Read Arresting Holli for Free Online Page B

and then expect to run the marathon in the spring.”
    Holli glanced over at him as she picked up a piece of bacon as well and took a small bite. Slightly sweet, caramelized, crunchy. Sugar? “Marathon? And did you put something on this bacon?”
    “Brown sugar,” he confirmed. “The marathon is something I’ve been training for, for about seven months or so.”
    He could cook. He was a cop who put his life on the line every day. He was a genuine person. He was training for a marathon. She couldn’t have been more impressed with him or more in lust. The man oozed dedication and confidence, and like a moth to a flame, she was addicted. “I’ve never done anything at all like that. Takes serious commitment, I imagine.”
    “It does. I haven’t had fast food in so long I’m not sure I’d like it anymore, and I never developed a taste for frozen pizza. I prefer the piping hot delivery kind once in a while, though.”
    His wink was sexy, and he was absolutely the hottest, sweetest, kindest man she’d met in a really, really long time. Too damn bad she was going to be leaving him in a few days.
    She picked up her fork and took a bite of the eggs. “Oh my God.” She covered her mouth when she spoke, then chewed and swallowed before taking another bite. “These are… What’s in them?”
    “A secret.”
    “What do I have to do to get that secret? They’re delicious. So smooth and creamy and…herbs? Cheese? Garlic?”
    “Very good. It’s from a local farm that makes a lot of artisan cheese.”
    “I don’t cook, but maybe you’d give me their information before I leave.”
    “Or you could come back to visit when it thaws outside, and I can take you.”
    She stopped with the fork halfway to her mouth and turned her head toward him. He was serious. The look on his face in his eyes told her so, and she didn’t know what to say in response. She wanted to say yes. She wanted to say she’d just stay until the spring, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t say anything at all, so she just nodded and took the fork between her lips, used her teeth to pull the eggs off into her mouth, and looked down at her plate.
    “I’m sorry. I guess I shouldn’t have said that.”
    Holli shook her head and swallowed. “No, it’s just…”
    “I know.”
    She picked up the hot chocolate and took a small sip. She took another sip. And another. Holy God. “Okay. I’m staying. If you’ll make this for me to drink every morning, I’m staying.”
    “Like it, do you?” His tone of voice was nothing less than self-satisfied.
    “No. I’m in love with it. I’m loving it a lot more than coffee at the moment, and I never say that. I’m so addicted to coffee.”
    “Yes, I kind of figured that when you didn’t make a face drinking the coffee at the station.”
    She smiled a little sheepishly. Her need for java embarrassed her, though she wasn’t sure why. She didn’t want to need it, but sometimes it was the only thing that hit the spot. “If it’s caffeine and hot, I’ll drink it.”
    “No sodas?”
    “No, but I think your hot chocolate trumps coffee.” She took another sip. “ Mmm . Yeah, definitely trumps it.”
    “My mother’s recipe. And to confess, there’s a teaspoon of espresso powder in it. That’s what gives it that rich, dark flavor.”
    “What about the marshmallows?” If he said he made them himself, she was going to marry him. A girl didn’t pass up a man who could make his own marshmallows.
    “A candy shop here in town.”
    Not a deal breaker. Officer Hunky was just about as perfect as perfect could be before she’d found out he could cook and make his mama’s hot chocolate. She’d never wanted a man more.
    “What’s that look?” Had his voice gotten deeper? And what was that buzzing in her ears? “ Holli ?”
    She shook her head and put the mug down. “Will you please take the tray away?” That didn’t even sound like her voice. It was totally different and far sexier than she ever