In Your Arms: A Small Town Love Story (Safe Haven Book 1) (7 page)

He took a step toward her, but she backed up. Alarm flashed across her face. She sure was uneasy around him.
Jesus. He raised his hands as if in surrender and stepped out of her space. It would be good to get her away from the Sanctuary. Here, she was emotionally locked down, functioning perfectly in her work environment, but she’d made sure there was only room for one within the walls she’d built.

“Come on, have dinner with me. There’s an Italian place in town I’ve heard good things about. What say I pick you up at seven?”

“I’m not sure.”

“You don’t like Italian?”

A tiny smile pulled at her lips, softening her eyes. “I love Italian,” she answered slowly.

“Brilliant. I’ll pick you up at seven.” His cell phone rang and he went outside to take the call. He was back in minutes. “I’ve got to get back to town. Seven o’clock, okay?”

Once in his car, he hesitated before putting his key in the ignition. What the hell had happened to the resolve he’d mustered in the pool the other night? He was meant to be shutting down these emotions, not badgering her for a dinner date.

Not a date, just a dinner.

M
arlo bent forward
, as she looked into the mirror. Why had she allowed Sally and that shop assistant to bully her breasts into a bra like this? Perhaps the shoestring straps of the dress would draw eyes upwards, to her shoulders.

Look at me all the way out of my comfort zone.

She reached up and pulled the clasp from her hair, shaking it free. It fell about her shoulders and damn, it didn’t conceal that cleavage one bit. Her conservative self was knocking at the changing room door, trying to get her to go back to her comfortable, strap-em-down sports bra.

The voice in her head kept up the chatter: You answer the door like that, girl, and it’ll be all, ‘Hi, Adam, meet my breasts.’ Is that what you want?

She turned and rummaged in her makeup bag for a lipstick.
Yes, Miss Prude, maybe that’s exactly what I want.
Facing the mirror again, her confidence fled as she took the cap off the lipstick. She placed it on the vanity and reached behind for her dress zipper. She tugged it down and shrugged out of the dress. As she reached for the bra hooks, Sally’s voice rang in her ears.
For heaven’s sake, girl, on behalf of the flat-chested women of the world, let those puppies out.

Courage.

She retrieved the dress from the bathroom floor and stepped back into it. She pulled her shoulders back and smiled. She looked like a woman.

In her late childhood, when her mother’s drug dependency meant the diner jobs no longer paid enough, Marlo had watched her get ready to go out to work at night. Her dress and preparation served one purpose…to attract men. Men who would pay. Low-cut tops so constricting that her breasts spilled over the top. Short, tight skirts showing way too much of her tired, abused thighs, and enough makeup to cover her desperation in the dim light that barely illuminated her street corner workplace. And where had attracting men got her?

It puts your food on the table, her mother used to say.

But not until it’s fed your drug habit
,
Marlo would think when she got older. Often the table was bare.

She thought of her mother’s pimp, shuddered and pushed away the memory. Nobody from the past was going to taint her evening with Adam.

T
hey were seated
in the restaurant’s fully enclosed courtyard, still warm despite the rapidly dipping sun. An ancient clematis twisted out of the ground, its tortured limbs clawing their way along one wall. Weathered pots spilled brilliantly colored nasturtiums, rosemary, oregano and thyme over their sides. The scent of the herbs made Marlo’s stomach tumble at the promise of well-sourced fresh food.

Although driven by a different need, that tumble felt similar to the subtle apprehension that had fluttered within her when Adam had arrived earlier.

She’d spent the previous hour beating down the self-limiting nag that told her in alternate breaths that she was either over- or under-dressed. That her hair would be better up or down. Or cut. Or maybe she should wear a hat? That she wore too much makeup or not enough until she’d scrubbed it all off her face only to reapply it. Ultimately the nag told her she should cancel the date. Stay home with a soda and salad.

When she’d opened the door, she’d seen how Adam’s eyes widened and considered her for that protracted moment before he spoke. He stepped inside, right into her space and although it discomfited her at first, when he bent and brushed her cheek with his lips she was flushed with warmth. It was almost a kiss, so chaste, yet it caused that small apprehension to flourish into something that tingled and wanted his touch.

Now here they were at the restaurant. She could probably count on a single hand how many times she’d been to a restaurant in Halo Peak. It equated roughly to the amount of dates she had been on since she’d arrived eighteen months earlier. Hell, she was hopeless at this. She should never have agreed to come.

“Marlo, relax.”

She tried to force a smile and realized her hands were two balled fists resting on the table. She opened them, looked at Adam, and he winked at her. “This is supposed to be fun,” he said.

Marlo nodded and reached for her water.

“I hate that you’re nervous around me like this. What is it? What’s causing that?”

He was a cop and a man, and that made her wary. But it’s something else that scared her. Her body had gone off on its own program, craving Adam’s touch. Feeling out of control like this was unnerving.

“Sorry, it’s me. It’s nothing, really. I often get a bit nervous.”

He cocked his head. “Except I see you as a confident person. Look at how you are with the dogs and the staff at the Sanctuary. Hardly a shrinking violet.”

“To be honest, I’m not used to being taken out for dinner.” There, she couldn’t be more honest than that.

“I’m sure that’s not from a lack of offers.”

Marlo shrugged. “I’m feeling a bit out of my depth.” He reached for her hand, and she snatched it away. The move was involuntary and an embarrassing response. She murmured an apology and placed her hand back on the table, right where it had been when he reached for it, but he didn’t move to take it again. Her face was hot and she could feel heat then perspiration prickling the back of her neck. She wanted to get out of there. What an idiot for agreeing to this.

“Marlo?”

“Yuh?”

“Can you look at me?”

No, no I can’t. I can look down at the tablecloth. And the silverware. Very clean silverware. Flowers in the vase. They look like wildflowers from a meadow… pretty. Adam’s silverware is sparkling, too. He’s waiting. The longer I leave it the more awkward this is becoming. Great shirt, open neck, tanned skin. Look up at his face.
She took a deep breath and lifted her gaze. “Hi,” she said. He wasn’t laughing at her, and he didn’t appear to want to make a break for the door.

“Hi. Are you feeling better?”

His eyes had narrowed with a small frown. He must think she’s a lunatic.
“Sure, I’m feeling better.” She was relieved, as if she’d gotten back on the horse after a fall and made a safe circuit of the paddock. She sneaked another quick glance at him. Mostly, Adam appeared concerned.

“Good, because here comes our food. I hope you’re hungry.” Adam questioned her as they ate, and Marlo was relieved that he had completely let go of the subject of her anxiety. “So what made you want to work with dogs?”

“I met Mae as a teenager. At that time her position with CRAR was similar to the one I hold. She was managing one of their sanctuaries. She gave me work, noticed I was good with dogs, and encouraged me to study for a degree in animal behavior. After a number of years gaining experience at various CRAR rescue centers, I was lucky enough to be running Dog Haven Sanctuary. It’s CRAR’s flagship facility and once completed, the place is going to be amazing. Of course, we’ll need a lot more staff and volunteers, and I’m hoping they’ll hire a manager because I’m finding the admin work is taking up way too much of my time.” She took a sip of her wine. It matched the high quality of the food. Halo Peak might be a small town, but the regular stream of tourists ensured the local restaurants kept up their game.

“You like that?”

“Very much. It’s way better than what I usually drink.”

“Me, too.” He leaned forward a little. “What’s the final plan for the Sanctuary?”

Marlo paused when the waiter arrived with their dinner. Once he’d left, she asked, “Are you sure you really want to start me on this? I can be difficult to stop once I get going.”

Y
eah
, he was certain. He enjoyed hearing about her plans, watching her drop her guard as she spoke about the dogs. Around these subjects, she stayed calm. He could move into her space without spooking her. He longed to step in and take control so that together they could dispel her fears and make her feel safe. But he knew that kind of move would see her rabbit-run to the nearest and deepest burrow.

Her amber eyes flashed with tiny specks of gold as she described the community initiative she and Lulah were working on, dog care and training classes for the people who couldn’t afford it. Doing it for the dogs, but for the people, too, so that the skills they gained, the harmony and compassion, would have a flow-on effect to other areas of their life.

He’d love to show her what he was seeing, this beautiful, compassionate woman who still needed to learn that she was one of those broken people, too. And he’d really love to get his hands around the neck of whoever was responsible for damaging her.

“There’s a small amount of trickery involved in all of this.” Marlo added.

“No free lunch, huh?”

“Exactly. The only rule we have is that before attending classes the dogs must be spayed or neutered. It’s a bit of a hobby horse of mine. Most can’t afford it, so CRAR has a fund to help out with that. A spay op is cheaper than dealing with a litter of puppies further down the track. So Adam, what about you?”

“I’m not neutered.”

“Ha!” She laughed, shaking her head and the rich coffee-brown hair that tumbled past her shoulders in casual curls, swayed like a backing group. “Aren’t you the funny guy? I meant, what brings you to this line of work?”

This bit he would approach with caution
.
“I come from a farming background, I’ve done police work, and I have an interest in animal welfare. This contract came up when I was between projects, and it seemed the perfect opportunity to take a break from police work. I need to see if there are other areas I’d like to pursue.”

“Between projects, huh? Tell me, what are ‘projects’ when you’re a policeman?”

He chuckled. “You don’t miss much, do you, Marlo?”

“And…?”

“And you’re very attractive.”

“Thank you for the compliment, but that’s not what I meant. You haven’t answered my question.”

“For now.”

One shoulder lifted in a dismissive
oh, well
gesture before she returned to chasing the last piece of calamari around her plate. He could feel her disappointment, as if she’d traded too much for so little.

Making her feel cheated was no way to gain her trust. He had to give something back.
What could he share that wouldn’t have her hailing a cab? The undercover job to bust open a dog fighting operation had been a spectacular failure with deadly consequences. At least the next project fared a little better. Helping close down the nasty little gang that was bringing teenaged Thai girls into the country to be used as sex slaves was terrific.

He placed his knife and fork down and pushed his plate away. “I worked undercover. Most of the stuff is unpleasant, living on the fringe, infiltrating gangs, that sort of thing. I can’t talk about it, but I’m not deliberately hiding anything from you.”

“That’s fine.” She finally trapped the calamari between the tines of her fork but instead of eating the seafood she lay the fork down and mirrored his move with her plate.

“‘Fine’ has to be the most ambiguous word in a woman’s arsenal. Mostly it sends a chill down a man’s spine.”

She widened her eyes. “Very powerful, if used wisely.” Her lips curved into a vivid smile.

Almost as powerful as that smile, he thought, as he tried to apply his recent resolve to the visceral reaction he’d just experienced. Her left hand rested back on the table, only inches from his. He fought the urge to reach for it and run his thumb across the back of her fingers so he could feel the tiny shudder he was sure she’d make. She would drop her eyes and he’d insist she looked at him. The battle to win her gaze would be shorter this time. As he held it, he would stroke one finger across the inside of her wrist, press it to her pulse point and feel the beat quicken. Taking charge.

“Can I bring you dessert, sir?”

Saved by the waiter. He took a long, slow breath and nodded to Marlo. “You first.”

She placed one hand on her stomach. “Oh, I couldn’t. I’m full.”

“We have a
panna cotta,
madam
,
which is served with marinated grapes,” the waiter recommended. “It is delicate and light.” He bent closer. “Ideal for sharing,” he added in a low Italian accent.

“That sounds perfect.”

Marlo nodded. “Yes.”

The waiter returned with their dessert and two sets of silverware.

“You try it,” Adam said.

She placed a spoonful in her mouth, tipped her head back and closed her eyes as she tasted the dessert. “Oh, God, if heaven was edible this would be it.” When she opened her eyes she found him watching her. “What?”

A tiny smear of cream smudged her bottom lip and he battled to stop himself reaching for it with his finger, taking it into her mouth, pressing down. He wanted to slip his thumb beneath her chin, the finger in her mouth, three fingers splayed across her cheek. He got hard thinking about it.

She got such pleasure from a simple thing as dessert. He could happily watch her eat the entire thing then hang around for the night so he could watch her eat breakfast, too.

A faint flush crept up her neck. “What is it?” she asked again.

Oh, boy, it’s you.
“It makes me happy to see you enjoying this meal.”

“Well, I’ve never had anything like this. It’s stunning. You keep watching, and I’ll keep eating,” she teased.

With pleasure, he thought.

He ordered coffee and Marlo had tea. He watched, hiding his smile as she lifted the teapot lid, checking the aroma of the tea every minute until it satisfied her. Once the brew had steeped she took hold of the teapot’s handle, and carefully circled the pot a few times before pouring. She opened the small pot of honey she’d asked for, and using the handle end of a teaspoon, removed a dab of honey which she swirled over the surface of the tea before quickly laying a slice of lemon on top.

He couldn’t help his smile at her colored cheeks when she caught him watching her ritual. “It calms me,” she murmured, before he had a chance to ask.

She took a sip and nodded before replacing her cup. “It’s very good.”

Sure, it calms you.
Barely hidden was something in her that simmered like the vigilant caution of a prey animal. When they’d arrived, he’d noticed her scan the restaurant. She had checked who else was dining; her glance ricocheted from table to table. When they were seated in the courtyard, he saw her check the exit that took you directly to the street rather than having to leave through the restaurant. She’d noticed that and relaxed.

“This forensic thing sounds gruesome,” Marlo said.

“I can’t say I’m looking forward to it, but it will in many ways be interesting. Veterinary forensics is a reasonably new field.”

“Will you return to Halo Peak when it’s done?” Her slender fingers twirled the honey spoon. It looked oddly seductive. In fact, everything about her looked seductive—particularly the swell of her breasts beneath the low neckline of her dress he’d been at pains to ignore all night. It plunged in direct conflict with the height of the emotional wall she’d built around herself. He had to remember he had nothing to offer her. He’d be returning to New Zealand once the investigation was complete. It was time to harness that resolve.

“Yes, I’ll come back here. I want to follow Justice through his rehab. The police in town have given me a desk and the support of their admin staff. I’m lucky; CRAR seem to be able to pull strings all over the place.”

L
ater on
, as they walked to the car, Marlo shivered. The night was clear but had gained a slight chill.

“Here.” Adam draped his jacket around her shoulders so that with each breath she took she caught his scent. He drew her against his body, gave her a quick squeeze then released her, leaving his hand to rest on her shoulder. She liked how he made her feel secure.

The drive home passed mostly in comfortable silence, and, after parking the car up at the house, Adam was quick to assist her out. She shrugged his jacket from her shoulders, placed it on the passenger seat of the car, and immediately was chilled again. For a second time, Adam’s protective arm pulled her against him as he walked her to her door.

“Would you like to come in?” she asked.

Adam reached a finger under her chin and tilted her head up toward him. “You have no idea how much I’d like to.” His voice was gruff. “But mostly I’d like to take you to dinner again.” Still holding her chin, he bent and kissed her. His mouth was gentle and soft and gave her no desire or instinct to pull away. Adam broke the kiss. “Nice,” he whispered. “I’ll see you in a few days.”