The Watson Brothers. Lori Foster

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      “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

      Giving him a sloe-eyed look, she said, “Even as a miserable drunk, you’re sexy. I spotted you the second I stepped inside.”

      He tried to close his ears, doing his best to tune out her stirring comments….

      “Every woman in the bar noticed you.”

      “No shit?” Now that cheered him up. “I like that.”

      She went back to moping.

      Sam looked around. The crowd had finally dispersed with only a few lingerers still standing around. Fuller was headed back toward him with a pen and pad, no doubt ready to take his fictitious statement just in case anyone should notice.

      He stretched out his legs and bumped his big feet into her strappy, high-heeled sandals. She had her toenails painted pink. “So tell me this, Einstein. Have you ever seen me drunk before?”

      A little wary, she said, “No.”

      “But you know I’m a cop, right?”

      “Undercover. Lots of commendations. Heralded for being fearless by many, called careless by some, me included. But I know you’re a good cop, Sam.”

      She surprised him with that string of mixed praise and censure, making him shake his head. “Yet you came charging into what could have been a very dangerous situation.”

      Her lips tightened; her shoulders hunched more. In a nearly imperceptible whisper, she grouched, “I thought you were getting hurt.”

      Sam’s temper snapped. “And so you thought you, a pintsized beautician, would dash to my rescue? Ha! Do you know what could have happened to you—what could have happened to me because you got in the way?” It took all he had not to shake her. “God save me from illogical women.”

      Ariel shot to her feet. “Shut up, Sam. Just…shut up.” Her entire puny body vibrated with anger, and she actually stomped one small foot. “You are so incredibly insufferable with all your endless harping.”

      Fuller said, “Now, now, kiddies. Let’s play nice for the remaining spectators.”

      Pinning her with his gaze, Sam stared at her but spoke to the officer. “Ask me a question, Fuller.”

      “Right. Uh, how about…”

      “Good enough. Here’s my answer. Ariel, I want to know what the hell you were doing in that damn bar. And don’t give me that garbage about it being none of my business because the second you blundered into things, it became my damn business.”

      Fuller pretended to write, nodding and smiling like a half-wit.

      Mutinous, Ariel looked down her nose at him. “And if I don’t tell you?”

      A challenge. Sam almost rubbed his hands together. “If you don’t,” he said with a lot of glee, “I’ll run your skinny little ass in.”

      Her mouth fell open and she sputtered. “For what, exactly?”

      “Indecent exposure?” He dropped his gaze to her partially displayed breast so she wouldn’t misunderstand.

      She snatched the material higher. “Pig.”

      “Yeah, yeah. Real original insult for a cop. I’ve never heard that one before.”

      She turned away, came back, glared at him. “For your information, nosey, I was making sure.”

      His brows rose. “Making sure about what?”

      As if awaiting the rest of her statement, Fuller looked at her. “Go on, Miss.”

      She huffed. “I was making sure there wasn’t someone else who appealed to me.”

      Confused, Sam asked, “Someone other than Pete?”

      Exasperation shown on her face. “Pete and I were never more than friends.”

      Sam’s jaw locked. “That wasn’t how Pete felt.”

      “And I’m responsible for that? I told him from the first day we met that I only wanted to be friends, and he agreed. When he finally admitted to me how he really felt, that he expected more, that’s when I quit seeing him at all.”

      “And broke his damn fool heart in the process.”

      She swallowed. “I never meant to hurt him. He knows that. Besides, he’s dating someone else now.”

      That was news to Sam. “He is?”

      Nodding, Ariel explained, “That’s why I was here. I waited until Pete found a girlfriend before…”

      “Before?”

      Her eyes narrowed. “Before making sure.”

      Sam threw up his hands. The woman just refused to make sense.

      Fuller tilted his head. “I’m fascinated, really.”

      Sam turned to Fuller with a growl. “Officer, haven’t you got enough there?”

      “You never let me have any fun.”

      “Your idea of fun must be a toothache.”

      Ariel looked ready to spit. “If I’m such a pain—”

      “You are that.”

      “Then I’ll be on my way.” Shoulders squared, her chin lifted in regal disdain, she started around Fuller.

      Sam crossed his arms. “Just where the hell do you think you’re going now?”

      “Back into the bar.”

      “Like that?” He nodded at her torn dress.

      “Oh.” She stared down in dismay at the long rip. “Well, I suppose that might not be a good idea.”

      “But jumping into the middle of a brawl is?”

      Her neck stiffened. “Brawl?” One slim brow arched high. “All I saw was you getting your butt kicked.”

      Insulted, Sam snorted, but not with much conviction this time. Surely, she didn’t believe such an asinine thing. He’d been undercover, damn it, unable to fight back without messing up his cover.

      But she looked serious, so he said, “You believed that act? Hey, I must be pretty good.”

      “Why wouldn’t I believe it? I thought you were drunk.”

      She was serious. It was Sam’s turn to shoot to his feet. Leaning forward in an aggressive stance, he poked a thumb into his chest. “Even drunk, I could take that guy. With one arm broken, I could flatten him. He was nothing.”

      She looked at her СКАЧАТЬ