Dash of Peril

CHAPTER EIGHT

SHE HADN’T REFUSED him, and already Dash could feel her quivering, the breathiness in her voice. Amazing, but it seemed they both stay primed around each other. He’d never experienced anything like it before.

The near violent way he wanted her, to fuck her, to talk with her, just to be with her, was fast becoming familiar.

His hand went down her body to her flat belly. “I could give you just a prelude if you want.” Fingers spread, he spanned her from hip bone to hip bone. Visualizing it even as he said it, he rasped, “I wouldn’t mind going on my knees for you.”

“Dash...” She gave a sharp inhalation. “That would be—”

“Incredibly hot.”

“—so unfair to you.”

“Not true.” He looked into her beautiful blue eyes. Voice rough and filled with lust, he whispered, “I would enjoy eating you.”

Involuntarily, her hand fisted in his shirt. She drew two deep breaths, and shook her head. “If you did that I would want more. A lot more.”

“Like me inside you? Sliding deep. Riding you hard.” Jesus, he was turning himself on. “Tell me you want it.” Tell me you want me.

“Yes.” Her fist loosened, smoothed his shirt, over his pec muscle. “I’m dying to feel that.”

“Soon,” he promised her.

“But I need to focus on my life first.”

Putting his forehead to hers, Dash concentrated on breathing. “Got it.” He wouldn’t pressure her. More than anything he just wanted to alleviate some of her burden. The next few days—probably the next few weeks—would not be easy on her.

“If you offer again later...”

“I’ll insist.” He couldn’t wait to kiss her everywhere, to taste her all over. Stop, he told his overactive imagination. He couldn’t very well take her on her errands with a perpetual boner. “For now, do you want a pain pill?”

“Better not.” She stepped back to look at his body, her expression concentrated. “God, you are sexy. I always thought so, but now...”

“You always thought so?” She’d sure hidden it well.

“Don’t be coy. You know you’re hot.”

He smiled, and the smile turned into a laugh. “I don’t think anyone would accuse me of being coy. And thank you. I’m glad you think so.”

“The thing is, it isn’t always about looks.”

Ah. “I see.” And he did. “It’s more about me understanding you, recognizing what you like, what your body likes and what you need. Because I understand you, you know I can get you off, and you know that you love it.”

“Do you understand me?”

In bed...and out. But she might not be ready to hear that yet.

He tucked a short curl behind her ear. “I can make you scream in a dozen different ways. Later, I’ll show you just a few.”

Eyes heavy, she looked up at him. “When I’m one hundred percent again, I want payback.”

His heart skipped a beat and his gut tightened. “Meaning?” he asked with a raised eyebrow.

Coasting a hand over his chest, she asked, “Have you ever been tied up?”

“No.” His level of trust didn’t quite stretch enough to put himself at anyone’s mercy. But maybe this was a test. Maybe she needed to know he’d play along before she could completely let loose. Tightening at that possibility, he asked, “You?” Because if that’s what she wanted, he was in, 100 percent.

She chose not to answer him. “Would you let me tie you up?”

Hell, no. “Guess that depends.” This conversation would not help him keep a boner at bay. “For what purpose, exactly?”

“Right now I can’t get my fill of you, not with only one hand, and not while this damn splint is in the way. But after I’m cleared by the doc, or before that if I can manage it, I’d like to have all the time in the world to look at you, touch you and taste you everywhere.”

An image of her riding him, her body holding him snug, her face taut with pleasure, nearly stole his breath. “You don’t have to restrain me for that. Just say the word and I’ll play along.”

“You say that now, but—”

He bent and took her mouth in a hot, wet, tongue-twining kiss. “Let’s see how it goes.” And hopefully he’d turn that idea around on her. He had a feeling Margo would love being totally at his mercy.

“How what goes?”

“You can try me first, and if it doesn’t work out the way you want, then maybe—maybe—I’ll let you tie me up.”

The idea stirred her, he could tell.

What he’d do to her, with her, would stir her more. “But until then, until you’re able to take full advantage, you’re still mine to play with. And I enjoy playing a lot.”

Closing her eyes and with a slight groan, she put her hand over his mouth. “Enough. I need to be totally clearheaded for a while and if you keep on teasing, I’ll be a muddled mess.”

Dash caught her wrist, kissed her palm and then lowered her hand. “I’ll be all business, I promise.” He, too, needed to get the fog of lust off his brain.

“You’re very considerate. Thank you.” She pushed back from him, her smile warm, teasing—and damn it, that turned him on more than the sex talk.

She rarely looked at him like that, and he relished it, seeing it as a sign that he made progress. “I understand skipping the pain pill.” For a woman like Margo, being totally clearheaded would be very important. “How about some aspirin instead?”

“Probably not a bad idea.”

And now being reasonable, too? He didn’t know what to think. They went into the kitchen together. Oliver had already retreated to a sunny spot in the living room. Dash put the makeshift ice pack away and got her the aspirin while she filled a glass with water.

He watched her take the OTC meds and knew she must be feeling a lot of discomfort for her to be so agreeable, given her aversion to all meds. “How’s your head?”

“It’s fine.” She went back to the table and sat with her coffee. “I need to call the insurance company, arrange for a rental car, and I should probably get hold of my commander.” She looked disgruntled over that last task.

“Any way I can help?”

“You’ve already done so much.”

“I want to be with you. Nothing I’ve done has been a hardship, believe me. In fact, I already took the next few days off. My foreman can handle anything that comes up, and when he can’t, he can reach me by phone.”

“Well, then, if you’re sure...would you might playing chauffeur today?”

“I was hoping you’d ask.” Honestly, keeping it together this morning hadn’t been easy. Not kissing her—especially with the way she looked at Rowdy—had been impossible.

Yeah, he wasn’t blind, and by her own admission he knew she considered Rowdy Yates prime material for fantasies. Rowdy seemed unaware or uncaring; he was probably well used to it, the likable bastard, and Avery didn’t appear threatened, either.

So why was he the only one on edge about it? It left him disgruntled all over again.

While he had the opportunity, he wanted to make an impression on Margo. Not just sexually, but in every way.

Surprising him, Margo propped her chin on her fist and let her gaze move all over him. “It might take me much of the day to get everything taken care of, but knowing what comes after will make the time pass more quickly.”

Meaning he’d be spending much of the day with her—and hopefully beyond. “Your appointment tomorrow is early and you’re still not supposed to drive.”

She gave him a hot look. “Angling to spend another night?”

“Absolutely.” And just to ensure he got the answer he wanted, he added, “Unless you’d rather have someone from your family, or Logan or Reese.”

She wrinkled her nose. “I’d call a cab first. Or take a bus. Or walk—”

“Then consider me at your service.”

Still in a rare teasing mood, she said, “I like the sound of that.” After finishing off her coffee, she used her cell phone to call her insurance adjuster. She knew where the station usually towed cars, so she shared that info while also making arrangements to pick up a rental tomorrow.

Dash enjoyed watching her in business mode. She was one of those women who, depending on the circumstances, could be a no-nonsense professional, a hard-nosed supervisor, or a soft sex kitten.

And if she knew his thoughts on that one, she’d probably kick him to the curb.

He started a small load of laundry so he’d have clean jeans to wear while she made a few more calls. When she finished half an hour later, he was just putting the clothes in the dryer.

Margo stood to indulge a one-arm stretch. “Guess I’d better go find something appropriate to wear, too. It won’t be easy. My wardrobe is not set up to accommodate this dumb splint.”

“Maybe I can help.”

“Now you’re good at women’s wardrobes?” She held up a hand. “No, never mind, don’t tell me. I assume you’re good at everything.”

“Let’s say adequate and leave it at that.” Dash followed her into the bedroom and went to her closet. When he opened the door, it again screeched. “Maybe while we’re out, if you’re feeling up for it, I could pick up some oil for the door.”

“Sure.” She stood next to him as he eyed her button-up blouses. “I need a few groceries anyway.”

Moving aside her clothes, he reached to the back corner of the closet and produced a pale blue blouse that looked more worn.

“That’s an older one,” she said. “It’s a little too tight now.”

She wore her work clothes and uniforms so tailored to a perfect fit that they almost completely hid her curves. It’d be nice to see her in something both businesslike and sexy. “So you won’t mind if we cut off the sleeve?” He turned to her. “That way it’ll go over the splint.”

Giving it only a moment’s thought, she nodded. “I have scissors in the bathroom.” She walked off but returned half a minute later.

Dash cut the sleeve for her, then helped her to dress. He enjoyed the intimate task. He enjoyed her.

So far, everything with Margo had been different. In some ways more intriguing. In most ways better.

She certainly never bored him.

Now that she was ready, he had to get dressed too. When he’d run them through the wash earlier, the blood had come out of his jeans, but he had to wear the flannel shirt Logan had brought him. At some point today he’d need to stop by his place to pick up more clothes.

Convincing Margo of that might be tricky, so he’d spring it on her later.

They had both just finished dressing when her landline rang.

Taking her time, Margo adjusted her sling, then searched out earrings.

“You’re not going to answer that?”

“I don’t want to get stuck on the phone. We have too much to get done this morning.”

We. Nice that she now included him, never mind that if the situation had been with any other woman, he might have been put off by the implied responsibility.

But Margo wasn’t any other woman, and it had been so tough to find a weakness in her walls, he wanted to take advantage of every toehold he could get.

Expertly, she slipped studs into her ears, but when Dash saw her struggling with the backs, he stepped up to help her. “What if it’s important?”

She held still while he fastened the earrings. After tidying a few of her short silky curls, she said, “The machine will pick up.”

As if on cue, Margo’s taped voice announced that the caller should leave a number and message.

A male voice said with suggestion, “Lieutenant, where are you? You’re supposed to be at home resting.”

Her rank was said with affection, almost as if the caller had said “honey” or “sweetheart” instead.

For a single heartbeat she went still, but just as quickly she shook it off. Striding to the safe, she rapidly touched the keypad entry with practiced ease and it opened. She withdrew a magazine-handcuff case combo that clipped onto her belt. After double-checking that it was loaded and ready to go, she slid a Glock into place.

While the caller on the line said her name again, waiting, maybe hopeful that she’d pick up, Dash approached her. “You’re not—”

“Leaving here unarmed? Of course not.” She slipped an expandable baton onto her belt also. “Usually my jacket conceals the weapons, but I’m not about to cut the sleeve off a suit coat.”

“Margaret?” The caller’s exasperation grew. “If you’re there, pick up damn it.”

Seeing her set expression, Dash said, “I take it the two of you are familiar?”

With a deliberate shrug in her voice, she said, “He’s my commander.”

Whoa. “And he curses you?” Not real professional. Unless they were also friends. Or more.

“As the commander, he thinks he can do whatever he wants.”

Before Dash could dig into that, the commander spoke again. “If you’re there and just not picking up, well, I hope you’re not avoiding me.”

Margo snorted.

“I prefer to think that you’re resting, but I have my doubts on that.”

“Smart man.” At Margo’s glare, Dash shrugged then said, “Are you resting? No.”

“I need you to understand,” the commander continued. “You’re off work until you get a doctor’s clearance. Period. I assigned Detectives Bareden and Riske to run the attempted murder/assault charge. And yes, we’re going to assume it was attempted murder, so don’t bother arguing with me.”

Her eyes narrowed.

Voice changing, the commander got more intimate. “If you need anything, you know you can call me. Not as your commander, but as a...friend.”

Friend, my ass. Slowly, Dash’s brows drew together.

“I’m serious, Margaret,” the commander went on, his tone as soothing as warm honey. “Anything you need. Anything at all.”

Trying to hide his temper, Dash said, “He sounds desperate.” And no wonder. The man had called her Margaret, not Margo, so he obviously hadn’t made much headway getting personal.

“I’ll be checking on you, Margaret, so try to behave.” The call ended.

“Condescending ass.” Margo walked over to the phone and deleted the call.

Dash noted her stiff shoulders, the compression of her mouth. “I think I heard him salivating.”

“Probably. He takes great pleasure in annoying me.”

Yeah. Not exactly what he’d meant.

No matter that the commander had run up against a brick wall, Dash felt pretty damned territorial again. “Annoying you isn’t what he was after. Was that a relationship gone sour that I just heard?”

“What? No. Like I said, he’s my commander. That’s all.”

“Then is it appropriate for him to hit on you?”

Her gaze shot to his. “That’s what you thought?” She laughed with contempt and headed to the kitchen. “You misread things.”

Dash followed. “You’re not naive, lady. He wants you.” Hell, who wouldn’t?

“No. He wants to grind me under.”

“Under him, yeah, I know.”

She rolled her eyes. “He wants to remind me at every opportunity that he’s a superior. That I answer to him.” She gathered steam. “Most of all he wants...”

When she fell silent, Dash grew suspicious. “What?”

She shook her head. “He knows my father.”

So? What did that have to do with anything? “He’s older, then?” If he was her father’s age—

“Twelve years older than me.”

That’d make him early forties. Not old at all. “Married?”

She looked away. “He divorced a few years back.”

And Dash would just bet he’d gone after Margo right off. “Unattractive?”

Oliver wrapped around her ankles and she knelt to give the cat some attention. “You’re being tedious, Dash. It doesn’t matter that he’s dropped in unannounced a few times, that he’s ingratiated himself into my home—which is why I didn’t answer, by the way. If I had, he would have asked to come visit and I’d rather not have to deal with him. That, or he’d know I wasn’t home and would come to lay in wait on me.”

“He’s done that before?”

She didn’t answer. “Since I didn’t answer, he probably thinks I’m sleeping and that’s for the best.”

“He already said he knows better.” Dash folded his arms. “And he wouldn’t want to come visit you so badly if he wasn’t a man personally involved.”

“You’re wrong. The commander is not interested in me that way.”

“Bullshit. I know a come-on when I hear it.”

“All right, fine. You want the nitty-gritty?” Since she couldn’t lift Oliver, Margo sat on the kitchen floor and leaned back on a cabinet. Oliver moved into her lap with a rumbling purr. “He’s actually considered a good catch. Silver hair, dark eyes. Tall, lean...he stays in shape. And he’s financially set enough to be flashy about it.”

Dash sat beside her. It was odd, sitting on the kitchen floor with a fat blind cat moving between them. Quietly, to help hide his sudden and uncomfortable jealousy, Dash asked, “Have you fucked him?”

She half choked. “God, no.”

Only a little appeased by her repulsed reaction, he pressed her. “Because you don’t want to mix work with pleasure?”

Watching the cat, she shrugged as if the reasons didn’t matter. “He’s friendly with my father, he’s autocratic and sexist, and he cheated on his wife.”

“That’s why they divorced?”

She shrugged. “All I know is that he inherited a nice vacation home and a lump sum of cash from his parents a few years back. Suddenly he started thinking he was Huge Hefner or something.” She tickled under Oliver’s chin. “Before that, he wasn’t such a bad guy.”

It was the cheating that ruled him out, Dash figured. “Definitely not your type.” The cat moved back into her lap, arching up to snuggle the top of his head to her chin. She kissed his bent ear, then hugged him.

Dash liked seeing her like this, comfortable, soft in her attentions to her pet, at ease with him.

Needing to touch her, he cupped her cheek and tipped her face up to his. “I guess we don’t need to go to the station now?”

Determination sparked in her eyes. “Oh, I’m still going.”

“You’ll ignore his orders?”

“You bet. Now forget the commander. I plan to.” Surprising him, she leaned in to give him a quick kiss. Before he could take advantage of that, she gave Oliver one more luxurious stroke from nape to tail, set him aside and pushed to her feet. “Let’s get going.”

Because he didn’t entirely understand the workings of the station, Dash didn’t debate it with her. He’d ask Logan later, and try to get an understanding of the pecking order. Obviously the commander had some clout, but enough to rein her in?

Apparently not.

Or, knowing how her mind worked, maybe Margo had a valid reason for ignoring the commander—and enough dirt on him to keep from getting in trouble for it.

GOING THROUGH THE STATION with Margo, Dash noted the attention she got from a dozen different officers and a few detectives. Some asked after her, others made a point of not staring too much. Seeing her injured must have been a real aberration for them.

Did they, like Logan and Reese, see her as Superman, impervious to hurt?

At that moment, his brother and Reese came around the corner, heading down the hallway together.

Their reactions were priceless.

“Damn.” Logan winced theatrically. “Either you bruise easy or you should be in the damned hospital still.”

Reese whistled. “You’re all psychedelic, Lieutenant.”

“Be quiet,” Margo said without heat, cutting off any real sympathy for her darkening bruises. “Where are you off to?”

Logan, holding a file, said, “I was just going to do some desk work.”

Reese checked his watch. “I was heading out, but I’ve got a few minutes.”

“We weren’t expecting you.” Still holding the file, Logan folded his arms over his chest. Suspicion sharpened his expression. “Should you be here?”

Giving him a dead-eyed stare, her tone clipped, she said, “In my office. Both of you.”

Dash couldn’t help but admire her. When necessary, the woman knew how to crack the whip.

“What the hell are you smiling about?” Logan demanded.

Dash quickly tried to wipe away his amusement.

Eyes narrowed, Margo glanced at him. “I won’t be long.”

“Take your time.” Since his brother worked here, Dash was familiar with the station. Finding his way around was a piece of cake.

All three of them watched Margo walk away, her step as strident as ever. Once she entered her office, Logan shot Dash a questioning look.

He held up the truck keys. “I drove.”

“Well, aren’t you handy to have around?” Reese elbowed Logan, but said to Dash, “She’s not supposed to be here.”

Dash rubbed the back of his neck. He didn’t want to betray a confidence, but he was pretty sure Reese and Logan were already aware of the situation. “The commander called her.”

“Dan Ford.” Logan stepped closer to keep their exchange private. “He said she was off the case until the doc releases her.”

“Yeah, she, ah—”

“Ignored him,” Reese filled in, his own words as quiet as Logan’s. Lifting both fists, he bumped them together and pretended they exploded. “That’s how well they get along.”

“Do you know why?”

“She’s stubborn, that’s why.” Reese smiled. “Stubbornly righteous.”

“And a damn good cop,” Logan added.

Meaning in a pinch, they would side with Margo?

“She’s also impatient,” Reese said, “so let’s go.”

Logan looked plenty displeased with Dash, but said only, “Find something to do. This might take a while.”

“I have a few calls to make, so I’ll park myself on the bench over there.” He started in that direction, but added over his shoulder, “If she needs me, let me know.”

Logan drew himself up. “Why the hell would she—”

Laughing, Reese hauled him away.

If things went as planned, his brother would just have to get used to the idea of him and Margo together. Pulling out his cell, Dash was about to put in a call to his foreman when he saw Cannon Colter walk in, accompanied by a young female officer. He stowed the phone back in his pocket and intercepted the pair.

“Cannon. What’s up?”

As if stalling, Cannon said, “Hey, Dash. Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“I drove...” Dash caught himself before using her first name. “Lieutenant Peterson. You know she was in a wreck?”

“Yeah, I heard.” He glanced at the female officer. “Actually, that’s who I came to see.”

Dash had a very bad feeling. “She’s in a meeting with Reese and Logan. Want to wait with me?”

He thanked the officer, and after the woman had walked away, he pulled off a stocking cap, ran a hand through his overlong hair, then over the back of his neck. “So...you’re with her?”

“Margo? Yes.” He wanted no misunderstandings about that.

Frustration palpable, Cannon nodded. “Then you may as well hear it, too.”

RATHER THAN SIT behind her desk, Margo shrugged off the coat she’d draped over one shoulder, tossed it to a chair and paced the room. Reese and Logan tracked her every step before sharing a male-inspired, conspiratorial glance.

She wouldn’t have it. “I know Dan put you two on the assault the other night.”

“Attempted murder,” Logan corrected. “Yeah, he did.”

Reese propped one shoulder against the wall. “I take it he was incorrect in saying you were off the case?”

“Very.”

“Figured as much,” Logan said. “Also figured you’d want your involvement kept quiet.”

“Which is why,” Reese added, “we put everything into a file.”

Logan lifted the folder he carried in a salute.

“Nice work.” Margo took it from him.

Before she could open it, Reese said, “We had planned on dropping by after work to share that and answer any questions you had.”

“But since one and all already saw you walk through the station, the cat’s out of the bag now.” Logan dropped into a chair, his long legs stretched out, his body relaxed as he scrutinized her. “Hadn’t figured on seeing you up and about already. Especially here.”

Margo was doubly glad she’d made the trip to the station. If they had come by in the early evening, they would have interrupted things between her and Dash. And given how eaten up she was with wanting him, that just wouldn’t do.

Even now, in her office at the station with her two top detectives in close proximity, a low hum of need kept her entire body tingling.

Most saw her only as a professional, as a tried-and-true ballbuster. With reason. She’d earned that cred. But she was also, deep down, a complete hedonist. She wallowed in her sexuality, enjoying her own pleasures—pleasures that, as a lieutenant, she’d kept hidden from the rest of the world.

Except for Dash.

Already he knew more about her than any other living soul.

She eyed Logan. “Did you really expect me to skulk around?”

“One can hope,” Reese said for him.

“Wish for a unicorn if you want, but don’t expect me to shirk my duty.” She propped her hip on the edge of the desk. “I’ll study the file and if I have any questions, you’ll be hearing from me. And just so you know, Rowdy will also be checking into things using his less respectable connections.”

Logan surprised her by nodding. “I was going to suggest it.”

Given how Logan had fought Rowdy’s involvement in the past, Margo stared at him, astonished.

Reese shrugged. “He’s good. He has great instincts and he’s reliable. It makes sense.”

Their combined cockiness nettled her. “Then why do I need the two of you?”

Rather than be insulted, something close to amusement altered Logan’s posture. He glanced at Reese. “She sounds testy.”

“Must be the discomfort,” Reese agreed. “She’s usually so...collected.”

Eyes narrowing, Margo said, “You’re pushing your luck.”

Neither of them looked threatened, and she realized she was losing her edge with them. Damn it, were they becoming...friends?

“Seriously.” Logan sat forward, looking her over with concern. “How are you?”

“As you can see, I’m fine.”

“I’m not buying it.” He pushed to his feet to stand in front of her. “You look like a herd of elephants stomped on you.”

Great. Just the image she wanted in her head. How would she convince Dash she was up for full-go sex if she looked so mangled? Somehow she had to convince him, because no way could she wait another day.

“It’s all superficial,” she claimed, and wondered if that argument would work on Dash.

Tipping his head, Logan surveyed a bruise on her cheek, then the stitches on her head. “Sorry, Lieutenant, but I’ve had concussions so I know better.”

“Me, too,” Reese said. “Your head wants to explode.”

“And the headaches last for days, sometimes even weeks.” Logan gave her a sort of big-brother look that caught her off guard. “If you push too hard—”

“Enough!” Frustration brought Margo away from her desk in a rush. Finger in Logan’s chest, she snapped, “They tried to kill me.”

Full of sympathy, he clasped her hand and gently lowered it. “I know.”

Of course he did, because the attempt to kill her had also left his brother in the crosshairs. She jerked her hand away. “Damn it.”

Reese joined Logan. “At least you’re admitting it was attempted murder. And in admitting it, you know you’re too close.”

“Being emotionally involved,” Logan said quietly, “screws with your perspective.”

“The hell it does.” Her perspective was that they needed to be caught, arrested and prosecuted. Period.

“If you’re too closely involved you lose your edge,” Logan reasoned. “You know that.”

That bit of sage nonsense nearly made her hair stand on end. “Oh, my God, are you actually saying this to me?”

Logan scowled.

“She’s got you there,” Reese agreed. “Even when I tried to get you to pull back, you jumped in feetfirst with Pepper and that enormous cluster-fu—”

“And you!” She rounded on Reese. “You have no room to talk because you’re just as bad as he is.”

“I was taking your side!”

She shoved past Reese to pace. “Just because I’m a woman you think I have less ability to push through an injury.”

“You’re not supposed to push through,” Logan chided her.

She tuned out his nonsense. “And, of course, being a woman means I can’t logically sort out the facts. Only men can be cold enough, levelheaded enough, to stay professional under duress. I guess you expect me to break down in tears, to look for some big macho guy to—”

Rolling his eyes, Logan interrupted and said, “Speaking of big macho guys...” He put himself in her path. “Is Dash staying with you?”

She almost plowed into him before taking a stance. “What are you talking about?”

He and Reese shared another look before Logan said, “I’m not prying.”

“We’re concerned,” Reese added, then held up a hand. “And before you shoot us for being so audacious, may I say that I understand completely.”

Tension crawled up her spine, turning her voice into a growl. “Understand what?”

“You’re a cop, Peterson, through and through. Tough as nails, no one doubts that.”

“All that other stuff you spouted,” Logan said, “is absurd. We know damn good and well you fire on all cylinders no matter the situation.”

Why she wanted to smack them both, Margo couldn’t say. But the temptation was there, making her palm itch. “Your point?”

Shouldering Logan aside, Reese faced off with her. “For a cop, especially a cop in your rank, it’s difficult to admit to any weakness.”

He was so big all over that he damn near left a shadow on her. Eyes narrowed, Margo squared her shoulders and tipped her head way back to glare up at him. “Do you have weaknesses, Reese?”

He ignored that. “I still remember how Logan was when he got himself shot in the arm. Pepper had to sit on him—although I think she actually enjoyed that. She has this hidden nurturing streak—very hidden, in fact—but it’s there and she coddled Logan back into health.”

“Fuck you, Reese.” No real heat accompanied Logan’s words.

Reese grinned. “Don’t mind a little pampering myself now and then.” And to Margo he said, “I’m just saying...you might want to give it a try.”

“It does have its advantages,” Logan admitted. “From one badass cop to another, lighten up and enjoy the opportunity.”

The two of them turned to walk out—without her dismissal, damn them. “Don’t. You. Dare.” Her whispered words were more lethal than a shout.

With a lot of exaggerated impatience, they turned. Logan asked, “Is there more?”

Yes, but at the moment, she didn’t know what.

A sharp rap at the door saved her. She barked, “Come in.”

And to her surprise and displeasure, Dash stuck his head in. He looked past his brother, past Reese, to meet her gaze. “Sorry to interrupt, but this is important.”

Grateful for the reprieve, but determined to maintain her status, Margo strode forward. “It damn well better be.”