Mandy snorted. “Poke and tickle. What are you, a velvet coat wearing gentleman? Who says that anymore?”
I smacked her on the arm. “I do! And don’t interrupt, big mouth.” Mandy grumbled to herself, but I focused back on Gabriel. “Besides, you know what would happen if Lucifer found out about this before we knew everything about it.”
Gabriel grinned. “He’d push you in front of a pair of scissors if he could.” I gave him a pointed look which made him frown. “I can see what you mean.” Sighing, Gabriel dragged a hand through his already tousled brown hair. “Fine, I understand, but that doesn’t mean I’m not still upset that Michael got there first. I thought we had a connection. We did meet first after all.”
“We do,” I assured him with a soft smile. “And if it had been you instead of Michael, I would have been just as happy. But promise me you won’t hold this against him. I don’t want me to come between you guys.”
“I promise.” Gabriel nodded, his eyes serious for a moment before giving me a lopsided grin. “Besides, did you think millennia of being friends would get destroyed so easily by a human?”
I placed my hand on my chest, pretending to be offended. “Why, I never!”
“A beautiful, gorgeous human who I can’t wait to get my mouth on.” Gabriel leaned toward me, licking his lips as he gave me his best bedroom eyes.
Little rivulets of desire spread through me and settled between my thighs. The thought of Gabriel's mouth on any part of my body made me wet and achy. I wanted him to touch me as much as I had wanted Michael. I was even willing to open a vein for it.
“Well, play your cards right, and you might just get your wish.” I grinned coyly, earning me a dark smirk from Gabriel.
Mandy, on the other hand, did not find my words arousing. She made gagging noises before shoving the car into park before the Blessed Falls Police Station. “If you two are done eye-fucking each other, we have real work to do.”
“Eye fucking?” I giggled. “How do you know we are doing any such thing? We could have been talking about cards or knitting.”
Mandy scoffed and pointed at me. “I might not be able to see Gabriel, but I know your horny look anywhere. Remember we were roommates during college? We grew up together. There isn’t a look of yours I don’t know.”
“Oh, yeah. What look am I doing now?” I deadpanned, staring directly at her.
Grinning like a fiend, Mandy said, “The ‘you’re my best friend in the world, and I love you’ look.”
“Not even close.” I shook my head.
“Come on.” Mandy opened her door. “O’Connor is probably blowing a gasket already waiting for us.”
“When isn’t he?” I asked, getting out of the car. Gabriel appeared behind me, his hands in his short pockets as he strolled by my side.
“Good point.” Mandy laughed. “But really, we should get this warrant before someone tips him off.”
“No one’s going to tip him off,” Gabriel said. “He’s dead.”
I repeated back to Mandy what Gabriel said. Mandy shook her head. “Like I said, proof is needed, not the word of an angel.” We walked into the precinct, the office busy even though it was a weekend. Lowering her voice, Mandy pointed at me. “And you need to keep the crazy talk to a minimum. Just because I believe you doesn’t mean that everyone else will. You sure as hell know O’Connor won’t.”
“I won’t what?”
Mandy, Gabriel, and I stopped in place as the tall Irish man stood before us. If possible, it seemed like the stick up his ass had been shoved in even further.
That didn’t keep me from saying, “Won’t be joining that dating site for Jews. You know ‘cause you’re not Jewish.” I cocked my head to the side, “Are you?”
Instead of answering my question, Detective O’Connor glared at Mandy. “I don’t think my dating life is any of either of your concerns.”
“Of course not,” Mandy quickly said with wide innocent eyes. “I would never —”
“By never, she means she’d never think you were into large women.” Mandy gasped and tried to cover my mouth, but I quickly darted away. “Not that there’s anything wrong with liking bigger women. Everyone needs love. Even guys like you.”
At this point, the vein in Detective O’Connor’s forehead started to pulsate, and I thought I was one second away from getting him to blow. Sadly, just as he was about to go, the captain came barreling toward us.
“O’Connor, Stevenson.” Both the detectives snapped to attention. I exchanged a grin with Gabriel and then copied their movements, half tempted to add a salute to the mix.
“Yes, captain?” Detective O’Connor asked, his face still tinged with anger.
“I have that warrant you requested, and we’re good to go.” Captain Welling’s eyes landed on me, and he smiled. “Miss Mehr, how good to see you. I hear you did wonders in finding us this lead. Excellent job.”
I nodded my head and smiled broadly. “It’s all in a day’s work, captain. But I have to say I couldn’t have done it without my girl here … and Detective O’Connor’s impressive eyebrows.” I glanced toward the detective, pointing at the furry caterpillars nesting above his eyes. “They were crucial in our intimidation tactics.”
Captain Welling gave me a curious look and then nodded at Detective O’Connor. “Well, good work, team. Keep it up. Let’s find our victim.”
“Yes, sir,” Mandy and Detective O’Connor said in unison like it was somehow rehearsed. Must be something they learned in the police academy.
When the Captain walked away, Detective O’Connor spun around and jabbed a finger in my direction, his teeth clenched tight. “You are walking a fine line, Mehr.”
I leaned forward slightly, my eyes squinting. “You have something green in your teeth, right there.” I pointed to the left side of his canine. There wasn’t anything there, but it still made Detective O’Connor reach up and dig his nail in between them, a glower on his face.
Mandy grabbed my arm and dragged me toward the door.
“We’re leaving already?” I pouted as Gabriel followed behind me. “But I was two seconds away from making O’Connor go ballistic.”
Gabriel chuckled at my side. “You’re just as bad as Lucifer. No wonder he’s attracted to you.”
“Am not,” I countered and then grinned. “Okay, maybe a little, but don’t you dare tell him.”
“My lips are sealed.” Gabriel zipped his lips with his fingers.
“Come on, Mandy,” I urged, getting into her car. “You have to admit it was funny.”
Mandy didn’t even crack a smile.
I hadn’t seen her this mad since Donny Terman took off on her during homecoming. Of course, I beat the crap out of him later when I found him with his pants around his ankles and Slutty Sally blowing him. Nobody messes with my girl, but me.
Cranking the car, Mandy whipped the car out of its spot and headed down the road. Her hands gripped the wheel until her knuckles were white, her eyes focused intently in front of her.
After a few minutes of silence, she finally blew up, “Do you think this is a game?”
“Well, no —” I tried to say, but she cut me off.
“This is my job. My livelihood,” she snarled, shooting a look my way. “You can’t just act like that to my partner. You could get me fired.” She sped around a corner, throwing me against the door of the car.
“Jeez, Mandy. Slow down. You’re gonna get us both killed.” I held onto the ‘oh, shit’ handle above my head. “It wasn’t that bad.”
“Wasn’t that bad?” she screeched, her eyes really looking like a cartoon character, the way the red veins bulged. “You insulted O’Connor’s eyebrows in front of the captain.”
“He didn’t seem bothered,” I tried to remind her.
“And you could have gotten me charged with sexual harassment! Talking about O’Connor’s preferences in women.” She shook her head viciously. “They take that crap seriously, you know. Even from a woman. You can’t compliment someone’s shoes without getting a lawsuit.”
I sighed and stared down at my feet. “I’m sorry, Mandy. I didn’t mean to get you in trouble. I’ll apologize to O’Connor.”
“No,” Mandy snapped. “You’ve done enough damage. Just leave it alone.”