Series: Little Cakes Series by Pepper North
Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Men didn’t have that problem. Wyatt didn’t have to prove himself to every new cop who joined. Just Avery. It was annoying, but she took it in stride and worked her ass off to be respected.
Now this.
Fuck.
After washing her hands and splashing water on her face, she dabbed the perspiration from her green skin, put her mask back on, and took a deep breath. She had her car keys in the pocket of her robe. All she needed to do was make her way out the front door without anyone stopping her and maybe…maybe…Trace Barnes wouldn’t find out her identity.
Chapter Three
“Where did you disappear to last night?” Wyatt asked Avery the next morning as they met up in the parking lot and headed into the station.
“I went home,” she told him. “I was tired. It was a long day.”
“Uh huh. So it didn’t have anything to do with the fact that our new boss showed up with a guest pass?” He shoulder-bumped her.
She shot him a glare. “Please tell me you didn’t mention I was there.”
Wyatt’s eyes went wide. “Of course not. I spoke to him briefly. Introduced myself so he wouldn’t be surprised when he saw me at work. I would never break your confidence. You were wearing a mask. I assume if he saw you, he wouldn’t have known it was you.”
She inhaled slowly and let her breath out as she set her hand on the door, not yet pulling it open. “I ran into him. Literally. I was shocked and didn’t reveal myself, and I went home.”
“Okay.” His brow was furrowed with concern. “You do realize you have just as much a right to be a member of a fetish club as he does, right?”
“No. See, that’s where you’re wrong. I’m judged at a higher standard.” Avery squeezed the door handle tighter.
Wyatt nodded slowly. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
“In theory you’re also right, but I’ve already had a run-in with the new captain. It was a bit embarrassing on more than one level. I’d rather not add my membership to Blaze to his list of things he knows about me. Not yet. Not ever if I can avoid it.”
Wyatt frowned. “And how will you avoid that?”
“By not attending.” She pulled the door open and stepped inside, hoping he heard the strong, firm period at the end of that statement.
“Avery…”
She spun around as they reached their desks and held up a finger. “Closed subject.” To give herself something to do, she yanked open her drawer and pulled out the dreaded stack of papers that needed attention. Avery felt him watching her every move. Deliberately settling her hands on the pile to remind him of the work she needed to finish, Avery raised her head until she looked directly into his eyes. She waited, holding his gaze and letting the silence become deafening.
He lifted both palms. “Okay. For now.”
“Hey,” a strong voice said from behind Avery.
She spun yet again at the sound of that voice. She’d only heard it twice, but already she knew it well. She swallowed as she faced her new boss. He wasn’t supposed to start until Monday. This was Thursday. Why was he here?
“Captain. Sir.” It was the only thing she could think to say.
He held out a hand. “I thought I would formally introduce myself. Trace Barnes.” His eyes danced yet again, the same way they had yesterday when she’d pulled him over. “So, you’re not actually a zombie. I wasn’t sure.”
She groaned inside and swallowed. “No, Sir.” What a dumb response. Why was she so tongue-tied with him?
He shook Wyatt’s hand next, glancing back and forth between the two of them. “Wyatt Hazelton and Avery Reynolds, right? You’re partners?”
“Yes, Sir,” Wyatt confirmed.
“It might take me a bit to learn everyone’s names, but I’m working on it.” He turned back toward Avery, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end.
He hadn’t mentioned a word about seeing Wyatt last night, which showed he knew it would be inappropriate. She prayed that didn’t mean he also knew he’d seen her and was choosing not to speak of it.
So what if he had seen her? Would it be so bad? If he had known it was her, that didn’t mean he knew anything else about her. He wouldn’t know she was Little, and that was the part she really didn’t want revealed. She shuddered at the thought.
“I thought you didn’t start until Monday, Sir,” Wyatt commented.
“I don’t. I wanted to come in today and get the lay of the land, so to speak. Meet some people. I’d like to set up private meetings with each officer so I can get to know you all better. Are either of you in a hurry this morning? Could you take a few minutes to meet with me?”
Avery licked her lips. “That’s fine, Sir. We can do that before we head out.”