By the time he made it to the diner, the place was filling up. He parked, strolled inside and glanced around for Tami as he made his way to the booth he normally sat in. The other waitress, Tess, smiled and winked as she hustled from the dining room to the kitchen. Kevin slid in his seat, locked his hands together and waited.

A couple of minutes later, Tami came through the swinging doors with her arms loaded. She got the small family set and then turned and smiled. Kevin’s mouth watered as she sashayed toward him, her hips swaying slightly and her breasts bouncing beneath her tight uniform. Why had he waited so long to ask her out?

“Hey, cop,” she said, letting her gaze drift over him. “No uniform tonight? I like it.”

He saw a spark in her eyes, a little heat and more than a hint of interest. Some of his nerves melted away. “Well, I caught you out of uniform today. Figured I owed you.”

One perfect eyebrow rose and her smile grew brighter. “Any word?” she finally asked.

“He didn’t make bail so you’ll have a peaceful night. I’ll keep my ears open tomorrow and call you if he’s released.”

Tami nodded. “Oh, that reminds me. I changed my number after you left today.” She pulled out her phone, brought up the number and scribbled it on her order pad, ripped the paper off and then handed it to him.

“Mind if I ask why you changed your number?” Kevin folded it in half and held it.

Tami shrugged. “Too many wrong numbers. This will stop it. How’s the woman?”

Again, she changed the subject so he rolled with it. “They’re keeping her overnight. I guess she has some deep bruising and a few broken ribs. Sounds like she’ll live.”

“For now, or until she wises up and leaves that worthless piece of crap. Next time she might not be so lucky.”

Her anger reflected in her eyes and he understood it. Seeing that type of violence up close affected a person. “We all have to make our own decisions.”

“I guess. So, you want your usual tonight or are you willing to walk on the wild side for a change?”

“I’m thinking it’s time I check out the wild side. See what it has to offer. What do you suggest?”

Tami crossed her arms beneath her breasts, jacking the soft orbs up and giving him a peek at her cleavage. “You like surprises, cop?”

“I’m beginning to,” he answered and then chuckled. Oh yeah, he could see a surprise around every corner with her.

“Good.” Tami jotted something down on her order pad, looked up, winked and then hustled away.

Kevin couldn’t stop watching her tiny ass as she departed. His sweaty palms actually itched to hold her bottom and feel if it was as taut as it looked. They’d been playing this game for months now, flirting and sizing each other up. He definitely wanted more.

Tami returned a few moments later with a plate of baked ham, mashed potatoes and a side of applesauce. Normally he ordered steak, but he had to admit, this looked and smelled good. He couldn’t help wonder what she’d bring him for dessert.

“I’ll get you a drink, is there anything else you’d like?”

“Actually, yes.” Kevin looked up from his plate and met her gaze. “I’d like to take you out as soon as possible. Think you can handle that?”

Tami blinked twice, the smile on her face fading briefly and sending his heart plummeting to his gut. He couldn’t have read her wrong. Impossible.

And then, just like that, she lit up. Her eyes sparkling and her smile dazzling. “I think I can. In fact, I’m pretty sure I can. What about you, cop? Are you sure you’re ready for a woman like me?”

“I’m a cop, I’m trained to handle anyone,” he replied, ready to forgo dinner and drag her out now.

“Be sure now,” she warned. “I guarantee you’ve never dated someone like me.”

Kevin leaned back in the booth. “I have no doubt and that’s why I’m asking. How’d you get to work?”

“Walked.”

“What time do you plan on getting out of here?”

“Ten at the latest.”

“How about I take you for a late-night dessert and then drop you off at home?” He hadn’t planned this. But, he couldn’t wait for a formal date. She intrigued him.

“Sounds fun. You don’t mind me being in my uniform?”

Yeah, he did, but that was his cock talking and not his brain. “If you want to take it off, I’m good with that.” Kevin wiggled his eyebrows and Tami burst out laughing.

“We’ll see, cop. We’ll see.” She left him then, went about checking on her tables and bussing the dirty dishes.

Kevin ate slow, enjoying the view far more than the cuisine, not that he had any gripes about it. The ham tasted out of this world and the potatoes were homemade, not flakes you simply added water to. Maybe he’d start letting Tami surprise him more often. The diner crowd thinned out, letting Tami and Tess get a jump start on cleaning. When Tami finished prepping the other tables for the morning rush, she headed his way.

“How’d you like it?” she asked, and then picked up his dirty dishes.

“Excellent. Got any more surprises for me?” He shot her a daring glance, anticipating her quick, witty response.

Tami set the dishes down, turned and plopped in his lap. Her arms circled his neck and her lips were only a breath away from his. Kevin instinctively settled his hand over her rib cage and let his other rest on her thigh.

“I’m full of them,” she whispered, drawing his attention to her lips. “Question is, are you man enough to deal with them?”

Something inside him surged forward. Like a hidden animal finally set free and starving for what she offered. None of his other dates had dared be so forward in public.

Tami’s fingers threaded through the short hairs on the back of his neck as she adjusted herself in his lap. The movement and her touch brought his groin to life. No hiding the erection growing and pressing into her hip. And, from that sassy little smile on her face, she felt it.

“That answer your question?”

“So, the attraction goes both ways,” she muttered. They sat there, him drawing little circles on her thigh with his thumb and she driving him wild with her fingers caressing his scalp.

She brought out the eager, pure male side of him. That part he kept hidden from the rest of the world. His mother and father had taught him to show respect for women and not treat them like sexual objects, and he did. Tami, she made him want to forget it all, throw caution and etiquette to the wind. She made him feel like a man with her forward ways and unapologetic wants.

She must have been able to read his thoughts, because her eyes dilated and she sucked in a sharp breath. “Hold that thought, cop. I’ll get out of here as soon as I can.”