Body Heat (Simply 4)

She blinked hard. He’d never shouted at her before.

“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Jake asked.

She shrugged lightly. “I did good, didn’t I?”

He lowered his hands from her face, probably to stop himself from squeezing her to death, Brianne thought.

“You could have gotten yourself killed.”

Her stomach churned at the thought.

“Why didn’t you call me instead of the department?”

She understood his anger and frustration. But she’d entered that store in part to keep Jake out of danger and in part to make sure Ramirez stayed behind bars this time. Calling Jake would have been an emotional reaction, so she’d refrained.

“Because I was afraid Ramirez’s lawyer would say any evidence I got was tainted. Is that the right word? You’re not on official duty and you have a grudge. I didn’t want him to claim entrapment and get off again.” She shrugged, and when he didn’t reply, she continued. “I was protecting you and your case. And afterward, I wanted to call you but the police wouldn’t let me. They said they’d handle things from here, put me in this patrol car and—”

His sharp exhale told her he’d accepted her explanation, although he was by no means calmer. “You need to give your statement, and then we’re going home,” he said tersely.

“I already gave information to an officer.”

“Lieutenant Thompson wants to talk to you, and you’ll need to give an official statement downtown. Then we’re going back to the penthouse and you’re not leaving there until Ramirez is behind bars.”

“Now that’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

“You don’t want to test me right now, Brianne.”

His anger was palpable. So was his fear. He braced one arm on top of the back seat and leaned close. His masculine scent wrapped around her, overpowering her in the confines of the small car.

“You want to do exactly as I say and let me take you home.”

Her stomach did an excited flip at his insistent, severe tone. Reaching up, she touched her fingers to his cheek, then let them roam downward until she found the muscle in his jaw and massaged the side of his face. “I’m sorry I scared you,” she said softly.

He remained outwardly unaffected by her touch. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if Ramirez had gotten a hold of you?”

She shivered. “He didn’t.”

“He could have.”

Neither his tone nor his expression showed any sign of softening, and her heart pounded in her chest. “Jake…”

Just then, a thunderous voice called his name and pounded on the top of the car. “Lowell, get the hell out here.”

“Sounds like someone’s not thrilled with you.” Brianne tried to see who was out there and couldn’t.

“Pretty much how I’m feeling about you right now,” Jake muttered.

She cringed when another thump sounded on the roof. “Now,” the male voice yelled.

She crossed her arms over her chest, bracing her hands around her forearms. “You’re being summoned.” And none too soon, she thought.

Jake nodded, then jerked open the car door and jumped out, slamming the door closed before she could make an exit of her own.

That was okay, Brianne thought. She could use the time to figure out how to neutralize Jake’s fury. Though she felt awful about scaring him, she refused to back down as if she’d done anything wrong. She’d put Jake first, before her fear. If given the choice again, she’d do the exact same thing.

AFTER AN EXHAUSTING couple of hours at the police station, Jake took Brianne home to the penthouse. The cops had confiscated the drugs, more than they’d thought they would get in one take, had herded up the restaurant employees and taken them downtown for questioning. Both Thompson and Jake felt certain one of them would give up Ramirez. No doubt about it—thanks to Brianne, they were this close to nailing the ringleader.

But Jake was beyond furious that she’d taken the risk and had no intention of letting up on her until she understood the gamble she’d taken and the peril she could have put herself in. For a woman who’d suffered a childhood fear of risk and sought to back away from people who thrived on the same, she had done something shocking. But knowing how Brianne had always taken control of her life, he realized now that he shouldn’t have been surprised—just pissed at himself for not out-thinking her first. Now he’d settle for dimming her enthusiasm.