Read Roman's Gold (Underground Heat, Book 1) for Free Online Page B

her intoxicating scent. It had been faint, but unmistakable, the day he’d trailed after her. Though he didn’t understand how it was possible, her elusive aroma dogged him ever since.
    He hadn’t gotten much sleep after waking from the dream. Mostly he’d tossed and turned and jacked off—again and again. Every time he thought he’d finally slaked his lust, Kate would bloom in his mind and his cock hardened. By morning, he was tender and sore.
    Unless the department called him in on a special assignment, no one cared whether he wore a uniform. Nerves thrumming with excitement, Devon tossed on jeans, a jersey, and his trademark leather vest. He parked several blocks from Kate’s office and left his electronics in his cruiser.
    He gazed at the front door of her office from behind a multilayered dumpster across the street. Despite being relieved of the assignment to shadow Kate, Devon tracked her movements since he’d followed her in the street that day. He worked it in between his police duties, but that was easy enough to do. After three days, he had a good idea of her schedule. Soon, she’d head out for lunch in a small café a couple of blocks away. It was always crowded this time of day.
    Maybe I can talk with her. Really talk with her… Devon’s throat tightened. His heart pounded faster than it needed to. A corner of his mouth turned down in a wry expression. He was acting like a love-struck kid; he had no idea why. An erection pressed against the front of his jeans. He zipped his leather vest so it would do a better job hiding his arousal.
    Kate’s door opened. She tripped down the steps as if she were in the best of moods; a broad smile parted her full lips. Red-gold hair floated around her. Some days it was in a bun or braided. Today, she wore it loose.
    Devon’s hands balled into fists. The bad thing about his surveillance point was he’d gotten to see her clients come and go. “Yeah, except they’re mostly coming,” he muttered. He wanted to be one of those clients. Needed to feel her arms and body wrapped around him. His balls tightened. For an awkward moment, he thought he might come where he stood.
    He hastened from behind his hiding place and shadowed her down the street, keeping a respectable distance and several people between them. His dick settled, but not by much. Devon waited for a few minutes near the café before walking through its swinging door. His gaze scanned the crowded room while he got himself a cup of coffee and a sweet roll.
    He pressed his tongue against his teeth to keep from grinning like a fool. The only empty seat in the place was at Kate’s small table. What an incredible stroke of luck. He pushed his way through groups of people standing in twos and threes. A dope deal was going down; he ignored it. Nothing shy of one patron murdering another would make him switch to cop mode.
    Maybe not event that. Depends how things go with Kate.
    “Hi.” He grinned down at her. “Mind if I join you?” He jerked his chin at the remainder of the room. “Sorry if it’s an imposition, but looks like this is the last seat.”
    Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth and shut it again. Finally, she nodded curtly. “Sure. I won’t be long.”
    “Don’t rush off on my account. I could do with a spot of company.” He squeezed his tall body into the plastic chair and set his coffee on the table. Devon unwrapped the plastic from his cinnamon roll and took a bite. It was stale and his mouth dry, not a good combination. He chewed for a while to get the gelatinous mass moving down his throat.
    Kate dropped her gaze. She spooned soup into her mouth.
    “So,” he tried to look non-threatening, “do you live in the neighborhood?”
    “No.” The word had a bitten-off tone.
    “Gee.” He put down his roll and spread his hands before him. “Just trying to make conversation. I’m new here. Just moved to Berkeley a little while ago. It’s really different here than in San Bernardino.