Seeing the specter of doubt move across her face, he reached into his back pocket and pulled out his badge. She glanced between his badge and his face, her lips curving into a smile. “Okay, Detective Kyle with the cheesy lines. Let’s go for a walk.”
With one hand resting gently on her back, he guided her through the crowded bar. Aware of her diminutive stature, he extended his arm to keep others from bumping into her. Once outside, the cool breeze brought in the fresh harbor air, and he breathed deeply. Glancing down at her feet, he asked, “You gonna be okay to walk in those?”
“I could give you a sexy quip like I was born in heels but, honestly, these aren’t very high. I’m not the most coordinated person, so I don’t like tempting fate with anything taller than this.” Shrugging, she laughed. “Even another inch of height wouldn’t help much as short as I am.”
Rearing back, eyes wide, he gasped in mock disbelief as his hand landed over his chest. “You’re short?”
“Oh, very funny!”
They started walking toward the harbor, and she lay her hand on his arm, lightly holding on as they strolled. He’d always felt choked with clingy women, but her light touch felt strangely comforting. “I didn’t want to ask in the bar so that you’d have to yell your reply, but I don’t even know your name.”
She tucked her hand in the crook of his arm and continued walking. “Kimberly.”
3
Kimberly had no idea why she only wanted to give her first name. Maybe because it had been forever since she’d had a one night… whatever. Cutting her eyes to the side, she glanced at him surreptitiously, having no idea what the night would bring. It had been several years since she’d given in to the urge to leave a bar with someone she had just met. She’d dated a few men in the last several years since college graduation but never for more than a few months before admitting that no spark existed. And she longed for that spark. Like the bolt she felt when her fingers touched his back. Or when he turned his blue eyes onto her.
The streets were well lit, and as they approached the Inner Harbor, the streetlamps were bright and close together, illuminating their path. The dark water undulated, slapping against the concrete pylons. Lights twinkled on the boats in the harbor, creating diamond-sparkle reflections.
“I’ve always loved the Inner Harbor at night,” she murmured, breathing deeply, the tang of the bay filling her senses. A rustling sound nearby startled her. “Unless, of course, I see a rat.” Twisting around to look up at him, she asked, “Have you seen the size of some of the rats?” She shivered and glanced back toward the dark edge of the water, now wishing she hadn’t thought about the oversized, large-toothed, long-tailed rodents.
His arm reached about her shoulder, and he pulled her closer. She felt the rumble of his mirth against her side.
“Oh, yeah, I’ve seen the size of them. Gotta admit they give me the creeps, too.”
“I suppose talking about rats isn’t exactly the topic of conversation you were hoping for, is it?” He chuckled again and she decided that the deep-chested sound might have moved into her top five sounds of all time, bacon sizzling being one of them.
Now that she thought about it, he ranked higher than bacon.
“You’re unusual, I’ll say that.” He looked down at her, his smile wide, and added, “Unusually interesting.”
She wanted to ask if he had lived in Hope City for very long. Or what his favorite restaurant was. Hell, she was even interested in his zodiac sign. Her writer’s curiosity had her wanting to find out everything she could, but there was no way he’d want to divulge his inner thoughts to her. Paying more attention to the man walking next to her than the sidewalk, she stumbled over the cobblestones, grateful for the grip he had on her shoulder and his fast reflexes keeping her from falling onto her face.
“Whoa, there. Are you okay?”
“Yes, I promise I’m not tipsy. I just didn’t realize that the sidewalk had turned into cobblestones.”
With his embrace encircling her, she stared up into his eyes. In the bar, they’d appeared as blue as a summer sky, but in the shadows of the harbor, they were as dark and intense as the man himself. He’ll be interested in one night only. A flash of guilt