Read Online Burnout: A Legal Heat Novella by Sarah Castille - Free Book Online
Authors: Sarah Castille
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That’s all I care about.” He sipped the foam off his pint and took a moment to enjoy the thick, bitter taste of his favourite Irish beer.
“It’s got rickety tables, holes in the walls, twenty-year-old paintings of dead rock stars, and a DJ who doesn’t know the difference between Death Metal and Thrash.” Jackie folded her arms. “But you aren’t putting me off. Now spill.”
“She’s a cop.”
Jackie spluttered. “Jesus Christ, Ace. You hooked up with a cop? Your activities aren’t exactly Grade A certified legit. She see your weapon?”
Ace raised an eyebrow and Jackie snickered. “Okay. I mean, you wouldn’t have dragged the Terrible Tuscan Twins out on a Sunday night if you hadn’t shown her your weapon and she hadn’t approved of what you were packing.” She paused to sip her beer and then frowned. “I gotta say I’m a bit disappointed because I think I made it pretty clear that I would have welcomed a visual when we were hanging out. I mean, that night we had together out at the racetrack was fun, but it was dark and I would have liked to see—”
“Jackie…”
“And you’re clearly in dress-to-impress mode since you’re wearing jeans without holes in them. You must think she’s something special.”
“Jackie…”
“Although you did only just meet her yesterday,” she continued. “And I don’t think you ever put on non-holey jeans for me….”
“Enough.” His hand tightened around the glass so hard his knuckles turned white. Jackie never knew when to quit.
Undaunted, Jackie leaned over the table and whispered. “Right there. That tells me you got it bad for your pretty cop, but she doesn’t have it bad for you, ’cause she didn’t sound so happy to see you this evening. So if you want my advice—”
“I don’t—”
“Give up. She’s a cop. You’re an outlaw. Conflict doesn’t get bigger than that, my friend. And what happens if one day you find yourself on the wrong end of the gun?”
“You done?”
Jackie grinned. “I’m only just getting started.”
“Got a new job for you.” He fixed her with his fiercest scowl. “It’s in Alaska.”
“Got news for you. I’m staying right here to watch the fireworks. After our little fling last year, I’d say I know you better than anyone in the MC. Hunting down the movers, beating them up, and dragging them to Sophie’s apartment is the Ace equivalent of a normal guy showing up with a bunch of flowers.”
“I don’t do flowers.”
“But you did her.” Jackie raised her voice over the boom of CCR through the speakers. “And you’re back for more.”
“Coupla lowlifes leave a helpless woman with a pile of furniture and boxes in the middle of her place and no way to move it. That’s an injustice that needs to be resolved.”
Jackie snorted a laugh. “She’s a cop. She’s hardly helpless. She’s probably got a bigger gun than you.”
Sophie returned and slid into the booth beside Ace. Her gaze flicked from Jackie to Ace and back to Jackie. “Did I…uh, interrupt?”
“No, honey.” Jackie stood. “Ace and I once had a thing. It’s over now, so nothing for you to worry about. But we’re still tight, so sometimes I’ll give him advice, and he’ll tell me to shove it up my ass. Polite like.”
“You went out with her?” Sophie’s gaze followed Jackie as she headed to the bar to help Kickstand with the drinks.
“Something like that.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“So are you.” Her little hint of vulnerability did strange things to his stomach. There was a chink in his little cop’s armour and one he wanted to fill. He slid an arm around her, then pulled her into his side, his hand stroking in and out of her lush curves. “Love these curves, babe.” He bent down and pressed his lips to hers. “Love this sweet mouth.”
She stiffened for the briefest second and then relaxed against him, her tongue tangling with his.
“Beautiful,” he murmured as he buried his nose in the
“It’s got rickety tables, holes in the walls, twenty-year-old paintings of dead rock stars, and a DJ who doesn’t know the difference between Death Metal and Thrash.” Jackie folded her arms. “But you aren’t putting me off. Now spill.”
“She’s a cop.”
Jackie spluttered. “Jesus Christ, Ace. You hooked up with a cop? Your activities aren’t exactly Grade A certified legit. She see your weapon?”
Ace raised an eyebrow and Jackie snickered. “Okay. I mean, you wouldn’t have dragged the Terrible Tuscan Twins out on a Sunday night if you hadn’t shown her your weapon and she hadn’t approved of what you were packing.” She paused to sip her beer and then frowned. “I gotta say I’m a bit disappointed because I think I made it pretty clear that I would have welcomed a visual when we were hanging out. I mean, that night we had together out at the racetrack was fun, but it was dark and I would have liked to see—”
“Jackie…”
“And you’re clearly in dress-to-impress mode since you’re wearing jeans without holes in them. You must think she’s something special.”
“Jackie…”
“Although you did only just meet her yesterday,” she continued. “And I don’t think you ever put on non-holey jeans for me….”
“Enough.” His hand tightened around the glass so hard his knuckles turned white. Jackie never knew when to quit.
Undaunted, Jackie leaned over the table and whispered. “Right there. That tells me you got it bad for your pretty cop, but she doesn’t have it bad for you, ’cause she didn’t sound so happy to see you this evening. So if you want my advice—”
“I don’t—”
“Give up. She’s a cop. You’re an outlaw. Conflict doesn’t get bigger than that, my friend. And what happens if one day you find yourself on the wrong end of the gun?”
“You done?”
Jackie grinned. “I’m only just getting started.”
“Got a new job for you.” He fixed her with his fiercest scowl. “It’s in Alaska.”
“Got news for you. I’m staying right here to watch the fireworks. After our little fling last year, I’d say I know you better than anyone in the MC. Hunting down the movers, beating them up, and dragging them to Sophie’s apartment is the Ace equivalent of a normal guy showing up with a bunch of flowers.”
“I don’t do flowers.”
“But you did her.” Jackie raised her voice over the boom of CCR through the speakers. “And you’re back for more.”
“Coupla lowlifes leave a helpless woman with a pile of furniture and boxes in the middle of her place and no way to move it. That’s an injustice that needs to be resolved.”
Jackie snorted a laugh. “She’s a cop. She’s hardly helpless. She’s probably got a bigger gun than you.”
Sophie returned and slid into the booth beside Ace. Her gaze flicked from Jackie to Ace and back to Jackie. “Did I…uh, interrupt?”
“No, honey.” Jackie stood. “Ace and I once had a thing. It’s over now, so nothing for you to worry about. But we’re still tight, so sometimes I’ll give him advice, and he’ll tell me to shove it up my ass. Polite like.”
“You went out with her?” Sophie’s gaze followed Jackie as she headed to the bar to help Kickstand with the drinks.
“Something like that.”
“She’s beautiful.”
“So are you.” Her little hint of vulnerability did strange things to his stomach. There was a chink in his little cop’s armour and one he wanted to fill. He slid an arm around her, then pulled her into his side, his hand stroking in and out of her lush curves. “Love these curves, babe.” He bent down and pressed his lips to hers. “Love this sweet mouth.”
She stiffened for the briefest second and then relaxed against him, her tongue tangling with his.
“Beautiful,” he murmured as he buried his nose in the
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