Simply the Best
Authors: Wendi Zwaduk
Tags: #Erotica, #bdsm, #anal sex, #toys, #spanking
Simply the Best
by
Wendi
Zwaduk
Wounded Hearts
Sapphire Nights Books
Copyright © Release 2014, Wendi
Zwaduk
Zwaduk
, Wendi
Simply the Best
Media > Books > Fiction > Romance Novels (Erotic Romance)
Category/Tags: Contemporary, erotic, romance,
bdsm
, anal sex, toys, switch, spanking
Digital ISBN: 978-1-62237-286-7
Digital release, June 2014
Editing by Shelby C. Madison
Cover Design by Calliope-Designs.com
Stock art by www.thinkstockphotos.com
All rights reserved. The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work, in whole or part, by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, is illegal and forbidden.
This is a work of fiction. Characters, settings, names, and occurrences are a product of the author’s imagination and bear no resemblance to any actual person, living or dead, places or settings, and/or occurrences. Any incidences of resemblance are purely coincidental.
This edition is published by agreement with Turquoise Morning Press, a division of Turquoise Morning, LLC, PO Box 43958, Louisville, KY 40253-0958.
DEDICATION
Thanks to Shelby for being a great editor.
Thanks to the fans for encouraging me to write the beginning of the story for Emma and Sam.
Thanks to JPZ because you’re simply the best.
Table of Contents
A chance meeting leading to a lasting love? Anything is possible when you only accept the best.
***
Sam Rhodes swore he had his life sorted out. He loves his job at the Gates Mills Police Department and his dating life—all the guys he wants as long as he keeps things quiet. But a chance meeting at the library has him rethinking everything he knows. Can this seasoned officer accept what he never knew he wanted, especially if the love of his life could be a woman?
Emma
Haeferle’s
plans for the day included shelving books at the Gates Mills library, hanging out with her friend and avoiding the leering glances from her boss. When she locks gazes with the handsome bald man across the second floor of the library, all bets are off. She longs to wrap herself in his muscle-bound arms, but can a chance encounter really be simply the best?
“Take a break, they said. A long weekend will do your ass good.” Sam sighed and gripped the handle on the main door of the library. He didn’t want a break. Didn’t want to think about the shit in his life. He wanted to be working. Or at least not dealing with his non-existent love life issues while on mandatory vacation. Stupid rules.
He strolled up to the main doors of the library and scanned the fliers taped to the glass before he went inside. His friend Quint suggested he take up reading during his vacation and even suggested a couple of series he should try out. Sam shrugged. It wasn’t as if he had better things to be doing.
The chilly air in the main foyer of the library smacked him in the face. Talk about a rush on a hot as hell day. He scrubbed a hand over his head. He needed to shave the stubble again. Yet another thing he wanted to change. His damn receding hairline. At thirty-three, he was too young to be going bald. Some women liked the smooth look. Most he’d come in contact with weren’t impressed. Guys tended to appreciate the hairless look, but usually they weren’t interested in that part of his body.
He scanned the signs for the periodicals section. The last time he’d been to the library he was still in school. A lot changed in fifteen years. More computers, people caught up in their own little universes on MP3 players and smart phones. He liked technology, but the world got lost in the gigabytes and forgot how to be social.
Sam picked up the latest copy of the
Gates Mills Examiner
and sat at one of the few empty tables. He knew what went on in town. Being a police officer, he saw the shit people did. That crap irked the hell out of him. Guys beating their girlfriends and wives. Drunks running people off the road. The assholes out there hurting animals on a whim. The world went to hell around him so fast.
He flipped the pages to the comics. At least the humor would help his mood. He glanced up at the people wandering around the library. People watching had always been one of his favorite ways to pass the time. The bank of computers was full of people checking their social statuses and listening to music. Nothing of too much interest to him.
A blonde pushing a cart caught his attention. He only saw the back of her, but the view he got knocked him for a loop. Heart shaped ass, pale blonde hair grazing the middle of her back and the longest legs. She stopped at the main desk and spoke to one of the male workers, then added more books to the cart. When she turned, the breath wrenched from Sam’s chest. Green eyes and a smile guaranteed to melt his heart.
The woman rolled her eyes at the guy behind the counter and shook her head. Before he could make another move, she stomped away from him.
Good for her. Sam flattened the paper on the table. He’d keep an eye on her. Something about the man at the information desk rankled him. He glanced down at the paper every so often, but didn’t read a word on the page. She captivated him.
A thought occurred to him. Why the hell was he watching her when he could be talking to her? He refolded the newspaper and stood and returned it to the proper shelf. Courage wasn’t his issue; still he
shored
himself up in case she told him to get lost.
“Excuse me? I’m looking for a book.” Shit. On what? “Serial killers.” Great way to win over a woman.
She smiled and inched the cart out of the way. “Those are over here in this aisle.” She waved her hand and led him to the proper area of the library. “Do you have any particular person in mind?”
“You,” he blurted. Christ. Talk about fucking smooth. “I mean…”
“You’re direct.”
“It happens.”
“I’ve heard a lot of come-ons here. But that one was a first.” She held out her hand. “I’m Emma. Any guy who is trying so hard not to sound silly and still ask me out deserves a chance. I go on break in fifteen minutes. Want to come along?”
“Yeah.”
“Cool. Now which serial killer did you want to look up?”
“Look, I’ll be honest. I didn’t want to look up any of them.” He bowed his head. “I wanted to talk to you. Now I have and I look like a creepy stalker. I’m sorry.” God. All the confidence he used while on the job went right out the window the moment he saw her.
“I like your honesty.”
“My name is Sam. How about after you get off work, we meet for coffee?”
“Emma? This isn’t a dating service.” The man from the counter stepped between them. “This is a library.” He curled his upper lip and then faced Emma. “I can hear you all the way to the desk. It’s rude to the patrons.”
“He wanted to look up serial killers.” She pointed to the rows of books on the worst in society. “Here we are. So we struck up a conversation. I know how soft to talk. What’s your issue?”
“Uh-huh.” He folded his arms. “A word? At my desk?” Without looking at her, he huffed and made more noise than their conversation.
“Get bent comes to mind,” Sam muttered.
“No kidding,” she whispered. “Sure thing, Trevor.” Emma dropped her voice to a whisper again. “I’ll be right back. If you need help, I’m sure one of the other girls will be more than happy to assist you.” She patted his hand, her touch lingering for an extra moment before she followed Trevor.
Sam picked up the first book he came to and flipped through the pages without really looking at the hardback. His sixth sense kicked in. Something about Trevor didn’t sit well with him. He couldn’t hear the conversation, but based on her pursed lips and the deep line fitted between her eyes, he guessed she wasn’t happy.
Trevor pointed and glared. Sam snorted.
Typical display to assert his power.
He continued to flip through the book, but kept his focus on Emma. He couldn’t pinpoint how, but she brought out the over-protective side of him. He wanted to gather her in his arms and kiss her breathless.
“You what?” Emma said loud enough for everyone on the second floor to hear. She turned her back on Sam’s general area. He zoned in on her words. The strain in her voice came across loud and clear. Maybe it was time to assert a little of his power.
Sam sidestepped the cart of books and headed to the main desk. “Excuse me,” he said, interrupting whatever Trevor was saying. “Is there a problem?” He stood beside Emma. “She helped me find what I needed. She did a great job.”
Trevor’s eyes narrowed. “This is a library, not a place to troll for sex. We don’t encourage our staff to engage in non-book-related conversation.”
“Oh? That’s foolish. People tend to remember the assistants who were nice to them and come back. You’re a reason I won’t be coming back.” Sam plunked the book on the counter. “Emma is a reason I’d camp out here.” Okay, so he’d come on a little strong. Based on the way the color drained from Trevor’s face, he’d made impact.
“Take your break, Ms. Harmon.” Trevor waved his hand. “Just go.”
Emma sighed and glanced in Sam’s direction and then pushed past him and hurried down the steps.
Yeah, he’d been a tad harsh. Sam picked up his book and finally looked at the title.
Ripping Out My Heart.
He snorted. She hadn’t ripped out his heart, but she’d be one he wouldn’t get over soon.
“I meant what I said. This isn’t a place to hook up.” Trevor folded his arms. The smugness returned. “Got me?”
“I do.” Sam dipped his head. “But I wonder what your motivations are here.” He looked the shorter man in the eye. “I know your kind. You uphold the rules when it benefits you and bend them to the breaking point when you want something. I can’t say she turned you down, but the way you dress her down, she should.” He strode down the stairs. Time to find Emma and make amends.
****
Emma plopped onto the picnic table seat and rested her head in her hands. The day hadn’t started out too great and wasn’t progressing well at all. First she learned about her pay cut, and now Trevor wanted to change her placement at the library. Why? Because she’d, as he claimed, put herself in a bad position with a patron. How? Sam seemed like a decent guy. Better than the ones she’d dated lately. After the incident in the library, she doubted he’d come around.
Leaves crunched and footsteps clunked on the hard-packed earth. “Hey.” When she looked up, Sam clutched a book in both hands. In the bright afternoon light, he seemed taller and more commanding. She longed to run her fingers over his smooth scalp.
That had to be strange, wanting to touch a bald man’s head.
“Sit with me?” she managed. She patted the seat and scooted over a little. “I could use some company right now.”
“I’d like that.” Sam rounded the table and sat beside her. “I talked to the ladies at the main desk and to the supervisor. If you get into trouble, I assured them it was all on my head.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” Shock bounced around her brain. Few people went to bat for her. Most disregarded her as a pretty face with no brains. To know he cared enough to stick his neck out… “I’ve gotten past worse.”
“Yeah, I did have to do that. You didn’t do anything wrong and shouldn’t have to get past it.” He smiled, a dimple deepening in his cheek. “I don’t usually talk to women. You’re one of the few.”
“You’re gay.” Great. She’d found a hot guy and he played for the other team. “I’m sorry. That’s none of my business.” She closed her eyes. Add sticking her foot in her mouth to the list of her offenses.
“I like men and women.” He curled his fingers under her chin, redirecting her gaze and forcing her to open her eyes to look at him. She stared into the bluest eyes she’d ever seen.
“Oh.” She wanted to say something more intelligent, but no other words came.
“Do you have a problem with that?” He swiped his thumb along her chin. The touch sent tingles to her core.
“No,” she murmured. “You have to be who you are.”
“Something like that.” He let go of her chin and trailed the backs of his fingers over her cheek, then down her throat. “I meant what I said. I’d like to go for coffee with you. Talk. Unwind. Whatever you want.”
“Yeah.” Dear heavenly God, the man was dangerous. She liked to keep herself insulated. Walls meant protection and that meant she wouldn’t get hurt. Sam, even though she didn’t know him will, could be the death of her.
“Meet you at the Kettle at eight?” He leaned in close, as if he wanted to kiss her. His breath warmed her face. She noticed the fine sprinkling of dark hairs on his cheeks and chin. What would his scruff feel like against her cheek—or her inner thigh?
Damn, she’d gone there. Zero to sex thoughts in under a second.
“Sure.” She wrapped her fingers around his hand. The strength and tenderness in his touch curled around her heart. “I’ll be there.” Please let him kiss her. She licked her lips. Just one quick peck. Or a slow smooch. She didn’t care.
“Very cool.” He didn’t move for a long moment and then stood. Sam smiled and strolled away.
She watched him make his way across the parking lot to a beat-up black truck. The tingles in her belly didn’t go away. Her best friend Bethany swore everyone had a certain someone destined for them and when you found your person, you’d know. The minute she touched Sam, her pulse raced. The scent of his cologne lingered on her skin. He might not be the one for her, but he’d be the man she’d never forget.
She checked the clock on her phone then stood. Time to head back in, but soon she’d see Sam. Coffee never sounded so good.