you’d be recovering today.” He glowered at him. “I know that’s what I was doing when you called.”
Bode took a long swallow from his water bottle. “It wasn’t that kind of date. She’s David Reyes’ little sister. He hired her to work in his office. Since she’s new in town, I offered to take her to dinner.”
Steve’s eyes danced with amusement. “Shot you down, huh?”
“Like a duck during teal season. But she did assure me that it was about her, not me.” His laughter died away. “I believe her exact words were, I don’t date cops .”
Steve winced in sympathy. “Ouch.” His partner understood how much this job meant to him.
He lifted one shoulder then dropped it. “It’s no big deal. She’s a little too high maintenance for me anyway.”
Steve saluted him with his water. “Winner, winner, chicken dinner. She gave you an easy out.”
Winner? Maybe his friend was right about this working out in his favor. She was the one to push the eject button so there shouldn’t be any weirdness between them. They’d be working together, so he didn’t have a choice but to see her again.
“Yeah, it should be cool. Maybe I’ll steer clear of the D.A.’s office for a while, though. You can pick up the slack over there for a change.” He rose to his feet and began to get ready for the next part of their climb, Steve’s laughter ringing in his ears. All he had to do was avoid Kelsey, and they could both just go on with their lives.
The idea left him a little empty.
That morning Kelsey had dressed as usual in a beige suit and classic pumps to arrive at the office bright and early. In a show of defiance, she used a clip in her hair that let it flow free down her back instead of wearing it in a bun. The world saw a strong, self-assured woman regardless of the fact she never slept more than a few hours every night.
The day before, she’d met with Mrs. Bradly and fallen in love with the little one bedroom apartment. An outside stairway led up from the side of the garage that would give them both some privacy. They agreed on terms and her move-in date.
Samantha lifted her hand in a wave as Kelsey passed by on the way to her assigned office. She locked her purse in the desk drawer and wandered down the hall in search of a much-needed coffee fix.
The aroma of ambrosia met her when she entered the break room, and she hurried to fill one of the cups sitting on the counter.
An attractive blond man strode in to get a refill. She recognized the familiar fragrance of his expensive aftershave, but the excessive amount he wore made her nose wrinkle. His designer suit screamed I’m important. He’d gelled his hair and combed it straight back. The type of guy she used to date. Now, the style made him appear slightly effeminate.
“Morning.” He joined her at the coffee machine.
She smiled and moved to the side to give him more room. He finished pouring before he turned back to her.
“I’m Michael Miller and you must be Kelsey. I was in court all day Friday, so I didn’t meet you. Did you get settled in okay?”
“I’m a little nervous, but Redding seems to be a great city. It’s exciting to be in an area that experiences all the different seasons. In Texas, we have hot and dry or hot and wet.”
“Believe me, it can get wet here, too, during the winter. And the summer is always warm and dry, but everything else in between is fantastic.”
“Are you from Redding?”
“Born and raised, so I’m familiar with all the local spots. I’d be happy to show you around and help you get acclimated.”
The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as someone walked up behind her. She gave an internal groan. With her luck, who else would it be? Her unexpected physical reaction to Bode had left her a little off balance.
“Well now, I sure do hate to interrupt this little welcome to the neighborhood, but some of us are on the clock.” Bode acknowledged the other man with a slight nod as he
Bode took a long swallow from his water bottle. “It wasn’t that kind of date. She’s David Reyes’ little sister. He hired her to work in his office. Since she’s new in town, I offered to take her to dinner.”
Steve’s eyes danced with amusement. “Shot you down, huh?”
“Like a duck during teal season. But she did assure me that it was about her, not me.” His laughter died away. “I believe her exact words were, I don’t date cops .”
Steve winced in sympathy. “Ouch.” His partner understood how much this job meant to him.
He lifted one shoulder then dropped it. “It’s no big deal. She’s a little too high maintenance for me anyway.”
Steve saluted him with his water. “Winner, winner, chicken dinner. She gave you an easy out.”
Winner? Maybe his friend was right about this working out in his favor. She was the one to push the eject button so there shouldn’t be any weirdness between them. They’d be working together, so he didn’t have a choice but to see her again.
“Yeah, it should be cool. Maybe I’ll steer clear of the D.A.’s office for a while, though. You can pick up the slack over there for a change.” He rose to his feet and began to get ready for the next part of their climb, Steve’s laughter ringing in his ears. All he had to do was avoid Kelsey, and they could both just go on with their lives.
The idea left him a little empty.
That morning Kelsey had dressed as usual in a beige suit and classic pumps to arrive at the office bright and early. In a show of defiance, she used a clip in her hair that let it flow free down her back instead of wearing it in a bun. The world saw a strong, self-assured woman regardless of the fact she never slept more than a few hours every night.
The day before, she’d met with Mrs. Bradly and fallen in love with the little one bedroom apartment. An outside stairway led up from the side of the garage that would give them both some privacy. They agreed on terms and her move-in date.
Samantha lifted her hand in a wave as Kelsey passed by on the way to her assigned office. She locked her purse in the desk drawer and wandered down the hall in search of a much-needed coffee fix.
The aroma of ambrosia met her when she entered the break room, and she hurried to fill one of the cups sitting on the counter.
An attractive blond man strode in to get a refill. She recognized the familiar fragrance of his expensive aftershave, but the excessive amount he wore made her nose wrinkle. His designer suit screamed I’m important. He’d gelled his hair and combed it straight back. The type of guy she used to date. Now, the style made him appear slightly effeminate.
“Morning.” He joined her at the coffee machine.
She smiled and moved to the side to give him more room. He finished pouring before he turned back to her.
“I’m Michael Miller and you must be Kelsey. I was in court all day Friday, so I didn’t meet you. Did you get settled in okay?”
“I’m a little nervous, but Redding seems to be a great city. It’s exciting to be in an area that experiences all the different seasons. In Texas, we have hot and dry or hot and wet.”
“Believe me, it can get wet here, too, during the winter. And the summer is always warm and dry, but everything else in between is fantastic.”
“Are you from Redding?”
“Born and raised, so I’m familiar with all the local spots. I’d be happy to show you around and help you get acclimated.”
The small hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as someone walked up behind her. She gave an internal groan. With her luck, who else would it be? Her unexpected physical reaction to Bode had left her a little off balance.
“Well now, I sure do hate to interrupt this little welcome to the neighborhood, but some of us are on the clock.” Bode acknowledged the other man with a slight nod as he
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