~
Lady Luck liked him today. He found Rina the first place he and Quarles looked—a rundown bar where a lot of hookers hung out on their down time. In the back of the smoky room, she half sat, half lay sprawled out over some guy’s lap. As Brit and Quarles approached the booth, Brit noted Rina’s unfocused stare. She’d found what she came looking for. And the man with his hand up her dress thought he’d found what he was looking for, too.
Clearing his throat, he flashed his badge. The man jumped to attention. He pushed Rina off his lap. She landed with a thump against the side of the booth.
She pulled herself up and dropped both her elbows on the table. Her half-gone gaze met Brit’s, and she smiled. “Hey. You shouldn’t be jealous. I offered you a freebie earlier.”
Brit motioned for the chump to leave. When he scurried away, Brit pulled Rina up by the elbow. “Come on.”
“I don’t want to go back there.” She tried to wiggle away.
“You don’t want to end up dead, either.” Brit had to put his arm around her to guide her out of the bar.
“Don’t you want to fuck me, Lowell?” She put a hand on his chest, attempting to pole-dance herself down his leg, but in her drugged state, she nearly fell over. He caught her.
“No, Rina, I don’t.” He held her further away. Right then, Brit realized more than ever how deep his feelings ran for Cali. Because he didn’t want to fuck Cali either. He couldn’t remember when he’d felt something this genuine for a woman.
He’d always liked women, and never stopped short of respecting them. But it had been about sex. He hadn’t been a selfish lover. He offered pleasure when he took his, but with Cali it wasn’t just about pleasure. He remembered how right it felt laughing with her in his bed, talking to her the other morning at breakfast, how seeing her with his sister and that damn cat had melted his heart. And if that wasn’t enough of a difference, he recalled how comforting it had been when she’d squeezed his hand when he’d been about to face his mother. Everything he felt for Cali was different. Genuine.
Rina looked over at Quarles. “You want to fuck me?”
Quarles’ eyes lit up. “I’m going to have to pass, as well. But thanks for offering. My ego would have been hurt if you hadn’t.”
They took Rina back to the precinct and another officer drove her to the safe house.
“Do you think Rina is going to ask him to fuck her, too?” Brit asked.
Quarles shook his head. “Nah, he’s not nearly as good looking as we are.” They both laughed as Quarles followed Brit back to his office where they filled out some paperwork.
“Heard anything on Garland?” Brit sat down in his chair.
“He’s out of surgery, but they’re keeping him sedated for a while. The doctor said we couldn’t see him until tomorrow.”
Brit nodded. “Good.” He could now go spend the evening with Cali. His body tightened with anticipation.
“Did you get Susan to the airport?” Quarles asked.
“Yeah.” Brit cast a look at his partner, still not too happy about the man’s interest in his sister.
“She said she’ll be down for Thanksgiving,” Quarles added.
“She usually comes down for the holidays.” He looked at his desk.
“You still pissed about me seeing her?”
“You got a sister?” When Quarles nodded, Brit added, “How old?” He purposely put some sleaze into his voice.
“She’ll be eighteen next month. The baby in the family.”
“What if I told you I wanted to get to know her?”
Quarles’ eyebrows shot up. “I’d say you’re too damn old.”
“But I like ‘em young. And I’ll bet she’s hot.”
Quarles frowned. “Okay, I see what you’re getting at. It makes a brother uncomfortable, but that’s just tough. I like your sister. I don’t know where it will lead. But we’re both adults. And if say so myself, I’m not a bad catch. And I’d never, ever screw a blow-up doll, male or female.”
Brit sighed. “She told you about Edward, huh?”
“Yeah. Bastard.”
Brit’s negative feelings about Quarles and his sister lightened. “Just make sure it doesn’t lead to her being hurt.”
“Hey.” Adams appeared at the door. “Good work snagging Rina.” He stepped inside the office and shut the door. Both Brit and Quarles looked at each other with concern. Adams leaned against the closed door because there wasn’t room for him anywhere else. “About the guy you brought in yesterday—I was out of line.”
Brit noted that Adams mostly looked at his partner. The sergeant obviously depended on their history to make things right and didn’t feel Brit expected an apology. Brit didn’t.
“You two did good bringing him in.” Adams ran a hand over his unshaven face. The whole damn police force looked sleep-deprived because of the cop shootings.
Brit actually felt good knowing he wasn’t alone.