Body Heat (Simply 4)

His voice deepened, and Brianne couldn’t help feel his obvious love and concern for his sister. The softer part of him showed once more and beckoned to her in a way that threatened her ability to maintain distance. His caring for others—Frank’s family and his sister—was something she could relate to. She shivered at the notion because their kiss proved she was already having a tough time steering clear of the connection between them. The more they had in common, the harder it was to remain unaffected by him. California, a stable existence, a life of my own, she reminded herself. She could have none of those if she got involved with Jake.

Jake watched Brianne closely. Her wariness didn’t surprise him. Hell, after that explosive kiss he was pretty uptight himself.

Twice now they’d proven that each time they got together, they ended in a clinch neither expected and neither could control. Not good for a man who’d promised himself he’d maintain distance and a clear head. But around Brianne, distance was impossible and so was rational thinking. Just knowing he’d put personal restrictions against being with this woman made him more frustrated and uptight than he could ever remember being.

“Rina needs you,” Brianne said, bringing him back to the present. “All the more reason for you to forget the guilt and be glad you’re alive—for your sister’s sake.” Her eyes flickered with banked emotion.

Jake would learn to live with the guilt, as soon as he had Ramirez behind bars. He cleared his throat. “Well, Rina doesn’t need to worry. I’m fine, and you’ll be able to tell her that as soon as she returns.”

“I’ll tell her the truth. If you cooperate, she’ll know that. If you give me a hard time, she’ll hear about that, too.”

And that was exactly what bothered him about this deal Rina had made with Brianne. He couldn’t have Brianne reporting his cooperation back to the woman who paid her salary, or Brianne working on his shoulder and discovering exactly how mobile he actually was. Either way, Jake was in deep.

She swung her feet back and forth. “You do realize you can’t afford to fool around, not if you want full range of motion back.”

The telephone rang and Brianne jumped, obviously startled by the unexpected interruption. Bound by heating pads, Jake motioned toward the portable phone set up in the corner. “Would you get that for me?”

She nodded and brought the handset to him.

“Lowell.”

“It’s Duke. A guy ODed on some bad shit. The girlfriend’s in critical condition. It’s Vickers’s case, but he called me. Nothing coherent’s come out of her yet and the hospital’s restricted her visitors, but they promised as soon as it was okay they’d give us a go-ahead to talk to her. It’s possible we can piece together some kind of lead on Ramirez once she comes to.”

“Pick me up in five.”

“If the lieutenant finds out you’re sniffing around an active case and a potential witness…”

“So don’t tell him.” Jake slammed down the phone and found himself face-to-face with Brianne’s wide, curious, gorgeous green eyes.

“No therapy?”

He’d walked out on women before, but, damn, why did the disappointment in this one’s tone hit him like a punch in the gut? He shook his head. “Something’s come up.” And he couldn’t tell her a thing.

“I thought you were off duty. On leave.”

He let out a groan. “I am. This is…about my friend’s family. The one I just told you about. One of the kids is having a problem…”

“Say no more.” She jumped up and began to unwrap the heating pads from his back and shoulder. “You don’t owe me a detailed explanation. I don’t like it, but this can wait.” Understanding and compassion filled her expression, making Jake feel like a first-class heel for lying and for ducking out on her.

She understood and didn’t question. Even his ex-wife had never done that. Everything he’d worried about and sought to avoid since Rina’s revelation about inviting Brianne to live here was coming to pass. “Thanks.” He shook his head, not knowing what else to say.

“Take care of your friend’s family.” Brianne knelt down and tossed him his shirt.

He slipped the wide-necked cutoff over his head, and his arms followed. He struggled a bit and winced slightly, but not nearly as much as he should have, Jake realized when he caught Brianne’s knowing gaze.

Arms folded over her chest, foot tapping against the floor, she looked at him and frowned. “When you get back we can talk about your real need for therapy. And your so-called need for me.”

CHAPTER FIVE

JAKE NEEDED BRIANNE. Needed her in his bed. Needed her in his life. Needed an affair that wouldn’t deny him everything about her he desired. Mostly he had to get the woman out of his system before his obsession with her completely consumed him.

He’d been standing at the crime scene watching Forensics work. If he wasn’t good friends with the guys on duty he’d have been tossed out on his ass, but they’d let him stay as they picked through the remnants of a romantic dinner gone wrong. Yet, instead of focusing on details, Jake had been thinking of Brianne.

When he’d seen the half-empty glasses of wine, he’d envisioned her taking a seductive sip, licking the fruity liquid off her lips and letting him taste it on her tongue. And when he’d gotten a glimpse of the leftovers from dinner, he’d been remembering Brianne’s nearly orgasmic groans of satisfaction while eating a simple slice of pizza. He’d been so wrapped up in memories and what could be that he’d nearly missed an important piece of evidence, one the detectives hadn’t gotten to yet.

Wrappers from a place called The Eclectic Eatery, the sister restaurant to a place that originally had opened in the Village, had littered the table. Nothing unusual about take-out garbage from the newest trendy hot spot frequented by grad students, Jake thought. But beside them lay what looked like dinner mints—colored candy-like mints that probably weren’t—lying out in plain sight. But there was no proof the goods came from The Eclectic Eatery.

Seconds after Jake pointed out the scattered pieces, the gloved Forensics guys had bagged the candy or pills or whatever the hell they were. But one of the tablets had a designer signature similar to the one Ramirez used on his goods. Thanks to Louis’s overblown ego, he’d overestimated his own intelligence and had had a stamp made that identified his goods instead of using the generic labels other dealers relied upon. Jake had had no doubt the scum would get back into business. He’d just figured the guy would be smart enough to change his M.O.