Bidding Wars (Love Strikes)

chapter Seven





Molly gripped the brass handle and pulled open the heavy glass door. She stepped inside the building as a rush of cool air hit her. Rubbing her arms, she took a deep breath and continued on her mission.

“Can I help you, ma’am?” The woman at the front desk gave her a polite smile.

Molly glanced around to see if she could see him, but she didn’t. “I’m here to see the sheriff, Luke Logan.”

“I believe he’s on his lunch break. Can I help you?”

“He’ll want to see me. Tell him Ms. Harper is here.”

The lady hesitated a moment but then picked up her phone and called Luke’s office. After speaking to him, she set the phone down and told Molly she could see him.

Molly remembered where his office was and made her way through the station. Of course, all the staff members fell silent and looked up from their desks as she passed by. She held her head high, her eyes firmly upon his closed door. She raised her hand to knock, but before she could, the door swung open. Her gaze drifted from his firm chest, up his neck, past his decadent lips, to his green eyes.

“I was expecting you to show up today.” He stepped back so she could step into his office. He closed the door behind her, but not all the way.

“What game are you playing?” She placed her hands on her hips.

“I’m not sure. Enlighten me to the game you think I’m playing.” Luke crossed his arms but stayed close to her, and it took everything in her to keep it together. Each time she saw him, he got more attractive.

“Why did you remove your offer on the house?”

He grinned, and, once again, his dimple appeared. Her heart sped up, and those darn butterflies returned.

“It wasn’t worth it to me. It’s just a house. I got so caught up in the thrill of wanting to win, I had to stop and wonder if it was worth it. There was a lot at stake, and I wasn’t sure if the equity was there for me to put that much money up. The more I thought about it, the more I realized this was no longer about the house, but the competition. It’s one of the reasons I have to stay away from those bidding websites. I get carried away sometimes.”

“That’s the only reason?” She wasn’t sure why she was disappointed.

“What were you hoping I would say?” His gaze locked on hers and held it.

There was no way she was going to ask if it had to do with her and the hope that they could have more. But as he stared at her with lust-filled eyes, she knew she had to say something. “I guess I just thought…from the stuff you said yesterday that maybe it was…never mind.”

Luke moved closer to her. Molly’s breath caught, and the sound of her racing heart filled her head. She did her best not to look at him, but her need to see his eyes was too strong. She gazed up and found he was staring at her with nothing but passion in his eyes.

She inhaled a spicy fragrance that tingled her senses. He reached out and rubbed his hand along her cheek. She closed her eyes out of instinct. Just the feel of him touching her brought back feelings she hadn’t experienced in a long time. The nerves in her body stood on end, and it was almost as though she were being tickled. She shouldn’t be enjoying this. In fact, she should tell him to stop again and not come any closer, but, man, did it feel good, for once, to just feel.

And feel she did. He was close enough now that she felt his warm breath touch her skin. Opening her eyes, she saw his focus was on her lips—his mouth inches away. If she made the slightest movement, she’d taste him.

She ached to grip his shirt and pull him to her. If they kissed, it would be passionate and ignite a fire deep within her. She hadn’t kissed another man since Steven. Could Luke be the first?

She pushed up on her tiptoes. She was going to do it. Reaching out, she was about to wrap her hand around his neck. Her gaze was locked on his, and it was as though they were moving in slow motion.

“Sheriff, you in there?” A man pounded on the door, sending it flying open.

Molly jumped back, and Luke glared at the intruder.

“Sorry, sheriff. I didn’t realize you had someone in here.”

“It’s OK, Rogers. What can I do for you?” Luke moved away from her and went out into the hallway.

She heard him talking to the officer. She wiped her sweaty palms across her shirt and took a few deep breaths. That had been close. What had come over her? Her intentions when she came over here were to yell at him and tell him what a jerk he was for putting her through this, driving up the price and then just dropping out. Not to get intimate in any way with him. She was blaming Sandy for this one. Damn her for putting ideas in her head.

Luke returned and this time left the door open. She was sure he had probably broken some rule himself and didn’t want anyone to talk.

“Can I take you to lunch?” He put his hands in his pockets.

“No. I need to get back to work. I haven’t even eaten yet. I really should go.”

“We can eat together then.”

She shook her head. “I don’t have time.”

“How about tomorrow?”

“It’s not a good idea.”

“Why?”

“It just isn’t.”

“Well, Ms. Harper, if you can’t give me a better reason, then I will be at your workplace tomorrow to take you to lunch.” He stood by the doorway.

She opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her mind was betraying her by not giving her some kind of excuse.

He grinned. He must have known he’d won. “I’ll see you tomorrow at noon then.”

She smirked and cocked her head to the side. “Not if I call out sick.”

He chuckled. “Good thing I know where you live.”



* * *





After Molly left, Luke sat at his desk and tugged at his pants, trying to rearrange his uncomfortable hard-on. He was trying to think of anything to get rid of it, but it wasn’t working. Somehow, his thoughts kept going back to Molly and the almost-kiss. He’d been so close to finding out how she would taste. She always had a faint fruity smell to her, and he was dying to know if she would taste as sweet he imagined.

He wanted her—badly. And he was pretty sure she was starting at least to be a little interested in him. He saw something in her brown eyes. It was like a switch went from sad to desire. He was the one she desired at that moment. And it was that look she gave him as she leaned up to kiss him that kept him rock hard.

“Sheriff.” Annie Thomson, one of the deputies, entered his office.

“What can I do for you?”

“Don’t forget that Officer Rogers needs your help transporting that prisoner today. I think it’s scheduled for two o’clock.”

He raked his hands through his hair. He’d forgotten. “Thanks for reminding me.”

Annie reminded everyone of where they needed to be. It was nice. If it weren’t for her, the station wouldn’t run as smoothly as it did.

“So who was that woman?” She pushed a dark lock behind her ear, a curious grin on her face.

“Molly Harper. And anytime she comes by, if I’m not with someone, you can direct her to my office.”

Annie smirked. “She’s a looker and rather feisty. It’s nice to see you moving on. Or at least, I assume you’re seeing her.”

He didn’t really know what to say. “I’d like to be.”

“Where did you meet her?”

“I don’t want rumors going around the office about me.”

She placed her hand over her heart. “You know I’d never do that.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Yeah, well if this gets around then we know you did. I don’t want to talk about it. I’m afraid if I do, I will jinx it—and it’s already rocky.”

“She must be special then. So tell me, where did you meet her?”

There was no way he was going to tell her the whole story. The last thing he needed was anyone knowing he’d purposely given up the house for her. “Sammy got sick this weekend, and she was the nurse who helped.”

“Poor guy. Is he feeling better?”

“For the most part. I’ll call Leslie tonight to make sure and see if he went to school today.”

She leaned against the doorway. “You’re a great father…I’m jealous. My kid’s dad never calls.”

“He’s missing out.” He saw the emotion in her eyes. It had only been a few months since she’d split from her marriage, and from what he understood, Annie’s ex had only called their daughter once. What do you say to a child who doesn’t understand why her father has just left? Annie had her hands full.

Annie cleared her throat. “Well, you need to go get ready to help Rogers, and I have to get a file ready for court.”

Luke nodded. Once she left he took a few moments to check his e-mail and then went off to find Officer Rogers. Hopefully the moving of this inmate to the county prison wouldn’t be too bad. Every now and then you got one who liked to be difficult.





The drive home from county prison took him past the house on Maple Street. He pulled into the driveway and up to the house. He didn’t get out. The for-sale sign still sat there, making the home look as though it were still available to the public. When would the “under contract” sticker be plastered over the sign? In the reflection on his rearview mirror he noticed a red vehicle slowing down and a couple staring out at the house as they drove by.

Had he done the right thing? He had really loved this house. When he first walked inside, a wave of warmth surrounded his heart—it was as though he was where he was supposed to be. He could envision Sammy and him there. The side yard was a perfect place to put up a soccer goal. The driveway had an extra piece of slab; perfect for a basketball hoop.

He laid his head back on the rest. Was she worth it? He’d withdrawn his offer on a whim. He’d tossed the idea around and surprised himself by going through with it. However, when he thought about Molly, that same warm feeling around his heart always came back. It was as though she had a piece of his heart and this house.

Neither the house or Molly was a guarantee though. His offer might not have been as high as hers. He could have ended up losing them both. He had decided he would choose one of them, and he chose her. The only thing she had to decide now was if she wanted to be with him. And that he wasn’t sure about. She had a thick, solid wall surrounding her. It would take a while to break it down. The process would be slow—taking down the wall one piece at a time to earn her trust and show her he could love her.

Love.

How in the world had he gotten to that idea? He didn’t know the woman; he didn’t love her. He couldn’t get ahead of himself. That was how he’d gotten into the mess with Leslie. She’d been a damsel in distress, and he’d wanted to swoop in and rescue her. They’d moved fast, and the next thing he knew, she was pregnant and they were at the courthouse getting married.

He would take it slow with Molly. Very slow.

He took one last glance at the house and then put his car in reverse. He’d done the right thing. Choosing Molly had been the right choice. He couldn’t doubt that, and he couldn’t let the what ifs creep into his head. Besides, if he played his cards right, he might end up with the house as well.