Late on Friday night, Freddie brought his battered Mustang to a stop at the curb in front of Elin’s apartment building and cut the engine. His heart beat fast with nerves and desire. All he had to do was send the signal and he could spend the night in her bed. But now that “the moment” had arrived, he was filled with uncertainty. The decision that had seemed so clear a few days ago was back in play. Twenty-nine years of celibacy had come down to this.

She turned to him and rested her hand on his arm. “Do you want to come in?”

Studying her, thoughts and images of all kinds spiraled through his mind and landed in his lap in a surge of lust.

“Freddie?”

“Can I take a rain check?” He couldn’t believe the words were coming out of his mouth. “Sam’s got us working funky shifts so she can touch base with everyone. I’m wiped, and I have to work again at seven.”

“I’ve been reading about her and the senator in the paper.”

“She loves all the attention they’re getting,” he said, rolling his eyes.

“I can imagine.”

Freddie hadn’t expected to enjoy being with Elin as much as he did. He found her easy to talk to, engaging and funny. She had caught on right away that he had come around the gym looking for more than personal training, and when he suggested dinner, she enthusiastically agreed. He’d spent most of the night trying to rein in his raging hormones. He hadn’t even kissed her yet despite the signals that she’d be receptive.

He knew if he touched her he wouldn’t stop until he had all of her.

“Freddie?”

“Hmm?” He glanced at her and found her watching him. In that moment, he remembered learning during the O’Connor investigation that she had a heart with a Cupid’s arrow tattooed on her left breast and her nipples were pierced. His cock twitched, and he shifted to ease the ache.

She reached for him and crushed her lips to his.

Startled, his eyes flew open to find hers closed as she ran her tongue over his bottom lip. He sank his hand into her hair to tug her closer. Her fingers danced over his chest, unbuttoning his shirt and tunneling in until skin reached skin. When she scraped her fingernail over his nipple, he almost came in his pants.

Tearing his lips free of hers, he caught her hand. “Elin.”

“Yes?” she asked with a sexy grin as she ran her free hand up over his thigh to cup his straining erection.

Freddie swallowed hard and fought to keep his mind off the fire burning in his lap. He had never been with a woman who was so brazen, but that was what had attracted him to her in the first place.

She stroked him through his jeans.