Page 57 of The Huntress
She huffed. “This butt has saved your ass.”
“Who’s counting?” Barrows said, although, what he was trying to accomplish by pissing her off, Gabe didn’t know.
“I’m done talking about this.” She peered out the window, her chin raised in defiance. “Just park the damn car.”
Chapter Twenty
HEART’S INVOLVEMENT
GabrielgrinnedasCalliejumped out of the car before Barrows yanked on the handbrake. She removed the box and carried it into the precinct, ignoring her partner. Her shoulders were tense, and she was good-and-proper pissed at poor Mike.
Still shrouded, Gabriel sauntered into the precinct and sat in the closest chair, content to observe.
“Careful, it could be a bomb,” Callie said to Martinez, the officer behind the desk.
“You know the procedure. Why the hell did you give it to me, Devereaux?” the man asked with his mouth pulled into a thin line.
“Because I don’t like you, Martinez?” She arched a brow with a teasing smile forming on her lips. “Because my shift ends soon. Hand it over to the bomb squad, and I’ll owe you.”
“Damn. A favor from you? It’ll be a dozen of your famous cookies, you know that, right?” Martinez said.
“Cookies?” She scowled at the young officer. “I dunno. Maybe I ought to take it to the squad myself.”
“Nope, it’s mine now.” The man clutched the box to his chest.
“Fine, a dozen cookies, but just this once.” She caved with little grace, twisting her face in a grimace.
“Yes, ma’am.” Martinez flashed her a delighted smile.
“Does he know you buy them at the local bakery?” Mike asked as they strolled through the glass doors to their open-plan office.
“Nope, and I’ll thank you not to share that.”
“It’s gonna cost you,” Barrows teased, dropping his bulk behind a desk across from hers.
“Fine, I’ll get you a dozen like I always do.” She trailed a finger along her desk piled high with paperwork.
Gabriel grinned at the sight of it. She was not a paperwork kind of woman.
Still shrouded, he slipped into a chair beside her desk and toyed with a pen lying there. It spun, drawing her attention. She smiled and sent a lustful look in his general direction. He responded with a psychic kiss along her neck.
After sliding into her chair, she unsnoozed her laptop and started typing. He bounded out of his chair and circled her to read over her shoulder.
She was writing her report, going into excessive detail. By the twist of her lips, he realized she did so on purpose, to irritate someone up the chain of command. Warmth filled his chest, and he kissed the crown of her head. She swatted him away, released a shuddering sigh, and carried on typing.
“After I have finished with this report, I’m calling it a day.” She gave a fake yawn.
“Will he know you’re leaving early?” Barrows’s desk was as neat as a pin. He scanned the room, peering into the corners, his gaze passing over Gabriel many times.
“Something tells me yes.” Callie smiled at Gabriel, meeting his shrouded gaze before closing her laptop.
Mike wiped an imaginary speck of dirt off his desk with his large finger. “McKinney owed me a favor. I had him tail Carter when he broke with routine and disappeared one afternoon.”
“Huh? How many guys do you have on this?” Her grimace implied she hadn’t wanted this bandied about.
“Relax. They don’t know why. I said it’s for a domestic assault case.”
She snorted. “We’re Homicide—we don’t do those cases. How dumb do you think our guys are?”
