One Taste of Crazy (A One Taste Novel Book 3) Read online

  One Taste of Crazy

  A One Taste Novel (Book 3)

  By Amanda Siegrist

  Copyright © 2017 Amanda Siegrist

  All Rights Reserved.

  This ebook may not be re-sold or re-distributed to another person unless consent is given by this author. If you wish to share this book, please purchase an additional copy. It may not be re-produced in any format for your own rights. If you did not purchase this book, please return to the retailer to purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

  All characters in this book are a product of the author’s imagination. Places, events, and locations mentioned either are created to help inspire the story, or are real and used in a fictitious manner.

  ♡ Warning: This novel contains a sexy detective. There is insta-love. But it’s book three so you probably know that already if you read the first two. *wink* Happy reading! ♡

  Table of Contents

  Prologue

  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

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Epilogue

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  About the Author

  Prologue

  His hand shook as he swiped another glass of champagne from the passing waiter. He should probably slow it down, but he had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen. Not when every time he glanced her way she was laughing and dancing with another man.

  Kind of his fault. Just call him a chicken. He couldn’t ask her to dance. The words wouldn’t form.

  It was a simple question. Would you like to dance? It wasn’t that hard. Five simple words.

  Five simple words to the most beautiful woman he had ever laid eyes on. That was the problem. When it came to women, forget it. Words didn’t come out sounding right. He was nothing more than an incompetent moron.

  “Are you sulking? Because you look like you’re sulking. And champagne? Dude, go get a beer.”

  Sauer stifled a groan as Newman, his best friend and partner, got on his case. “It’s good champagne. Have you tried some?”

  Newman chugged half his beer, then belched. “Nope. Don’t plan on it.”

  “Why is Chrissy dating you?”

  “Because I’m charming and sexy. Now that you’ve brought up dating, what woman are you taking home tonight? You are not leaving this reception without a woman in your arms.”

  Sauer couldn’t help it. His eyes sought her out immediately. Nope. He sure in the hell wouldn’t be going home with her. Only in his dreams.

  “Please tell me you didn’t just look at Dee. Anyone but her.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Dude, she is a man-hater. She would eat you up and rip you to shreds. Pick a different woman.”

  Sauer patted Newman on the shoulder and grinned. “I have no plans of bringing any woman home tonight. And next time you belch, at least say excuse me, women appreciate manners.”

  “Sauer, whatever you’re thinking, get it out of your head. Look elsewhere,” Newman half-shouted as he walked away.

  The last thing he wanted to do was hear how Dee was a bad choice. He knew that. Not because she was a so-called man-hater, but because she was too beautiful and so out of his league. She was best friends with Rina, who married his good friend Ben today. The few times he interacted with her, he barely managed a decent hello. Completely tongue-tied when it came to her. Just like when he spoke to most women. But with Dee, it was ten times worse. There was something about her. He couldn’t explain it.

  He finished his glass of champagne rather quickly, too quickly, and decided he should eat. Something to occupy his mind. Something other than stare at Dee wishing he had the courage to ask her to dance. It was just a dance. It wouldn’t lead to anything else. Or could it?

  Grow a pair. That’s what he needed to do. Something Newman said to him a few times when they went out for drinks. They’d see a beautiful woman, usually in a group full of beautiful women, and Newman would say, “Just go start talking to them. If you don’t practice, you’re never going to get it right. Grow a pair.”

  He’d down his beer, think about what to say, and like the chicken shit he was, he’d order another beer and continue to figure out what to say until the entire group of women left the bar and his chance was effectively over. The story of his life.

  Not that he never had a girlfriend or sex before, because, yeah, he wasn’t a total scaredy-cat when it came to women. The few girlfriends he had just never went very far.

  Grabbing a small plate, he started to pile different hors d’oeuvres until there wasn’t any room left. This way he didn’t have to come back for seconds. It was easier if he stayed in his little corner until it was polite enough to leave the wedding reception. He was having a good time. He just wasn’t sure he could stand it anymore, eyeing Dee dressed in the elegant silver dress that clung to her body so delicately. Nothing usually screamed delicate about her. More like outrageous and rowdy. Like her wild red hair that he loved to see, especially when she scrunched it with her hand to make it even bushier. Although, tonight she had it pulled back into a cute little updo that framed her face so well.

  He needed to leave. Seeking her out, watching her have fun with other men wasn’t going to help him move on.

  Newman was right. She wasn’t his type. She was too outgoing. Too loud. Too in-your-face. He barely could speak to an average looking woman. How would they make it as a couple? Simple. They wouldn’t because he would never have the nerve to speak to her more than a quick hello. Which is the most he had ever said to her.

  “Oh, that looks delicious as shit.” A hand swiped one of the breaded shrimp from his plate. “Yummy. You’re the best, Sauer.”

  His face flamed with heat as he stared into a pair of chocolate brown eyes. “Um, thanks.”

  Dee cracked a smile as her sweet laughter surrounded them. “No, no, thank you.” She cocked her head to the side. “You look very dashing in a suit.”

  “Um, thanks.”

  “I’m gonna grab one more shrimp, do you mind?”

  “Um, thanks.”

  She laughed as she snatched another shrimp and walked away.

  What was wrong with him? Um, thanks. That’s all he could say?

  Yeah, story of his life. He wanted the most beautiful woman in the room and he couldn’t even say more than two words.

  Chapter 1

  “Not like this.”

  He curled the left side of his lips just a little higher.

  “Like that.”

  Slamming his hands to the counter, he groaned, as the smile he thought he perfected crumbled into a frown. “Shit. I look like an idiot.” He blew out a breath. “You can do this. Just ask her out. No big deal. Tell her she’s beautiful. Then ask her out.”

  Nodding, he watched as his head bobbed up and down in the mirror, just confirming how much of an idiot he was. He was talking to himself in his friend’s bathroom. How much dumber could he get? A lot. He knew that.

  He was never good with the ladies. Never. Hell, he never made it to prom because he broke out into hives when he tried to ask Stephanie, the homecoming queen, to the dance. Only a nerd, who wore
braces, would try to ask out the homecoming queen.

  He was an adult now. A grown-ass man. Asking out a woman shouldn’t be difficult. Except, she wasn’t just any woman. She was the perfect woman. And totally out of his league.

  He jumped as a loud round of banging occurred on the door. “Dude, what are you doing? Taking a dump?”

  Sauer whipped open the door and tried to give Newman the best glare he could.

  “You’re all red in the face. You alright, man? Push a little too hard?” Newman chuckled. Sauer stepped out of his way. “Crack a smile. I was only kidding.” His bushy eyebrows dipped. “Seriously, you okay?”

  “I’m fine. It’s hot in here.”

  Newman’s eyes sparkled with humor. “Yeah, Zoe has the heat up ridiculously high. It’s cold as shit outside and she’s afraid that Zabrina will get cold.” He frowned. “You sure you’re okay? You’ve been acting a little funny all day.”

  “I’m fine. Go take a piss already.” Sauer laughed to ease the tension coursing through his veins and turned around. The bathroom door shut behind him. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath, then took a step forward, colliding into something warm and soft. He opened his eyes and cursed himself inside. “So sorry, Dee.”

  “No problemo. I wasn’t watching where I was going either.” Her sweet laughter filled his heart with joy—and nerves. Her bright red hair was curly as usual, little wisps of curls framing her face. He had the urge to swipe a few locks back. Not that he’d do it. But he fantasized about it way too often.

  “Beautiful.”

  Her brow rose. “What?”

  Holy shit. Did he just mutter the word beautiful and nothing else? Now she was looking at him like he was an idiot. “The hallway.” God, could it get much worse?

  She laughed, the sound filling up the so-called beautiful hallway. He didn’t even care how dumb he appeared. He loved hearing her laugh. “You’re hilarious, Sauer.”

  Chuckling, he ran a hand through his hair, then across the front of his jeans. “Would dance out dinner you…me?” Shit. It just got worse. So much worse. His words didn’t even make sense.

  Her face crinkled with confusion as she scrunched her hair a little. “Did you just ask me out?”

  “Uh…” How should he answer that? Because he wasn’t sure how to interpret her confusion. “It kind of sounded like it.” He smiled. Not to the perfection he practiced in the mirror, but close enough. And he actually spoke with words connecting in a fluid sentence. He could pat himself on the back.

  “You’re so adorable.” She chuckled, patted his shoulder, and walked past him.

  Adorable? Well, that was better than her calling him an idiot. But she never answered his question. Why did she just walk away?

  He jumped as a hand touched his shoulder. Newman’s face beamed with laughter. “I’m damn proud of you for trying. It’s the effort that counts. Although, a little surprised, Dee’s not really your type. You’re generally quiet and shy. She’s loud and obnoxious. I thought you got over this little crush you had.”

  His lips thinned into a tight line. “She’s beautiful.”

  “She also didn’t answer your question. Better go clarify, if you can manage to do that again.” His partner laughed as he walked away.

  Ask her out again? He didn’t even ask her properly the first time. Forget it. There’s no way he could ask her again and look like even more of a fool.

  He followed Newman to the living room where Zeke, Ben, and a few other guys from the precinct were crowded around the TV. He enjoyed football like any other guy, but tonight, the Super Bowl held little appeal. He felt like that even before he tried to ask out Dee. His heart just wasn’t into watching the game.

  Plopping down next to Zeke, he attempted to act interested in the game, while trying to figure out how he could leave and make it seem like he wasn’t escaping. Newman was the only one who knew he tried to ask out Dee and failed miserably. He still felt the need to escape. What would he say when she came out of the kitchen? That’s if the women decided to join them in the living room to watch the game. If they stayed there all night, then maybe he could handle staying.

  Newman, who sat in a recliner near the left side of the couch, started to speak in a low tone. “Guess who tried to ask out Dee?”

  His head slowly rotated, the intense glare on his face was enough to tell Newman that he didn’t appreciate him acting like a dick. What kind of friend throws you under the bus?

  “Davies from Narcotics did. Totally got shut down in under two seconds. I do believe her exact words were, “Yeah, not gonna happen in a million years.” Then she walked away.” Zeke shook his head as he laughed. “Davies couldn’t handle Dee. She needs a man who can put her in her place. She never holds back what she’s thinking.”

  “You’re going to go back on the douche list of hers if you don’t keep your voice down, man,” Ben said with a snicker. “And I know how much you hate being on that list.”

  A man that can put her in her place? Well, shit, he wasn’t that kind of guy. The few relationships he had he never acted that way with a woman. Hell, he never even argued much with a woman.

  Dee shouldn’t have to be put in her place. Sure, sometimes she spoke without thinking, but he liked that about her. That she didn’t give a shit what other people thought. He almost wished he could be like that. He was honest. He didn’t lie when asked a direct question or if someone wanted his honest opinion, but he didn’t blurt things out like she tended to do.

  “Na. Not Davies.”

  All eyes turned to Newman, waiting for him to elaborate. Except him. He refused to look at Newman. He still couldn’t believe Newman was embarrassing him like this. What was the point? To have a good laugh? Newman had never treated him like this before. Why now?

  Some found it odd he could handle a criminal with ease. Some even laughed at him, as if it was a strange mystery they couldn’t figure out. Put a murderer in front of him, or someone who committed a terrible crime, and he showed them who was the boss. Nothing about those encounters made him hesitate. Any other situation, like the current one he was in, he resorted to his usual shy, quiet reserved self. It’s just the way it was.

  Maybe it had to do with bullies. All through middle and high school, he was bullied. Awkward scrawny kid. Braces. Acne. He was an easy target. Most times, the kids got away with it. He didn’t tattle on them. He didn’t say anything to his parents. It all stayed locked away inside. Sort of like now.

  When it came time for college, he moved away. Far, far away. He wanted a fresh start. He started to work out more. He became more confident, more secure. Then, someone tried to bully him—by robbing him. It was like a light switch. Off to on in a blink of an eye. He sucker punched the guy and then called the police. Yeah, it was probably one of the dumbest things he ever did, but it felt so empowering to finally show one bully they couldn’t push him around anymore.

  He became a cop soon after. Criminals became bullies. He needed to keep the world safe from these bullies. Now his partner was acting like a bully. Why was he letting Newman act this way? Screw that!

  “It was me.” All eyes turned to him. “Do you feel better, Newman? Are you having a good laugh making me look like an idiot?” He stood up.

  “Ah, shit, Sauer. I didn’t mean—”

  “Then maybe next time you should keep your damn mouth shut.” He started to walk around the couch to the front door.

  “Yo, Sauer, where are you going, man?” Zeke asked, the concern evident in his voice. “I kinda figured it was you. I was hoping Newman would let it drop when I said Davies. It’s a little obvious you like her. It’s just…”

  Sauer turned toward him, his fists clenching and unclenching. It’s just. Yeah, he heard that a lot. It’s just, she’s not right for you. It’s just, you’re so shy. It’s just, you’re different and there’s nothing wrong with that. It’s just. He hated hearing that.

  “It’s just, what? I couldn’t handle a woman like her. I don’t de
serve a woman like her. Tell me? Or better yet, why don’t you all mind your own damn business, especially you, Newman.”

  He grabbed his jacket from the closet, stalked to the door in three long strides, slamming it on his way out. Maybe he was acting like a jerk, or even like a baby. But screw them. He wasn’t going to be bullied by his friends. Call him sensitive. Call him whatever. He didn’t care at the moment.

  ♡

  A door slammed.

  “Geez, please tell me those men aren’t getting all pissy because the game isn’t going the way they want. The Vikings didn’t even make the playoffs this year. Why do they get so hot about the game?” Dee rolled her eyes, primping her hair a little.

  “You know them. They do get a little heated when the game goes sour. I hope nobody got called to work.” Zoe frowned. “Well, at least I know it wasn’t Zeke because he’d say goodbye before slamming his way out of the house.”

  “Or Ben. Maybe one of the other guys had to leave,” Rina added softly.

  “I thought Chrissy would’ve been here with Newman. I kind of like her. Although, she’s weird sometimes.”

  Zoe almost spit out the sip of wine she had taken. “What is so weird about her, Dee?”

  She shrugged. “She never wears any clothes that show cleavage. Flaunt what God gave you, honey.”

  Rina chuckled softly. “Some people are shy.”

  Like Sauer. Dee always found his quietness so endearing. He always had a way of looking at her as if he could see straight to her heart. When she let it, anyway. It wouldn’t do good to let those looks affect her.

  Or his sweet words. He surprised the hell out of her when he attempted to ask her out. Oh, it had been the cutest thing she ever experienced. No one, not one man, had ever been as charming as Sauer trying to ask her out.

  She didn’t even answer him properly. There was no way she could shut him down with a simple no. Sauer was different. He didn’t deserve a quick no. And she didn’t deserve to say yes. That left her in an impossible situation. She had almost floundered with her words.

  “Everything okay, Zeke?” Zoe wrapped her arms around him as he walked up to her. “Who left?”