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)
Brianne bit down on her lower lip and glanced at the cop in the front seat. Apparently he recognized Jake’s voice because he unlocked the doors and stepped out of the car. Minutes later, the front door swung shut, the back door flung open, and Brianne found herself facing Jake.
His face was flushed with anger, his jaw was clenched and his blue eyes were blazing with banked fury, but he remained silent. She winced in anticipation of the tirade she felt sure would come. He lifted his hands and braced her cheeks more strongly than was comfortable but still he said nothing.
She needed to break the tension. “Jake?”
He responded in the least expected way. He sealed his lips over hers, his mouth hard, hot and demanding. He didn’t ask, he took, and he pushed his tongue past her barely parted lips in a masterful act of possession. One so strong, she felt the pull both between her legs and deep inside. Sexually, he’d aroused her in an instant, but emotionally he tugged at her heart.
Just as she melted into him, he jerked his head back, breaking the kiss. “I needed to feel you were alive and okay.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair.
“I am.”
“I know. And now I can throttle you. What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled, the anger she’d expected flooding out.
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.