Matt accepted his drink with a nod for the bartender. He took a sip and regarded Penny over the glass. “Sometimes I feel like you can see straight through me. That may not always be a good thing.”

“You’re like a relic from another era, Matt Simmons. A time when people meant what they said, did what they should, and people looked out for each other. That’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

“You’d be surprised.”

“Well, you know how some people feel about relics. They either want to collect them and put them on a shelf or they stick them in a museum. I just want to make sure neither happens to you. That’s why I’ve been pushing you so hard.”

“Am I going to recover? Really?” He put his glass down and looked at her until she met his eyes. “If I’m always going to have weakness in my shoulder, I’d rather just hear it straight. You can tell me the truth. I can take it.”

“I believe you can take just about anything, Sergeant.” Her lips tipped up at the corners at his glower. “It’s my professional opinion that you’re going to be just fine. I wasn’t sure about you in the beginning, but your healing has been amazing these past few weeks. You’re very lucky.”

“I am.” Matt leaned close enough so that she couldn’t mistake his meaning. “Very lucky.”

Penny blushed and choked on the sip of water she’d just taken. “So, we should probably get out of here. Are you ready?”

“For anything.”

CHAPTER NINE

MATT HELD THE door for Penny and then held out his arm to escort her across the street. She glanced behind her once and then tucked her hand into the crook of his elbow. Most of the other homes had a light burning out front. Eli’s house was the only one that was completely dark. He’d forgotten to leave the front light on.

“Nice place.”

“Wish I could take the credit. This is my friend’s house. I’m just staying here until I’m done with therapy.”

“Oh right. I forgot.” Penny laughed softly.

They climbed the steps to the porch. Matt paused in front of the closed front door. “I had fun tonight.”

“Me too. I had a good time, too.” Penny looked up at him from beneath her lashes. She hopped from one foot to the other, then glanced at the front door. “I guess I should go. It’s pretty late. I’ll be a zombie tomorrow.”

“Right. Thanks for hanging out with me for a few hours. I hope I didn’t keep you from anything important.”

Penny fiddled with her keys, swinging them around on the keychain a few times. “No, you didn’t. There’s nothing waiting for me at home. No one waiting for me.”

If she hadn’t looked so dejected then maybe he could have let her walk away. But when she looked at him like that, her gorgeous blue eyes swimming with sadness and vulnerability, he was powerless to stop himself for reaching out for her.

Matt slid a hand under her hair and pulled her forward slowly. When they were only a breath apart, he rested his forehead against hers. They stood like that for a few moments, their breath mingling in the cold air.

“I’ve been waiting for you. It’s been driving me insane,” he whispered, the words lingering between them.

She made a soft sound that traveled directly down his spine and hit him right in the gut. “Matt.” His name was no more than a puff of air from her lips.

“If you don’t want me, you have to tell me now,” he gasped. “I don’t know if I can keep from touching you, Penny.” He tugged her up until she was on her toes, using the opportunity to feast on the soft skin of her throat. She whimpered, a soft helpless sound in the back of her throat.

“I can’t think when you do that. Well, I can, but all I’m thinking is don’t stop.” The tortured tone of her voice was the last straw. Matt pulled out his keys and went through a furious tussling match with the door until he finally managed to get it open. He grabbed her arm and pulled her across the threshold, kicking the door closed behind them with his foot.

Before the door was even shut, he had her in his arms. She arched against him and then made a strangled sound and pushed back.

“Oh no, Matt. Your shoulder—”

“Is fine.” It touched him that even now she was worried about him but he didn’t want her thinking about his therapy. Hell, he didn’t want her thinking at all. He nipped at her earlobe, pulling the skin between his teeth until she melted against him. “I have this awesome physical therapist, so it’s much better now. I can even lift things. You want to see?”

Wordlessly, she nodded. He lifted her carefully and leaned against her, fitting himself directly between her thighs. She cried out at the contact, her muscles going rigid. He didn’t release her, just used the opportunity to hold her captive for another kiss. Her mouth opened under his, their tongues meeting and sliding over each other. It was like he was consuming her whole until the taste of her meshed into him, a permanent tattoo on his soul.

Her long legs wrapped around his waist and held him to her as they kissed. The woman was nothing but legs and curves. He’d been pathetically grateful when she’d left that awful white coat at work so he could see the intriguing dips and valleys of her figure. She did interesting things to her simple navy blue blouse and gray slacks.

She tilted her head back, presenting Matt with the perfect line of her throat. He kissed the soft skin, loving it when she shuddered and clutched his shoulders. Then she took his hand and pressed it between her legs. Her blue eyes held his for minutes, hours, days, as his hand slipped beneath the waistband of her slacks. When he encountered the soft cotton between her thighs, the noticeably damp cotton, he lost all semblance of his finesse.