“Oh, you.” She tossed a wet rag his way. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Speak for yourself.” His mouth tipped upward in a grin, showing dimples that charmed many women and brought in a harem most weekend nights.
Brianne was grateful for his friendship and support, but he hadn’t appealed to her that way—not the way Jake had. And though Jimmy had asked her out, he’d always respected the boundaries of friendship and accepted her no’s after the first couple of easy letdowns. With all they had in common, he’d become her closest friend and her brother’s male role model when he was home from boarding school.
“Seriously, though, if this guy puts any moves on you, you give me a call.”
Brianne stifled a cough, knowing any moves Jake made wouldn’t be unwanted, just unwise. “Thanks, but I’ll be fine.” She slung her bag over her shoulder, refusing to let even Jimmy see her bad case of nerves over taking this new job. “And you lay off the cigarettes, okay? They’ll kill you if some woman doesn’t do it first,” she said with a grin.
He shook his head and laughed. “I’ll be at your place bright and early to help you move in.” He ignored the cigarette reference, just as she’d expected.
“You’re a prince, Jimmy.”
“That’s what they all say. You aren’t angry at me for setting this up, are you?”
“How can I be angry when you dug me out of a deep hole? I finally see daylight. I’m grateful, even if you do have a big mouth.” She grinned, letting him know she was joking. Gossip was a hazard of his bartending occupation. She couldn’t fault him.
“You’ll keep in touch?”
She nodded. “You bet. Tell Kellie I’ll call.” She had a hunch after one night in the penthouse with Jake, she’d be needing both Jimmy and Kellie’s differing gender advice. She also had her friends at the hospital, especially Sharon, another physical therapist in whom she could confide. But there was something about Jake she wanted to keep close and private, share with as few people as possible, Brianne thought.
“Take care, Bri.”
She walked around the bar and gave her best friend a hug, then she strode out into the humid evening air. Heat wafted upward from the sidewalk, but Brianne had a feeling her nights were about to get even hotter.
THE PRECINCT smelled familiar, Jake realized as he walked into the place. Musty and old with linoleum floors and chipped-paint walls, it had been the place he’d called home for many years. He’d joined the force straight out of state college and never looked back. Until now.
Nodding as he passed people in the hall, Jake entered the squad room and pulled up a chair by a metal desk. “Hey, Duke.”
“Jake, buddy, how are you doing?” Duke Russell, his good friend and fellow detective, slid his chair back and stood, clapping him on the back.
Jake swallowed hard and refrained from wincing. “Hanging in.” He settled himself into a nearby chair. “Any news on Ramirez?” Duke and Steve Vickers were feeding Jake information.
“We can keep this between us?”
“Haven’t we always?”
Duke nodded his head. “Nothing’s changed. Like I’ve been telling you, Ramirez walked out of the courtroom and, from all reports, he’s living a clean—albeit sleazy—life. Not that we’ve stopped keeping tabs on him.”
“Well, damn.” Jake reached over and grabbed a box of Tic Tacs from the corner of Duke’s desk, shaking one into his hand and popping it into his mouth. The fresh peppermint cleared his palate but not the residual sour taste from a case gone bad. He leaned forward and spoke low. “Ramirez can’t stay clean forever. His girlfriend claims sh
e hasn’t seen him.”
“You’re on injury leave, and I told you Vickers would take care of that shit on patrol. You’re supposed to be coordinating from home. What the hell are you doing talking to Ramirez’s girlfriend? The lieutenant will have your ass if he finds out.”
Jake shrugged. “What the hell’s he going to do? Throw me off the force?” Jake didn’t know if he wanted to be there, anyway. He only knew he wasn’t leaving this case open, and as long as Ramirez was walking the street, free to peddle drugs to kids and take down good men, the case remained unsettled.
“Lowell!” The barking voice reverberated through the room. That bark had intimidated more junior officers than Jake had fingers on both hands, but he’d never let the lieutenant mess with his head. As a result, a grudging respect had developed over the years. Lieutenant Thompson didn’t appreciate Jake’s often renegade style, but as long as Jake didn’t cross the line, the lieutenant gave him leeway. Each respected the other’s boundaries.
But this injury had tested both men. Thompson wanted his detective back; Jake wanted to take his time, first on Ramirez and then on deciding what the hell life had in store. Opposing goals with no middle ground.
Until Brianne, Jake thought, realization dawning. He’d thought having her around would cause nothing but problems, but she’d just given Jake a means of keeping Thompson happy and buying himself time. He hadn’t told the lieutenant he’d been in therapy before because Thompson knew his therapist Alfonse, and Alfonse couldn’t lie worth a damn if questioned. But if anyone talked with Brianne, she’d tell the truth—Jake was being a pain in the ass and she was working on him slowly.
Jake rose from his seat and turned. “Afternoon, Lieutenant.”
“I thought I told you I didn’t want to see your sorry ass in here unless you were in rehab.”
Jake inclined his head. “Never say I don’t follow orders, Lieutenant.”