Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 364(@200wpm)___ 291(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“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.”
The older man snorted. “That’ll be the day.”
“No kidding. I’ve got myself my very own physical therapist. It’ll just take a while till I’m up to speed,” he said.
Thompson narrowed his eyes, his suspicion evident. “I won’t ask what changed your mind.”
“Good, because I wouldn’t tell you.”
Thompson turned his steely gaze toward Duke. “You’d better not be spilling department secrets.”
Duke shook his head. “It’s not like he’s an outsider.”
“He damn well is. At least until he aces his physical and gets his ass back in here.”
Jake laughed. “I think this is what they call talking about me like I’m not in the room.”
“Shut the hell up, Lowell.”
Jake shrugged and started for the door.
“Where are you going?” Thompson asked.
“Somewhere you won’t hear me talking, Lieutenant.” Jake infused his tone with the right amount of respect because he truly liked the older man and knew his superior had the department’s as well as Jake’s best interests at heart.
“I hear you in my sleep,” Lieutenant Thompson muttered, and Jake laughed, letting the door swing shut behind him.
In the stale-smelling hall, he slowed his steps, taking in what he knew so far. His perp was playing clean until he figured the cops were through with him. And though Lieutenant Thompson might know Jake was sniffing around, at least he now thought Jake was cooperating with therapy. He wouldn’t be too hard on him if he caught Jake looking into things behind the scenes. With his live-in therapist at work from nine to five, Jake had his daytime free to hunt around.
And he had his nights free for Brianne.
* * *
Brianne tripped on her shoelace and paused in front of the high-rise building that housed Rina’s penthouse on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. Jimmy had moved her in yesterday, and, to her surprise, Jake had made himself scarce. He’d shown her to her room, told her to make herself at home, and then left her to settle in, saying he had an appointment. She appreciated the respect and space he’d given her to acclimate alone to her new surroundings. When Jake was in there, the humongous apartment grew much smaller, and there seemed to be no air to breathe.
As she knelt down to tie her shoe, a humid breeze blew in the night, similar to the air that wafted through her window as she tried to sleep. Because the air-conditioning in the penthouse was cool and uncomfortable, and she’d hoped some familiarity would help her relax, she’d opened the window last night seeking the warmer air. But she’d tossed and turned, anyway, restless because of a heat that had nothing to do with Norton lying next to her or the outside temperature, and everything to do with the fire Jake ignited in her.
She double-knotted the lace, lingering over the simple task, avoiding going “home.” But eventually she had no choice. She stood, smoothing her dark green hospital scrubs and taking a deep breath for courage before facing Jake. She deliberately hadn’t changed after work, hoping the more professional she looked, the more professional she’d act. Even if Jake forced her to tease and cajole him into some form of cooperation, she planned to maintain distance.
It would take strength and fortitude not to succumb to her attraction to Jake, but she’d gathered that strength before, at the lowest point in her life. She’d just have to gather it again. Rina’s job gave her a means of achieving goals—the money to relocate to California and to continue to be close to the brother she’d raised.