Julie Miller

That__ not why I__ here. I__e got a mission. I made a promise._ His chest expanded with a deep, ragged breath. __h, hell. Quit looking at me like you either want to shoot me or eat me up. I__ trying to do the right thing here._ Max__ rejection instantly sent her back to the times in her relationship with Richard when he__ rebuffed her advances. __ wasn__ very good, was I? I__ sor__ __o not let that man come between us._ Max swiped his hand over his mouth and jaw and spun away. Just as quickly he faced her again and grabbed her wrist. __ou call me whatever crass SOB you want to._ He pulled her hand to the front of his jeans and cupped it over the unmistakable warm bulge behind his zipper. __his is what you do to me. I don__ know why you and me fit together this good. If I could take you to bed right now and finish this, I would._ He released her and backed away, raising his hands in apology. __ut that__ not what I__ here for. Neither one of us needs that kind of complication in our lives. I have to keep the mission in mind. I__ a cop. I have to think like a cop, not a..._ __ot a what?_ she asked, her voice barely a whisper. But he didn__ fill in the blank. __t__ not your job to deal with me. I__ damaged goods, Rosie. You can do better than me.

That was bliss. Being cared for. Wanted. Feeling so necessary to someone__ existence that there was no place for the loneliness inside her.

You shouldn__ kiss me like that unless it means something to you._ Max__ lip trembled beneath her thumb. A deep groan rose from his chest. And then he was pushing to his feet, pulling her with him. His mouth covered hers, hot and wet and full of a driving need she answered kiss for kiss.

After he tipped his hat and left, Jillian watched him stride down the hallway. Yeah, Big-brotherly overprotection aside, fortysomething looked good on the police captain from this view, too.

For years I__e been trying to turn myself into someone I__ not. Because that__ what Court wanted. But you get me. I can be the man I want to be with you__he man I__ meant to be. You needed me to be that man. I__ a cop. Always have been, always will be.