest tonight, who could be here now? She looked through the peephole. Safe, she thought.

When she opened the door, Detective Boyd was standing on her doorstep. This time he looked a little shy. Almost embarrassed.

Keri tilted her head. “Did you forget something?”

Adam shook his head. Cleared his throat. “I’m off duty now,” he said. “By any chance would you like to have dinner with me at Pete’s?”

Keri blinked in surprise. “Um, well. I don’t know. We just met. I really don’t even know you.”

“It’s a good way to get to know me.” His eyebrows rose and the corner of his mouth turned up in a slight, pleading grin.

Charming and persistent. A dangerous combination.

Keri shook her head. “It’s probably not a good night. But it was very nice of you to ask. Thank you, but I should really say good night.”

She closed the door, leaving him on her doorstep.

With a sigh she leaned against the door and tilted her head back so it thumped on the wood.

Truth was, she really did want to go out with him. But she never did things like that, went out with men she just met.

Hers was a simple life that included a nice routine with her dance studio and her parents, and not a whole lot else.

She really, really wanted to go out with Detective Boyd.

Keri turned and hurried to jerk the door open. “Adam. On second thought I’d love to go to dinner,” she called out before he reached his SUV.

He smiled as he returned and the cutest dimple appeared in one of his cheeks. “Grab something warm, it’s chilly outside.”

Damn he was hot. “I’ll meet you there,” she said. “You can snag a table for us.”

“See you,” he said and headed outside, and she locked the door behind him.

The coat closet was right by the front door and she picked out a short black leather coat and slipped her arms into it. She scooped up her wallet, keys, and cell phone from the stand in the entryway and stuffed them into her coat pockets.

Kinda crazy that she was going out with a man she had known for a few minutes at most, but she had the feeling that the detective was a genuinely nice guy. Not to mention really, really sexy. Besides, this had a little more excitement to it than sitting home eating leftover Chinese and reading a book.

After going through the kitchen door to the garage and raising the garage door, she climbed into her red VW Bug and backed out into the narrow street. She made sure her garage door closed behind her before driving downtown to Pete’s on Water Street.

When she arrived, Adam was seated at a small table near the bar. The buzz of voices, the clink of dishes, and music was a pleasant hum in the background. The restaurant had the warm smells of Italian food that made her mouth water.

He stood when she reached the table. “Nice to have an excuse to get out of the house,” Keri said as he assisted her in getting out of her coat. “Other than going to the studio to teach classes or visiting my parents in Forest Hills, I don’t get out much these days.”

“I’m glad you said yes.” Adam helped her with her chair and she caught his scent of coffee and leather. “It’s great to have good company to enjoy dinner with.”

“How do you know I’ll be good company?” Keri gave him a teasing smile as he took his own seat.

Again that dimple that made her sigh as he said, “It was worth a shot.”

The server appeared with glasses of water and a basket of garlic bread. After glancing at the menu and asking Keri what she liked for an appetizer, Adam ordered her favorite, the fresh mozzarella and red peppers.

When the server walked away, Keri met Adam’s gaze. “So, Detective, you said you live in Kensington?”

“A two-story Victoria.” He pushed his hand through his thick brown hair and she watched the play of muscles beneath his snug T-shirt. “Been there a couple of years,” he was saying and she just nodded. She would have been happy to watch him all night. He was the picture of masculine grace despite the rough edges.

As he spoke, Adam reached for the bread at the center of the table. At the same time he was going for the basket, his gaze dropped to Keri’s breasts. His hand shot too far and hit Keri’s glass of ice water.

The water glass tipped over and a wave of ice water covered Keri’s lap.

Keri gasped from the icy cold of the water that drenched her jeans and the belly of her sweater.

“Sh—damn,” Adam said as he rushed up from his seat to hand her a napkin. His arm hit his own glass of ice water and it tumbled over and sent another splash of cold over Keri.

At the