Perfect Partners?. C.J. Carmichael

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СКАЧАТЬ was looking at her steadily, his arms folded on the table, his body leaning forward. Close up like this, she couldn’t help but be aware of his broad shoulders and solid muscles.

      “We worked together for a year and I still don’t know anything about your personal life.” The power in his gaze lessened, was replaced with curiosity. “You never talked about family or friends. Never mentioned a boyfriend—ex, or otherwise.”

      “I’m not much for chitchat. Especially at work.” She took another bite of the pie, trying again to appreciate the rich flavor and creamy texture.

      “No. Clearly you have your friends for that.”

      She grimaced at his reference to the fact that she’d been eating—worse yet, drinking—alone. “Hey, these people are my friends. Wendy and Mark.” She waved her pastry-and custard-covered fork in the direction of the bar. “Those losers watching the baseball game.”

      “Right. Bosom buddies, I can tell.” He leaned into his seat and shook his head at her. “So how were the rest of the job interviews? Did you hire anyone?”

      She considered lying. But he’d find out soon enough. “No,” she admitted. “But we’re running the ad again this week. I’m sure someone suitable will turn up.”

      At least she could hope. She’d tried so hard to find potential in the two other applicants she’d met this afternoon. But one had been a disorganized mess, the other curt to the point of rudeness. Even good-hearted Nadine had agreed that neither one of them could possibly work.

      “How about a one-month trial period?” Nathan suggested. “If either one of us isn’t happy, we’ll call it a learning experience and move on.”

      It was a tempting offer. “You still talking about a partnership?”

      “Of course.”

      She shook her head, reluctantly. “I’ve gotten used to working on my own.” She took the last bite of pie, then dug into her leather bag for the envelope he’d given her earlier. “You might as well take this back.”

      “The case didn’t interest you?”

      “Hell, yes, it interested me. But it’s yours. I have no idea how you landed such a plum assignment, but with contacts like yours, why do you need me? You can set up your own business simply enough.”

      “I’m not interested in working alone. You’re already established and I think our skills are complementary. Why not team up and make the most of them?”

      He was making a strong case, but so far neither one of them had mentioned the other reason partnering up again might not be such a great idea. She studied the depths of his warm, brown eyes, and wondered if he’d forgotten about that night.

      If he had, it was probably for the best.

      “Why didn’t you tell me the real reason you left the force?”

      His eyes became guarded, and his mouth tightened. “I figured you’d have read the papers.”

      “I don’t make it past the front page very often. But I happened to be talking to Kate Cooper today and she filled me in. Those hypocrites. I can’t believe they hung you out to dry.”

      “Politics. Lieutenant Rock said not to take it personally.” His laugh was short, and hard.

      “And what did you say to that?”

      “What do you think? I don’t often lose my cool—”

      “I’ll say.”

      He raised his eyebrows at the interruption. “But that day I did.” He allowed a small smile. “Felt damn good, too.”

      “Maybe you’re human after all, Fisher.”

      Wendy came out of the kitchen with a potpie for Nathan. She always wore her dark hair tied back, but one strand usually defied orders and needed to be tucked behind her ear at periodic intervals. Wendy did this now as she hesitated at their table.

      “I recognize you,” Wendy said. “Your picture was in the paper. You’re the cop who shot that rich lawyer’s kid.”

      Resignation, pain, anger…Lindsay wasn’t sure which emotion flashed over Nathan’s face, in the brief instant before he was able to compose himself.

      “That’s me.”

      “The press hung you out to dry, but we weren’t fooled.” She glanced at Mark, who was drying glasses behind the bar, but keeping an eye on them at the same time. “That kid deserved every ounce of trouble you gave him, and then some. So how did things end up for you? You get fired?”

      “No, actually, my name was cleared last week. Then I quit.”

      “Yeah? I didn’t see anything about that in the paper.”

      “The story ran this Wednesday. A short article near the end of the section. I’m not surprised you missed it.”

      Lindsay was appalled. “So they tar and feather you in the headlines, then exonerate you in the back pages? That stinks.”

      Nathan heaved his big shoulders. “That’s life in the fast lane.”

      “Hang on,” Wendy said. “I’m bringing you another mineral water. On the house.”

      Lindsay smiled as she watched Wendy hurry back to the bar. “You sure won her over.”

      Nathan poked his dinner with his fork, then lifted his gaze. “More important—have I won you over?”

      Lindsay hesitated. Despite her reservations, he was wearing her down. “I’ll think about it,” she finally allowed.

      “Think fast,” he said. “This is a time limited offer.”

      AS NATHAN EASED THE DEAD BOLT into position, he heard his sister creep down the stairs.

      “Quiet.” She held a finger to her lips. “Justin finally fell asleep.”

      He nodded, slipped off his shoes, then made his way silently to the kitchen. Mary-Beth followed, going straight for the fridge.

      “Are you hungry? I could whip up a stir-fry with the leftovers from dinner.”

      “I’m starving,” he admitted. The chicken potpie at the dive Lindsay seemed to love had been inedible. He didn’t know how she kept her great figure on such a terrible diet. “But I can make my own dinner. You sit for a minute.”

      “I don’t mind,” Mary-Beth tried to insist.

      “Well, I do. I am the better cook, you know.” It was so not true. He was trying to goad her into retaliating. Maybe even coax a smile from her weary-looking face. But his younger sister just melted into her chair and sank her arms and head to the table.

      “What comes after the terrible twos? Please tell me it’s the terrific threes.”

      “I haven’t got СКАЧАТЬ