Page 16 of Her Secret Wish

He grinned, enjoying her praise.

Their radios came to life and both of the uniformed officers’ concentration sharpened, then they turned for their cars. Burns keyed his mic as he climbed behind the wheel and took off, siren screaming. Killian was right behind him.

“That was abrupt,” she commented.

“Domestic case, they had to go.”

Dean watched them disappear down the street, his own heart pounding with shared exhilaration. He loved his job.

Chapter Seven

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Rachel looked upat the rapt expression on Dean’s handsome face. There was an excitement radiating from him that she recognized in herself from years ago. She’d had the same expression every time she’d looked at the Super Stallion, twenty-four million dollars’ worth of ferocious machinery ready to carry her troops into combat.

And though she’d only just started with the investigative work she could see herself loving it just as well, in a completely different way. Would she ever fly helicopters again? Probably not. But she could modify her life to make it as thrilling and fulfilling as possible.

Dean had that look in his eyes. That look that said he could do his job happily for twenty-five years and retire extremely satisfied with his career. That confidence in what he was doing was so appealing. “Have you wanted to be a cop all your life?” she asked him.

His grin turned rueful. “How could you tell?”

“It’s that little boy look on your face.”

Shrugging those wonderfully broad shoulders he gave her a single nod. “Ever since I was a kid. I have pictures of me in a uniform when I was just little.”

“That’s very cool,” Rachel murmured. “My grandfather was in the Marines, too and I grew up listening to his battle stories.”

Nodding again, they moved toward the truck. “I don’t know about you but I’m still hungry. I do know of a restaurant a little north of here called Dazzle. Are you up for it?”

“Absolutely!”

They settled into the cab of the truck and belted themselves in. Dean started the truck and moved into traffic. Rachel watched his hands move on the steering wheel, a little entranced. He drove confidently, aware of everything around him. She wondered if he would make love the same way.

Definitely.

As he turned right, the muscles in his arm bunched and released, teasing her. Rachel wanted to reach over and explore, but it was too early for that. Right?

Her body urged her otherwise. Time to focus on something else.

“You know Killian was just ribbing you, right?”

He glanced at her out of the corner of his brilliant eyes. “Oh, I know. He was totally looking for my reaction. But I was a little disappointed too, because I thought it would be a nice place to take you.”

She waved a hand. “I’m sure where ever we go will be fine. I’m not picky.”

A few minutes later they pulled into a parking spot near the eatery. There were already customers heading in the door. “They don’t open till four on weekdays but they have phenomenal jazz. Hope you don’t mind.”

Rachel smiled. “I’m open for anything.”

Dean looked at her with narrow-eyed consideration then took her hand in his. Rachel knew it had to be a test so she kept her hand there, enjoying the closeness that was beginning to build between them. Dean was everything that she always imagined she would like in a man; tall, well built, and exceptionally kind. As they walked into the bustling restaurant, he held the door open for an older couple, then felt he needed to hold it for the party of eight that came next. If it wasn’t for a gentleman a shade more polite than Dean who ordered him inside, Dean would still be standing out there. But as she looked at his happy expression she could tell he would have been fine holding the door all night if he felt he was the man to do the job.

As he walked toward her where she waited just beside the hostess stand, his expression changed, became more watchful, more aware. Then his gaze drifted oh, so slowly down her body. Rachel had been waiting for him to do the completely male action the entire time she’d known him. It was as if he had waited until he knew she would catch him then she could see the carefully banked desire he’d been hiding. As she looked at the appreciation in his eyes, she vowed to go shopping for clothes that would actually flatter her.

Rachel’s heart began to race. She’d never had a man look at her like that before and it was a little shocking how her body reacted. Beneath the shirt and bra her nipples drew into hard peaks and a seductive warmth curled through her belly, then drifted lower. Moisture slicked her palms with nervous, anticipatory energy. She wanted to get up close and personal with Dean West but worried that he would find her naïve and inexperienced.

Yes, she’d slept with men before, but more to get her virginity out of the way than anything. She’d heard about some of the sexual abuse cases in the military and knew there was no way she was going in a virgin. As crazy as it sounded, she wanted to make the choice of who she gave her virginity to; Grant had been a nice guy but definitely no long-term prospect, perfect for what she’d wanted.

The second guy she’d slept with had been more because she’d wanted him. They’d crossed paths on base a couple of times and when they’d come together it had been more fun than she’d expected. They’d continued their affair for a couple of months until he’d been shipped home. She’d been sad but certainly not heartbroken. They hadn’t had that kind of attraction.