Game On

Chapter 1-1

Chapter One

I can't believe he did this. In his damned office.

In his damned office right next to mine.

Angela Kenzie swiped at the tears blurring her vision. The last thing she needed was to have a car accident while escaping back home.

Her phone rang.

She dug the phone out of her purse, keeping one eye on the road. The turnoff for Glen Barrow was coming up, and if she missed it in the dark, she'd have to go another fifty miles to the nearest exit to turn around. That was the last thing she needed at this point.

If it's him again—

Eric had already called three times and left long rambling messages, texted her six times with short pleas and explanations.

She'd read them at one of the rest stops, hands trembling as she forced down the vending machine coffee.

It's not what you think.

She doesn't mean a thing to me.

I care about you.

She hadn't answered, still in shock.

I know what I saw.

And the last, the most recent when it was apparent by her silence that she wasn't going to buy his story.

I thought you loved me.

No. I thought you loved me.

She propped the phone on the steering wheel, preparing herself for another mental kick in the gut.

The caller identification read "Mom".

Angela sighed in relief and tapped the button.

"Hello?"

"Just calling to see where you are. I've got macaroni and cheese waiting for you." She kept speaking, not letting Angela respond. "And I know it won't fix a broken heart but it sure as heck won't hurt it. Where are you?"

"A few miles from the cutoff. Should be there in about a half-hour."

"I'll be waiting. Love you." The connection ended.

Angela spotted the turnoff sign for Glen Barrow in the distance. She maneuvered the Ford Taurus onto the exit ramp, the headlights cutting through the darkness.

Angela calculated the distance to her family home and the waiting meal. Her stomach growled, reminding her she hadn't eaten since breakfast. She'd planned to surprise Eric in his office and go out for lunch.

That hadn't worked out.

Instead she'd gone back to her apartment and sat on the couch, stunned and in shock.

A burst of fury had her packing her suitcases with a fast phone call to her mother before heading out.

Angela thumped the steering wheel with a clenched fist at the memory.

That son of a b***h thinks he can do this to me?

Should have grabbed a picture of him screwing that b***h. Put it up online, let the entire world see his bare ass in all its glory.

The flashing red-and-blue lights in her rearview mirror brought her up out of her vengeful thoughts.

She stifled a curse and pulled over, hoping the police car would whiz by on the way to an emergency call.

The squad car slid in behind her on the shoulder as she put the car in park and turned off the engine.

Of course. How could this day possibly get worse?

A policeman got out of the cruiser and advanced on her, illuminated by his headlights.

Angela rested her forehead on the steering wheel and steeled herself.

Just what I need. A f*****g ticket…

A gentle knock on the car window brought her up from her introspection.

She rolled down the window and stared at the man standing outside.

No.

Way.

"Jake?" she croaked.

"Angela?" The shocked reply came. "Is that you?"

Her heart racing, Angela took in the uniformed man standing outside her car door.

The short-cropped brown hair gave him a youthful appearance, one that had frustrated him in college when they tried to purchase beer. His deep green eyes were offset by the dark blue uniform shirt, tight across his chest and shoulders.

The leather belt and handcuffs at his waist sent a delicious shiver down her spine at the memories they stirred up.

A little bit of kink never hurt anyone.

Still damned easy on the eyes.

"Angela?" he repeated.

"Hi…," she paused, scrambling to find the right words. "How's it going?"

"Fine." He leaned on the open window, his eyes catching hers and locking on. "Sorry to stop you, but you've got a blown taillight."

"Really?" She started to turn around before realizing there was no possible way she could see the problem from the driver's seat. "Damn it. It was fine this morning."

"Probably blew while you were driving from—" Jake frowned. "Philadelphia, right?"

"Yes." She cleared her throat. "I'm coming home to visit Mom."

"I see." He nodded. "Well, least I can do is escort you there. Head on out, and I'll tail you. Dangerous to drive at night with one light out."

"I—" Before she could object, Jake walked back to his car.

The flame of remembered desire sputtered and died out.

Another man interfering in her life.

Damn it.

Damn him.

Damn all men.

He flashed his lights at her, signaling for her to go first.

She jammed the engine into drive and set back out onto the road.

The question rose to the top of her mind, overriding her flash of anger.

The last time she'd seem Jake Weatherly, he'd been headed for the FBI Academy in Quantico after graduating from Penn State.

How the hell did he end up working as a cop in her hometown?

Angela couldn't help looking in her rearview mirror, seeing him studying her, watching her.

He was carrying cuffs…

* * * *

"Don't move," he murmured as the cold metal encircled her wrist, pinning her arms over her head. She flexed her fingers, but it was more for show than anything serious.

She trusted him with all her heart.

The silk tie fell over her eyes, tied with care. Now she couldn't see anything, relying on her other senses.

Angela drew a deep breath, steadying herself.

He stroked her palm, drawing his finger down over the inside of her outstretched arm. Her skin tingled at the delicate touch, the scent of him both intoxicating and arousing.

The heated whisper in her ear was almost enough to send her over the edge, her heart racing in anticipation of what was to come.

"Damn. I love you, Angie. So much."

* * * *

She gripped the steering wheel hard, the frisson of desire building again at the recollection, lightning bolts of need burning along her spine. It'd been years since she and Jake were intimate, yet the simple memory could still arouse her far beyond any recent interludes with Eric.

Eric.

Angela cursed herself again for calling up his name, thinking of his name, thinking of that bastard who—

The familiar street appeared in front of her and she recognized her childhood home, the bright lights a welcome signal in the darkness.

As she pulled up to the curb, the police car drew alongside.

The passenger window slid down as Jake leaned over.

"Don't forget to get that taillight fixed." He nudged a thumb over his shoulder. "Got to get back on the road. Hopefully I'll see you again before you leave." Jake gave her a soft smile. "Good to see you, Angie. Take care."

Before she could reply, the window slid up and he was gone.

Angela got out of her car and stood in the street, watching the patrol car disappear around the corner.

"There you are!" The cheerful yelp from her mother brought her back around to the house she'd grown up in and left for what she thought would be greener pastures.

Angela's heart sank even as she opened her arms to the blonde woman racing toward her.

Talk about the ultimate walk of shame.