Body Heat (Simply 4)

Thompson waved a hand in dismissal. “I said I don’t want to know. Not until this is over and Ramirez is behind bars. For now, get your ass into the physician’s office and get yourself certified as fit.”

Jake nodded, knowing he had no choice if he wanted in on the official end of busting Ramirez.

“Do I know everything now?” the lieutenant asked.

“Yes, sir.” Everything but the fact that Brianne was more than his physical therapist. If the lieutenant knew things were personal—and they were damn personal—he’d be even more furious than he already was.

This morning, she’d accepted him for who he was, cop and all. No woman had ever done that for him, not even the one he’d married. Jake hadn’t expected the gift from Brianne, not in light of her past, and certainly not after she’d discovered his betrayal. She’d deserved better from him.

“I want to talk to this Brianne Nelson.”

Jake started to argue, then shut his mouth. His gut reaction was to protect her, to leave her out of the loop. But he’d played the game that way once before and it had backfired. He hadn’t a clue if she planned to walk out on him when this was over, or what he intended to do about it. But he could only deal with the here and now. And Brianne could handle a talk with the lieutenant.

Jake planned to play things straight with her from here on out. “She gets off work at five. I’ll bring her down then.”

Thompson raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were her patient, nothing more. I’ll have her picked up and brought down here. You don’t need to act as her bodyguard.”

Jake would guard Brianne’s body with his last dying breath, but he wasn’t about to fight with Thompson now. Jake ignored the comment and decided to spring his plan on the lieutenant instead. “Since I’ve been out asking questions and making his life uncomfortable, Ramirez wants me as much as I want him. I figure we can set me up as a target—”

The phone rang, interrupting him.

“Thompson,” the lieutenant barked into the phone.

For the first time since Jake had walked into the office and leveled with his boss, the room grew silent. Finally Thompson said, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

He hung up the phone and eyed Jake with a glare that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle. “What’s up?”

“We’ve got our link between the drugs and The Eatery. Looks like we can shut the place down.”

Jake leaned his hands against the old metal desk and rose. “Let’s go. I’d like to shake the hand of the person who scored.”

“I’m going. You’re heading for a physical. But don’t worry. I’ll congratulate your girlfriend for you.” The lieutenant smirked, telling Jake he’d guessed about his personal relationship with Brianne.

“What?” The muscles in Jake’s back and shoulders tensed and his heart lodged somewhere between his chest and his throat.

“Apparently Brianne Nelson ditched the bodyguard you said was so good and went to The Eclectic Eatery, where she figured out the right request and scored. Then she called the cops. I don’t like a civilian involved, but we’re halfway home.”

The lieutenant looked damn pleased they’d connected the restaurant to the goods, but Jake’s gut clenched in pure fear. Brianne had put herself in danger, and if anything had happened to her…if he’d lost her before he had the chance to tell her he loved her…

He loved her. Why the hell hadn’t he realized it sooner?

“Your girlfriend’s got talent,” Thompson said.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Jake answered automatically, his thoughts still reeling from his realization. He ignored the lieutenant’s disgusted look. Jake never shared his private life, and despite his self-made promises to the contrary, he sought to protect Brianne now. Again, when it was obvious she didn’t need his protection. Hell, she probably didn’t even need him.

But he needed her. Hell, he loved her, he thought once more. Admitting it to himself wasn’t half as hard as it should have been. The harder part would be admitting it to Brianne…and seeing if she walked anyway.

If she was alive and well. “Is she…”

“She’s fine. Safe and talking to our guys. But if she’s not your girlfriend then why do you look like you’re going to bust a gut unless you get the hell out of here? I knew there was more to this story. You’re holding out on me again, Lowell. And I don’t like it.”

Jake knew when to shut up, so he remained silent. It was the only hope he had of joining Thompson to see Brianne.

Thompson’s thoughts returned to the case. “With a little luck, any employee who’s scared enough of hard time will roll on Ramirez—if they can ID him. And we’ll have him behind bars.”

“If he doesn’t get Brianne first.” Jake started for the door.

“Stop!” Thompson barked.