Ava gave a regretful glance at the backseat of the cop car where Mr. Naked had his face pressed to the window and was shouting something she couldn’t hear. “Do you think I could get his phone number? I think we really connected.”
Lopez arched an eyebrow and leaned in a little, his white teeth flashing sexily against his dark skin. “So you’re single, huh? Because I think I can give this perp a run for his money, if you know what I mean.”
“Jesus,” Luc muttered, shooting his partner a look. “I thought we agreed to try and get rid of Sims, not ask her out.”
Ava frowned, a little stung, even though he hadn’t made it a secret that he didn’t want her around. “You do see me standing here, yes?”
His eye skimmed over her, hot and angry. “Yes, Sims, I see you. I’ve been seeing you. But don’t think for one second that just because the NYPD decided to bend over for your network means I have to like the fact that you’re interfering with my job. Got it?”
Loud and clear.
But instead of responding, she ignored his outburst completely and turned to Sawyer as though Luc had never spoken.
“I’ll take a cab back to the precinct,” she said. “What do you say I take you to lunch, and you can tell me all about what it’s like to be the partner of this sweetheart of a superhero here.”
Lopez winked. “Love to.”
Luc growled.
Ava turned on her heel, pausing only to kiss the tip of her index finger before pressing it against the backseat window where Mr. Naked was continuing to holler.
She very deliberately did not turn around to see if Luc Moretti watched her walk away. And she definitely didn’t put a little extra wiggle in her hips just in case he was.
Okay, maybe she did that last part. Just a little.
Her eyes began scanning for a taxi as she began mentally compiling her story notes for the day:
Luc Moretti: a good cop? Probably. An ass? Definitely.
Simply following him around wasn’t going to cut it. Luc Moretti the officer was the cover of the story, but Luc Moretti the man was the heart of it.
This would only work if she could get at the man beneath the uniform. Figure out what made him tick. What he loved. Whom he dated…
Did he have a girlfriend?
She needed to know.
For research’s sake, obviously.
“Watch your back, Moretti,” she muttered to herself as she raised her hand to hail an approaching cab. “I’m about to get all up in your personal life.”
“What was that?”
Ava spun around and found herself toe to toe with one very annoyed, very attractive police officer. Over his shoulders she spotted their squad car pull into traffic.
“Did Sawyer just leave you here?”
“I told him to.”
“Ah ha, so you left him to handle naked guy on his own.”
“He can handle it.”
“Why didn’t you go with him?”
“Thought you and I need to have a little chat,” he said.
Ava glared. “Thought we just did that when you berated me back there.”
“You were interfering with police business.”
“You sure you want to power-trip me this early in the game, Moretti? We’re going to be spending lots of time together. You might want to save your lectures for the important moments.”
Luc inhaled deeply. “You’re a pain in the ass.”
“And you’re an absolute delight.”
Ava was pretty sure that neither one of them actually moved, but somehow they were closer than ever now, and she didn’t think it was her imagination that both were breathing harder than necessary.
And despite the cloudy skies, Ava was definitely feeling warmer than the weather warranted.
Confused by the unfamiliar onslaught of want, totally inappropriate given their circumstances and the fact that she didn’t even know the guy, her eyes helplessly found his.
Ava was both gratified and alarmed to see the same frustration and confusion in Luc’s expression.
Whatever was between them—this odd mix of attraction and distrust—he felt it too.
His forehead wrinkled in irritation before his head dropped toward her, bringing their mouths infinitesimally closer.