Free After We Fall by Marquita Valentine Page A

You?”
    “I joined the force right out of high school. Lots of training.” I shorten my naturally fast-paced strides so she doesn’t have to attempt to keep up with me. Plus, I want to draw out my time with her for as long as possible. The park isn’t far from Rose Haven.
    “Why?”
    “Short answer—wanted to fight the bad guys.”
    “And the long answer?” she asks.
    “That would require another trip to Domingo’s.”
    “I…um…okay.”
    Holy shit.
She said yes. All right, it was an okay, but it wasn’t a no. For a man who is supposed to be trained in expecting the unexpected, I sure as hell didn’t see that answer coming. This entire afternoon was a fluke in my mind. I half-expected Evangeline to leave at any moment.
    “Same time tomorrow?” I ask, waiting for the other shoe to drop, waiting for her to change her mind.
    “As long as I get to play with Jake,” she says as we arrive home. “Thanks again for the tacos.”
    “Thanks for the company.” I run my hand around my neck, squeezing tight. “Wasn’t sure if I would see you again.” Yeah, I probably shouldn’t bring that up, but this woman is a closed book. If I could get a glimpse at the table of contents, that would be more than helpful.
    “I was a little rude,” she admits, her gaze on Jake. “But I meant what I said about not wanting to get involved with anyone.”
    Well, shit. I know she feels this way, but I would have to be high to expect her to do a one eighty after only one date that wasn’t even a date. “I figured as much.”
    Her gaze lifts to mine. The raw vulnerability on her face sucker punches me in the gut. “However, I’d really like friends again. All of mine are gone.”
    “He took those away from you, too?” The urge to comfort her rides me hard. Gripping Jake’s leash tighter, I fist my free hand to keep from touching her. Can’t blow this moment with her.
    She nods, her mouth trembling like she’s about to cry, but she blows out a steady breath instead. I can’t help but admire the hell out of her. “He took away
everything
that was important to me.”
    It’s on the tip of my tongue to assure her that I will never do that to her, but I swallow my words. She needs a friend, I remind myself, and eventually friends can become lovers.
    Before I can say anything, Jake gives a sharp bark and pulls hard against his leash, which somehow trips Evangeline. With a squeal, she falls forward, right into me. Wrapping one arm around her, I manage to catch her and get Jake under control.
    “Sit,” I say in a deeper than normal voice, the one that I rarely use so that Jake knows he needs to listen to me.
    Immediately, Jake’s behind hits the ground.
    “Good dog.” Purposefully, I lighten my tone. No need to fuss at him now. Besides, he can’t help his natural reaction to a squirrel or cat. Most likely it was Saylor’s cat—the damn thing escapes her apartment at least once a day.
    Evangeline’s small hands come between us as her head tips up. The ends of her soft, silky hair brush my skin. She’s so damn fragile in my arms, yet she’s made of substantial curves. Full breasts press against my chest and I swear to God, it’s the best damn feeling. White-hot desire surges and my heart kicks against my chest. Blood rushes in my ears. I’ve never been more acutely aware of anyone like this before. My cock starts to get hard, and I shift my hips back, not wanting to scare her.
    While the case file I read on her indicated that there wasn’t any sexual trauma, I can’t be sure of her reaction. Besides, even women who have healthy relationships with men wouldn’t welcome a woody from a so-called friend.
    “Are you okay?” I ask, making no move to let her go. This close to her, I can see that her eyes are more blue than green, like the color of the ocean at Wrightsville Beach.
    “Let go of me.” Her voice is strangely tight.
    “I didn’t mean to touch you, but you were about to fall.”
    She visibly swallows and