Stolen Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Book 2) (2 page)

2

              Millie was late, there was no getting around it. She was extremely late. It was one of those days: the alarm didn't go off, her straightening iron wouldn't heat up and she could not find her car keys. Today was the showing at the Madde house on the far side of town. She had just drawn up documents to put through a price reduction at the insistence of the owners. She had agreed to put it through today after the open house in order to get it to sell quickly. The opening was supposed to start in twenty minutes. She wanted to bake cookies in the house so it smelled ‘warm and inviting’. Unfortunately, the house was ten minutes away - if she didn't hit any traffic.

              Millie was completely beside herself and doing her best not to show it. She hated to be late. She was racing (there was no other way to put it) to the house, leaning in the mirror putting on her lip-gloss. She looked down at the speedometer, fifty-five miles per hour, in a forty mile per hour zone. She tapped her brakes and dropped it down to fifty miles per hour. Surely she would be all right and could coast through quickly, right?

              WRONG.

              Millie uttered a profanity loudly as the lights flipped on behind her on an unmarked car.  Millie cursed again, flipped back her hair and got ready to smile and lay on the charm towards the officer who dared to stop her this morning. Tick, tick, halfway there, tick, tick, her heartbeat pounded and she could feel her irritation rising as the officer took his time getting out of the patrol car.  Her mental clock was going and she was never going to be there on time to the open house.

              She saw him get out and noticed the officer had the sexiest swagger she had seen in quite some time… not since she saw Jacob casually saunter through town during a festival. Millie groaned and cursed again. It was Jacob. ‘
Deep breath, find your center, you can do this’
she thought to herself. ‘
This is just the best looking guy you've seen in quite some time, Millie - lay it on thick and get the heck over to the property’
. Millie felt flushed, turned up the A/C and rolled down the window, smiling.

            
 
“Well, hello, Officer Hunter,” Millie smiled warmly, “how are you doing today?” she said lightly, trying not to get flustered as she noticed he had the most delicious looking freckles sprinkled across the bridge of his nose underneath his sunglasses. Millie licked her lips and said, “Have I done something wrong?” innocently.

              Jacob stopped dead in his tracks and smiled broadly. She was certainly stunning when she smiled and her whole face lit up. She wasn't just the gorgeous figure from afar he was watching, here she was looking at him like he was a tall glass of ice water and she was dying of thirst.

              Graham had told him about the traffic stop and how she snapped at him.  This was a different side of her and he had to admit he was intrigued. She was definitely laying it on thick to try to get out of being pulled over and Jacob was curious to see how far she would continue the charade. Everyone knew Millicent Clark was off limits by her own choosing. She was “too good” for anyone, married to her job, and intended to make her business a huge success.

            
 
“Why good morning, Ms. Clark, going somewhere?” he said wryly to see how she would respond. He was trying to keep it professional but part of him would enjoy this thoroughly too.

            
 
“Well, actually, Mr. Hunter, I am on my way to a showing and I need to get some things done before we open in a bit. Did you pull me over to find out my schedule, or did you want to see the home and get a tour?” she finished with a side-glance, pulled out her lip-gloss and started to apply it again.
Keep him looking, keep trying to distract him, don't look at his muscles, and for God’s sake, don't look anywhere else!
she thought wildly trying to not let her interest show.

              Jacob started to chuckle, “Your lip gloss is perfect, Ms. Clark. Why don't you put that away,” he said laughing at how she was acting so innocent and cool. “You do realize you were speeding, correct? You were clocked at driving ten miles per hour over the limit.”

              Millie felt like he was laughing at her attempts to be coy
.
“Oh no, was I?” she asked softly and calmly. “I am so very sorry. It won’t happen again, Officer. I am so relieved you stopped me. Could there be something wrong with my car?” she said with a small frown on her face. “Am I in trouble?”

              Jacob knew he was going to get some ribbing for this if he let her go, but she was laying it on so thick and he was trying to keep from laughing at her. He knew how calm and composed she was, heck, she had even snubbed her nose at him before while in line at the grocery. She had just sashayed past him, those amazing legs striding past him without a care in the world. He had said hello, she had nodded and continued on. This was a completely different side of her and it amused him to no end to see how badly she was trying to get out of a speeding ticket.

            
 
“I will tell you what?” Jacob started and cleared his throat when he saw the hopeful look cross her face “Why don't we get you to that open house and maybe we’ll forget about this if you promise not to speed through here again,” he said roughly, watching her bright shiny cherry-red lips, wondering if the lip gloss she had just put on was flavored.

              Millie almost squealed in happiness, but instead she took a calm deep breath and said, “Oh I promise,” and crossed her heart towards him. She looked up through her lashes and watched his eyes follow her hand.

              Jacob almost forgot how to talk. My goodness, she was amazing. He watched as she dragged one manicured finger slowly down her thin blouse. He could see the outline of her bra through the fabric, as it pulled tightly against her breasts. He wondered if she would ever act like this again if he was around or if she acted like this each time she had been stopped. Graham had taken to calling her a speed demon cause she was so nasty with him. The guys at the precinct were going to eat this tale up.

              Jacob dragged his eyes back up, snapped his citation booklet shut, and asked her to continue along carefully. He left the car and watched her pull out slowly onto the highway. Jacob followed her for a bit, watching and then took a side road to circle back around his beat for the day.

              Millie pulled in as the first car arrived. She hopped out and smiled welcoming them to the house. She gestured them inside and proceeded to point out all the charms, features and how close it was to the local school. She had a contract that afternoon on the home and wanted to cheer. She smiled, thanked them and reassured them that this was the most amazing home for their growing family.
Seal the deal
, Millie thought happily.

              Jacob finished his beat later that afternoon and returned to the precinct to fill out reports, check in and see if there was anything needed. He overheard Graham complaining about how he was so bored and needed some excitement in this small town. To which Richard, another officer, said teasingly towards Jacob, “Anything exciting with you today hero?”

              Jacob took a sip of his coffee and smiled broadly. They began ribbing him to share his tale of what had happened today. Jacob told them about the stop and how Millicent Clark was acting.

              Graham thought he was going to have to put his eyes back into his head. “She did what?” he stuttered. Jacob laughed hard. “Yup, she pulled out her lip gloss, crossed her heart and was flirting heavily.”

            
 
“My gosh, she has another mode other than business?” another officer quipped. They had all been given the cool treatment and growing up in a small town, they had gone to school with Millicent Clark or had heard from others about how she would turn a man down if you dared to ask her out. She was a conquest to the guys in high school, and apparently not much had changed with them at all.  He heard the challenge come up once again, just like old times. “Betcha can’t get her to go out with you?” Graham teased him and ruffled his hair.

              Jacob shrugged him off and told them all, “If I get her to go out with me, it is because she likes me. Not because you guys dared me to date her,” he said, “and it's only ‘cause she wouldn't go out with you, Graham,” he said teasing the older man. “Maybe you weren't her type,” he said with a wink.

              Several men laughed and teased Officer Graham at this statement.
 
“She’ll never go out with you,” Richard announced. “You aren't her type either, unless you are planning on buying or selling a home,” he quipped “and your apartment doesn't count.”

            
 
“Well, maybe it’s time to look for a place to call home,” Jacob said taking up the gauntlet “Perhaps it is time to thaw out Miss Millicent Clark and show her what it’s like to date a man,” he said with a gleam in his eye. He was looking forward to the chase. Millicent Clark was stunning and he would enjoy himself thoroughly.

3

              Millie was sitting on a bench at the park, having a bit of string cheese and watching the children play. She had brought a book with her and was just enjoying being outdoors for a few moments. She needed a break away from the phones, the Internet and Danielle’s yammering. Danielle was her best friend and coworker; however, Millie wasn't near as bubbly and happy as she was.

              In fact, Millie enjoyed getting away and just listening to the children play and feeling the breeze. She kicked off her heels and swung her feet under the bench, dreaming of having her own child someday, much later on.

              Jacob watched from afar. He had swung by the real estate office however did not see her inside. There was another lady, Danielle, at the desk and suggested he come back later since she was on her lunch break, or she would be happy to help him. He said he would wait for Millicent to return and walked back out the door to the office. When he rounded the corner lot of her office, he saw the park up ahead and spotted Millicent under a tree in her crisp white suit, swinging her bare feet.              

             
How strange
, he thought, watching her stretch and wiggle her toes; strange and inviting at the same time. She looked like she would rather be playing with the kids than sitting on the bench. He watched for quite some time, casually resting his shoulder on the side of the brick building.              

              Millie watched the children with delight as her friend Melissa gently swung the youngest in the baby swing. Her older child, Brant, was swinging his legs as fast as he could, pumping them to make the swing go higher. Melissa occasionally would chat with Millicent but mostly they both wanted time out in the park, in the sun.

              Brant fell forward from the swing and landed on his hands and knees on the bark cushion under the swing set. Millie raced forward, barefoot, and dusted him off as she squatted down next to the crying child. She talked with him a moment, gave him a little hug and placed him back on the swing, nodding at Melissa, and gave the little boy a tiny push. She then gingerly stepped back to the bench, sat down, dusted off each of her feet bottoms and slid them back into the tall pumps she had worn that day. Millie started back towards the office, tossed an apple up, caught it happily and took a big bite, glancing up the hill and almost choked.

              She looked up only to see Jacob Hunter was leaning against her office building, arms crossed over his chest and smiling directly at her. He was stunning in his black officer’s uniform, tanned skin, and sunglasses. Millie took a breath, carried her apple down by her side, and strode to her office purposefully.

              Jacob could almost see the shutters come down on her expression. She was back to business and it showed. Heck, she even hid the apple, if possible, in her hand and had it tucked almost behind her as she walked up the small hill.

            
 
“Well, hello again, Miss Clark,” he drawled. “Taking a quick break?” He wondered if she came out to the park often. He liked seeing her act human, he thought wryly.

            
 
“Are you following me?” she said crisply “Can I help you with something?” she said as she strode past him walking to the front door of her office. She looked over her shoulder as she heard him chuckle.

            
 
“Actually, you can help me,” he said walking in the office behind her, undeterred. Millie smoothed her suit and had a seat in her leather office chair at her desk facing the window. “I am interested in looking for a home,” he said lightly “and I am interested in hiring you for my agent,” he said with a smile.

              Millie looked at him with a Cheshire cat smile and calmly said, “I am not available at this time but Danielle is,” - who then chimed in that she had plenty of houses to show him.

              Jacob was not put off or deterred, a bit surprised that she would turn down the business and the change in her attitude from earlier, but he would not be swayed. “Thanks, Danielle, but I had my heart set on Millicent finding me my dream home.  She has an idea in mind for me already of what I like to see and what works for me,” he said with a wink.

              Millie blushed hotly. She was positive he was referring to the heavy flirting she had done to get out of the speeding ticket. She watched him sit back in the chair in front of her desk with a smug smile across his tanned face.

              Jacob was playing every card he had, and enjoyed watching her get flustered. He was completely satisfied with getting a reaction other than aloofness from Millicent. He continued on teasingly “Oh yes, she knows exactly what I am looking for and what I would like to have around me… in a house”

            
 
“Enough!” Millie said hotly and could feel the tips of her ears even getting hot, she was blushing so hard. Her palms were starting to sweat and he was getting completely under her skin! However, two could play that game!

              Millie turned on him in her swivel desk chair, a smile plastered on her face that did not reach her eyes. Prey just became predator. She looked him up and down…and unbuttoned her top three blouse buttons “Isn't it stuffy in here?” she said calmly.

              “I believe I have enough room in my schedule to find you a hole to crawl in… I mean a house to live in,” she said firmly, smiling all the while. “One thing I don't shirk from is a challenge and I believe you have just given me one. You are on, Officer Hunter. Challenge accepted,” she said softly, sticking out her hand for a shake.

              Jacob viewed her for a few moments, completely in awe. The icy kitten had very big claws and wasn't afraid to use them. Oh, he was going to thoroughly enjoy this, and hell, maybe he would buy a house if she found one. He wasn't seriously looking for a house, he was seriously looking to spend some time with her around town and get an official date with her.

              Jacob leaned forward with a smile lifting one side of his face in a smirk. He reached to shake her hand, pulled it towards him, leaned forward and kissed the inside of her wrist. He thoroughly enjoyed the gasp she made and the effort she gave to jerk her wrist back. Jacob stood, pulled out a business card and laid it on her desk. “Please call or email me and let’s set up a time to get together,” he said casually, as he left the office.

              Millie watched him leave, admiring the view for certain! She heard the clank of the bell on the door signaling it had shut, let out a loud whoosh of breath and turned to Danielle. “Really? Your mouth is hanging open,” she said smartly.

              Danielle was flabbergasted. She had never seen Millie riled up like that before, but it was certainly interesting to watch. Officer Hunter may be just what she needed in her life. “What exactly was all that, Millie? He is sex on a stick, my friend…” she said stunned at her business partner.

            
 
“That,” Millie said perplexed at her own emotions, “is my next client. I am going to sell him a house and probably enjoy it more than I should.” Danielle was right. Officer Jacob Hunter was ‘sex on a stick’ and flustered her more than she ever cared to admit. The way he looked at her made her heart race and he had a knack for getting her upset. She prided herself on keeping her cool and not showing any emotions.

              She grew up hiding how she felt. Millie had been forced to. Anger, fear, rage, happiness, sadness…all emotions were frowned on by the home she had grown up in. It led to anarchy and rebelliousness in the girl’s dorm area. She had her knuckles rapped more than once for getting upset and smarting off, or for giggling with the other girls. When she was calm, cool like the director of the home, she didn't get in trouble. She, in fact, was rewarded several times for her dedication to studies and had been told that her calm demeanor “inspired” others.

            
 
“Yes, Danielle, that is my next sale…“ Millie affirmed.