Page 14 of Hostile Witness
“Okay.” He started trenching what looked like a three-leaf clover outline. He was halfway done when she finally noticed him.
Pulling her earbuds out, she yelled, “Stop. You don’t need to be doing that. You’re in your work uniform.”
He nodded. “Which means I’m wearing steel-toe boots. You’re wearing tennis shoes. It goes a helluva lot faster in boots.”
She tossed the trowel, scrambled to her feet, and trudged over to him. “I’m serious, Ethan. Put it down. You don’t even like gardening.”
“You’re right on that one, but this is hardly gardening. It’s digging. I do a lot of digging on the job. Doesn’t bother me a bit.” He placed a heavy boot on the shovel and stepped hard. “There’s nothing wrong with being neighborly.”
She set a fist on her hip. “But you’re not my neighbor, and I don’t want you to do it.”
He squinted at the ire in her eyes and nodded. “And why is that? Most people would be grateful for a little help.”
She pinched the bridge of her nose. “Because I’m not most people. I don’t want to owe you a coffeepot or anything else because you helped me.”
“I’m enjoying myself. You won’t owe me anything. Not your time, not a coffeepot, and not even another kiss.”
She threw her hands into the air. “Ooh, ooh, that’s what this is about? You remembered the beach bonfire?”
His male ego enjoyed the fact that she remembered, too. “Girl, I’d have to be made of stone not to remember that evening. Why’d you take off like that?”
Tia made a goofy face. “My uncle was a sergeant back then. I would’ve been grounded all summer if I’d gotten caught underage drinking on the beach with a boy my parents hadn’t met. I ran for my life, present and future.”
He nodded. “I looked for you all summer, kept hoping I’d see you around.”
She fidgeted with the tag on a glove. “Well, if it’s any consolation, I kept an eye out for you, too.”
“Have you ever wondered what might’ve been if we’d stayed in touch?”
She nodded confidently. “Oh, sure. We’d have enjoyed a summer fling and broken up, like most relationships at that age.”
He glanced at her. “You think so? It took me a long time to forget you. I’ve still got the blanket.” He raised a hand as he clarified, “The blanket belonged to Nan, and she left it in one of her linen closets. I considered tossing it, but it has such a nice memory attached to it that I let it stay.”
Tia smiled. “While that is flattering, Detective, if we kissed today, there’d be nothing there. It all has to do with timing.”
“Timing, huh? If you say so.” He crushed a few more feet of the edging while she stood by watching. “I’d have to put your theory to the test before I believed you. We were very well matched that night, if I remember correctly.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m telling you it wouldn’t be the same today because we’re different people. Trust me.”
“If you say so. I think I’d rather find out and get it out of the way.” He finished the last few feet of the trench and stood back to admire the outline.
Tia stripped off her gardening gloves and dropped them. “Okay, okay, I’ll prove it to you. You’ll see.” She marched over, grabbed hold of his shirt, and pulled him down for a kiss.
For a few seconds, they both stood frozen like statues.
“See?” her lips murmured into his as she pulled away.
Not. So. Fast.He’d waited a long time for this kiss. He tugged her into his arms so his lips hovered against hers before gently tracing her top lip with his tongue, then suckling the bottom one, enjoying the cream and sugar of her caramel coffee-scented mouth. He pressed deeper long enough to tease a throaty moan from her, then ran his lips along her neck as she trembled against him.
Tia pushed away from his chest, shrugging. Without looking him in the eye, she stalked back to her trowel. “I told you we can’t go back. It’s just like kissing my brother, if I had one.”
Uh-huh. Yeah, right. The woman had gripped his arms and melted like warm butter against him, participating with an eager abandon. Next time, if there was one, he couldn’t guarantee he’d stay the consummate gentleman.
Tia gaveone final wave as Ethan drove away. Lord have mercy. She crumpled to her knees in the dirt. The man could kiss ten times better now than he had at the bonfire. She touched a finger to her slightly swollen lips. Why on earth had she succumbed to the temptation and kissed him?
Well, she had been curious, and his nonchalant goading had irritated her enough to want to prove him wrong, but she’d misjudged the situation big-time. Her insides swirled like molten lava. What the hell was that about?
She couldn’t get involved with Ethan Kelley. First of all, he was a detective. She’d be a fool to get involved with a detective again. And she’d promised herself many years of uninvolved singlehood ahead. And a red coffeepot, though a very sweet gesture, was a far cry from hearts and flowers. Not that she needed the typical romantic milestones for a relationship, but hold on just a blessed minute. Where was she going with this? Oh yeah, she wasn’t looking for a relationship or planning to get involved with anyone. It wasn’t personal against Ethan. She would take as tough a stand with any man at this point in her life.