Dad's Detective Best Friend: An Instalove Possessive Alpha Romance (A Man Who Knows What He Wants Book 164) Read online

  CONTENTS

  Dad’s Detective Best Friend

  NEWSLETTER

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Epilogue

  Extended Epilogue

  NEWSLETTER

  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS

  BRATVA BEAR SHIFTERS

  LAIRDS & LADIES

  RUSSIAN UNDERWORLD

  IRISH WOLF SHIFTERS

  About the Author

  DAD’S DETECTIVE BEST FRIEND

  AN OLDER MAN YOUNGER WOMAN ROMANCE

  _______________________

  A MAN WHO KNOWS WHAT HE WANTS, 164

  FLORA FERRARI

  Copyright © 2020 by Flora Ferrari

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  The following story contains mature themes, strong language and sexual situations. It is intended for mature readers.

  DAD’S DETECTIVE BEST FRIEND

  Detective Matt O'Brien gets more than he's expecting when he investigates an intruder on his property and discovers that it’s the sexiest woman he has ever seen. He has to have her...but first he has to find out who she is and just what she wants from him. When he does what he finds out will turn his whole world upside down...yet nothing seems as important as getting this woman into his arms...and his bed.

  Lucy is desperate to save her dad and to do what she needs to persuade Matt to help them...but she hadn't reckoned on falling for him as soon as she sees him. She needs to tell him the truth - she's his best friend's daughter - but that's not so easy to do once he's got her in handcuffs and completely at his mercy...

  *Dad’s Detective Best Friend is an insta-everything standalone instalove romance with a HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

  NEWSLETTER

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  CHAPTER ONE

  Lucy

  I’m not sure why I’m creeping around this guy’s backyard as opposed to just approaching the front door. I was trying not to be seen. Dad’s warnings to be careful and stay underground have made me paranoid, so I thought maybe knocking on the back door would be safer. I didn’t really think through the fact that jumping over the fence in order to get to the back door doesn’t make me careful, it makes me look like a criminal.

  Which is pretty ironic, considering that my Dad is currently sitting in jail waiting to see if he gets bail or not.

  My father, the cop. I’m still reeling from everything I have just found out. Looking back now I guess the signs that he was a bit shady were always there, but I’ve always considered my Dad to be a good, stand-up guy. A decent citizen and upholder of the law. Now he’s sitting in jail being charged with assisting drug trafficking, and although he’s protesting innocence, I’m not sure I believe him.

  “I’ve taken a few backhanders in my time sweetheart, but I would never do something like this. I’m being set up.”

  I want to believe him, I really do. Which is why I’m here doing a very poor Catwoman impression, trying to access the one person he seems to believe can help him.

  Detective Matt O’Brien. Except now he’s a private detective, rather than a police one. Apparently, he went private ten years ago and he and my father lost touch. Which explains why the last time we set eyes on each other I was a scrawny ten-year-old with braces. I don’t remember much about him other than he had intense green eyes and seemed pretty moody. Mom liked him.

  “Matt is the best detective I’ve ever met,” Dad had told me urgently, on the phone from the sheriff’s station. “He can get to the bottom of this, I’m sure.” So, he had given me his last known address, and here I am. I make my way up the path towards the door, my heart pounding in my chest. What the hell am I going to say? Hi, I’m your old friend’s daughter. Remember me? I can’t help wondering why they don’t talk anymore...from what I can recall they were super close. It doesn’t make sense that they would lose touch just because Matt left the job. Does it? Cops are funny people, with their own cliques and moral codes...but I can’t see Dad ignoring a friend just for that reason.

  But then, perhaps I don’t know my father at all. Discovering that he has been taking backhanders for years has been the shock of my life and I haven’t really processed yet how I truly feel about it. I’m trying to focus on getting Dad out of jail. He doesn’t trust anyone else right now. But knowing all the nice things I had growing up were partly due to his corrupt activities...that’s not nice.

  But it also paid for Mom’s chemo when she got sick. That I can understand...so I’m struggling with a lot of mixed feelings here.

  I’m so wrapped up in wondering about it all that I don’t notice the figure emerging from around the side of the house until it’s too late to hide. There must be a side door…and now I just look like an intruder. I freeze as I notice the guy has a gun in his hand, as well as something else that I can’t quite make out in the shadows…my mouth goes dry as I realize it might be another weapon.

  The moonlight falls across his face and I inhale sharply, but this time out of more than just fear.

  He’s gorgeous. Like, ridiculously and seriously hot.

  Even from here and in the half-light, I can see that he has a physique most bodybuilders would envy, topped by a face that is both sensual and almost cruel in the moonlight and shadows. I get a glimpse of full, sensual lips, intense eyes and a strong jaw and in spite of the crazy situation I’ve found myself in, something low down and deep inside my body reacts to him. How had I forgotten he looked like this? But my ten-year-old self was only interested in cartoons and trading cards.

  I swallow, my mouth dry, and attempt to pull myself together. Any minute now he’s going to see me, and I need to explain what I’m doing here. It occurs to me that he might not believe me.

  He stops and raises his gun and I can’t seem to find the words to speak. I’ve never had a gun pointed at me before.

  “Back up against the fence with your hands up,” he orders, and I do as he says.

  “I’m not an intruder,” I say, fumbling for the right words. My heart is beating frantically in my chest and I’m not sure which is stronger, fear or desire. “I can explain. I need to talk to you. You are Matt O’Brien, right?” For a moment I’m worried that I’ve got the wrong house. This guy looks more like a model than a detective.

  He tilts his head at me and frowns, but doesn’t answer, instead he looks me up and down slowly in a way that makes me feel naked, but he isn’t leching. His expression is cool.

  “Seeing as you are trespassing on my property,” he points out, not unreasonably, “I think I sho
uld get your name first, don’t you?”

  I open my mouth to explain, but then hesitate. What if I have got the wrong person and I somehow endanger my father, or this guy reports me to the cops and I get my dad in even more trouble? Now I’m really cursing myself for not thinking this through properly. I could have tried phoning rather than sneaking around like I’m in a spy movie.

  We stare at each other, and I realize we are at a complete stalemate. So, now what?

  CHAPTER TWO

  Matt

  Now what?

  When I saw a shape jumping over my fence on the CCTV camera in my kitchen, I came out here before getting a good look at just who that shape was. I wasn’t expecting this absolute vision of sexiness. Petite but curvy, with a mane of tawny hair tumbling over her shoulders and full lips that would look great around my cock... she’s so desirable that I’m struggling to focus. Which is odd, because no woman has ever had such an immediate impact on me.

  But what the hell is she doing in my garden? And how does she know my name? I have no intention of telling her that I’m the guy that she’s looking for until I know who she is.

  She is staring at me, her beautiful eyes wide, and I can see that she’s scared. Well, I am pointing a gun in her face.

  “I don’t want to hurt you,” I say firmly but quietly. “But I think I have a right to know who you are and what you’re doing in my garden.”

  I have to admire her spunk. Fear or not, she crosses her arms in front of her and shakes her head.

  “Uh uh. I need to know if you’re the guy that I’m looking for.”

  “But I could just lie,” I point out, “now that you’ve told me his name. So that doesn’t really help, does it?”

  She narrows her eyes at me like a cat.

  “You’re mocking me,” she snaps. “When this really isn’t funny.”

  “You hardly need to tell me that...after all, I’m the one with an intruder in my garden.”

  She actually tsk’s.

  “Right,” she says with her voice dripping in sarcasm. “You’re pointing a gun at me and happen to be four times my size, but you’re the one in danger here.”

  I guess she’s got a point. But I’ve been in this game long enough to know that appearances can be deceptive, and I’m not about to lower my guard just because of a pretty face.

  Or a stunning body.

  Or perfect pouty lips.

  “Tell me what you’re doing here,” I say calmly. “I really don’t want to keep pointing this gun at you, but you’re not giving me an awful lot of choice at the minute. You jumped my fence...it’s reasonable to assume that you’re up to no good.”

  She thinks about that for a minute while I try not to stare at her too hard. She frowns, creating a little dip between her eyebrows, and I want to kiss it away. What the hell is wrong with me? I’m a guy who prides himself on his self-control, and yet this woman has completely thrown me off guard.

  “I told you, I’m looking for Matt O’Brien.”

  “You did tell me that,” I agree, “but what you haven’t told me is why.”

  She rolls her eyes, and I’m not sure if I find her attitude infuriating or amusing. Either way it is pretty damn sexy.

  “That’s because you won’t tell me if you’re him or not. And I repeat, you’re also pointing a gun in my face. It’s not very polite.”

  “Neither is sneaking around people’s backyards. Which you’re not very good at, by the way.”

  She raises her chin defiantly and I sigh. We’re not going to get anywhere like this and she’s right, I am pointing a gun at her. Which I really don’t want to be doing when I’m pretty sure that she isn’t actually a threat...but again, I don’t want to take any chances. I’ve faced down some heavy criminals in my time and I don’t relish the idea of being tricked by some young woman who has just appeared out of nowhere.

  “I’ve got an idea,” I say. Moving quickly, courtesy of some intense martial arts training, I step towards her and grab her wrist...and handcuff it to my fence. Then I step back and throw my gun behind me onto the lawn. I wasn’t sure why I picked up my handcuffs along with my gun before I came out to investigate, but it seems it was a good move.

  The girl stares at me in horror as she yanks and pulls her arm to no avail.

  “You’ve handcuffed me to the fence!” she cries, and I nod.

  “That does seem to be the case. But I've also got rid of the gun. So, shall we start again? Who are you and what are you doing in my garden?”

  She glares at me. “Like I’m going to tell you anything now.”

  Beautiful or not, this woman is infuriating.

  “Unless you want to stay out here all night, I’m not sure what choice you have. Or I could just call the cops?”

  I see fear flash in her eyes. “No,” she says quickly, “please don’t do that.”

  “You’re scared of the cops,” I say slowly, “which would indicate you are very obviously up to no good. Or...you’re in some kind of trouble?” My voice softens as she flinches and I’m filled with a sudden protectiveness. I want to protect her from whatever it is that she’s so obviously involved in. I can’t help wondering if I’m being played and I know I should take a step back, but something makes me want to trust her. To help her.

  “I really can’t tell you,” she whispers, “until I know who you are. I can only tell Detective O’Brien.”

  “Okay,” I nod, making a decision and hoping that I’m not about to regret it. “I’ll uncuff you, and we’ll go inside and sort this out, okay?”

  “Inside?” She glances at my house and then back at me, and I can guess what she is thinking.

  “I’m taking a risk too,” I attempt to reassure her. “You could have a knife in your jacket or anything for all I know. We’re either going to have to trust each other, or stay here until the morning, and face some strange questions from my neighbors.”

  I see her mouth quirk upwards in amusement at that, and she nods. “Okay,” she gives her assent.

  I step towards her, ready to uncuff her.

  I’m not prepared for what happens next.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Lucy

  He moves towards me and in spite of myself I feel a rush of desire at the nearness of him. Whoever he is, he’s simultaneously both the most desirable and most crazy-making guy I have ever met. He handcuffed me to a fence. While I’m hardly a woman of the world I can’t help but be acutely aware of the fact that in a different situation this could be quite erotic. Him handcuffing me so that I’m completely at his mercy. As he leans over me to release me his face is just inches from mine and I lick my suddenly dry lips.

  He notices the movement and his eyes fall to my mouth, his gaze lingering there and I see it...I see the lust in his eyes. He wants me too. Maybe it’s the shock of the day causing any sanity I possess to flee my mind, but I act entirely on instinct.

  I rise up on my tiptoes and kiss him.

  I feel something like an electric shock passes between us as our lips touch. His eyes widen and his lips stiffen and for a moment I think he will push me away, but he doesn’t. Instead he responds suddenly and hungrily, his lips pushing mine apart as his tongue probes the inside of my mouth. My body feels like one throbbing, burning nerve-ending as his hands settle on the small of my back and he pulls my hips up and into his. Then one hand slides up to bury itself in my hair, tugging on it gently. Suddenly the handcuff that is restricting my movement is a turn-on rather than a source of discomfort, and I hear myself moan audibly into his mouth. He responds with a groan of his own, and the hand on my back moves down and cups my ass, his fingers splaying over my cheeks. I feel my panties grow damp and my clit start to throb. My nipples are stiff where my breasts are crushed against his body, and judging by the hardness against my thigh he’s as aroused as I am.

  I’ve never been kissed or touched like this – or hell, at all – and my thoughts are a jumbled mess. I’m sure that this is a bad idea but I can’t seem to remem
ber why. He runs the hand that was in my hair around my neck and across my collarbone, and his fingertips trail across the tops of my breasts. I want to be naked. I want him to be naked. Right here, out on this grass, I want to give myself to this guy whose name I don’t even know for certain.

  Of course, in all the times that I have imagined losing my virginity, it has never been anything like this. Handcuffed to a fence by a stranger. A stranger who was just pointing a gun at me. Perhaps I should be offended, but the fact is that I kissed him. He’s just returning the favor.

  And now. I feel as though I’m melting into him, becoming liquid heat as my body reacts to his...to the feel and taste and smell of him. I’ve been so uninterested in boys for so long I was starting to wonder if I was asexual or something...but it seems I just hadn’t met the right kind of boy.

  No, I correct myself, the right kind of man. This is most definitely a man. In an act of boldness that shocks even myself I slip a hand between our bodies and rub it over the hardness in his tight black jeans. He groans audibly into my mouth and his hands clutch at me harder. I want him so badly it hurts.

  Then he steps away. I gasp as I feel a brush of cool wind against my now burning body and the space between us leaves me feeling weirdly bereft.

  “Are you going to uncuff me now?” I ask, my voice hoarse. My mouth is dry at the thought of what is about to come next.

  Except it seems that he has other ideas. He folds his arms across his chest and looks at me with suspicion in his eyes.

  “What are you up to?” he asks. I raise an eyebrow at him. I would have thought that was obvious.

  “You’re trying to seduce me,” he says flatly. “So, what is it? What are you after?”

  I cock my head to one side and look at him, trying to work him out. He has handcuffs...and thinks like a cop. I’m pretty sure this is indeed Matt O’Brien.

  Which means that I’ve just kissed my dad’s best friend.

  “It wasn’t planned, honestly,” I point out. “It just kind of...happened. And you seemed pretty happy about it.” I wonder how happy he will be when he finds out who I am.