Free Wrong Way Renee by Wynter Daniels Page A

love it, Robin. ” She stepped out from behind the curtain. “What do you think? ”
    The girl gasped . She had a flare for the dramatic. No matter what sh e tried on, Robin said it was fabulous. “That looks fabulous on you. Aren't you fortunate the ski rt is thirty percent off today?”
    “Lucky me. ” She charged her new outfit, then went on a search for Christmas gifts for her family and a Hanukkah present for Becky. When she got home, she took a power nap, then a long, hot shower. In her closet she found the suede boots she'd been dying to wear for a year, but never could find the right outfit to match. Her new one was it. With a suede drawstring purse, she was ready for whatever Joe had in mind. Well, not anything although if he made the right moves it was going to take all her willpower to resist jumping straight into bed with him .
    At six-ten she opened her door to find that her policeman looked even better out of uniform. “You sure clean up nice, mister. ” She stepped aside to let him in.
    His gaze swept over her as he walked past and wolf whistled. “Wow. You look…absolutely gorgeous.”
    She could get used to this. “Would you like a drink?”
    “Nah, I'm fine. ” He looked around the apartment. “Where's Apple? I love cats, you know.”
    “Yes, I remember . Apple… here kitty, kitty. ”
    The feline came running in from the bedroom.
    Joe bent down to rub her head. “She's a beauty. Did you name her Apple because of her red coloring? ” The cat rubbed against his legs and sniffed at him. “She must smell Law and Order.”
    Or maybe you smell so good that she wants a whiff, like I do.
    “I named her Apple because I got her at a bad time in my life. All my friends and my sister were getting married and I had recently broken up with a guy I thought I might marry. I saw this adorable orange and white ball of fluff in the window of a pet store and I had to have her. She helped me through that rough patch. From the first day I had her, she was the apple of my eye. ” She grabbed her purse and keys. “Ready?”
    “Sure. ” He took a long look around the living room. “I like your apartment. You've got good taste.”
    “I'm going out with you, aren't I? ”
    He grinned and raised an eyebrow as they headed downstairs. When he took her hand, her breath caught . Something felt so right about the way their fingers intertwined perfectly like long lost puzzle pieces.
    But she stopped in her tracks when she saw the police cruiser. “Tell me we're not riding in that. ” She glanced around the parking lot to see if anyone she knew was around. Thankfully, none of her neighbors were outside. They might think she was being arrested. Her mother would have an IBS attack for sure if she knew.
    “That's my chariot. The sheriff's office gives us the car for personal use too. I have no need for another. If it makes you uncomfort able, we can take yours.”
    “No… no, that's fine. I get to ride up front with you, though, don't I? ”
    He glanced sideways at her, flashing his dimples. “Yeah. I'll even turn on the siren if yo u're real good.”
    She rolled her eyes. “No, that's okay. ”
    He drove them to a tiny restaurant in a strip center called Sebastian's. The hostess recognized Joe and called him by name. Renee wondered if she was imagining that the woman flirted with him as they made their way through the restaurant to their table.
    She seated them in a booth next to the window as she flipped her hair and batted her lashes at him.
    Nope, not my imagination .
    But she couldn’t really blame the hostess. Joe was beyond hot.
    A strolling violin player making his way toward their table. She opened her menu to quickly decide what sh e wanted, so when the serenader arrived, she could give him her full attention.
    Sh e gazed into Joe's eyes. “I think you made a good choice, taking me here. I like it already. ”
    H e leaned against the padded seat back. “I knew you would.”
    “How did you know that?