Page 14 of Blood Money

Alex glanced up to see Gray still poring through the documents he’d received. As much as she craved to spend time with him, she needed to make sure he understood that if he had to cancel, she’d be okay with that.

Sighing, she stood and walked to his desk. Her two-inch gray pumps matched perfectly with the outfit she’d chosen with great care that morning—a snug, dove-gray, long-sleeve knit dress cinched in tightly at the waist. She knew it showed off her figure and wanted to look good for Gray again.

Her heels clicked on the wood floor and Gray looked up at her arrival. He smiled, revealing a set of even white teeth. “Hey, beautiful.”

Her heart swelled. When those words rolled off his tongue, she really did believe that’s how he saw her.

“Hi.” She smiled back. “I can see you’re busy, so if you need to cancel, I’ll understand.”

“What?” Gray’s expression was one of disbelief. “This is the second time you’ve offered to cancel on me. Makes a guy wonder.”

She laughed. “I can tell you’re in the middle of something important and—”

“And nothing.” He stood and grabbed his suit jacket from the back of his chair. He shoved both arms into it, covering his weapon. “Dom,” he shouted toward the break room where his partner was having an animated discussion with Lisa, a pretty brunette assistant from the major case squad down the hall. “You mind getting started on these bank records?”

Dom chucked Lisa under the chin, and Alex wanted to laugh at how brightly the younger woman blushed.

“No prob, Gray,” Dom said as he joined them. “I got this.”

“Thanks, buddy.” Gray placed his hand at the small of Alex’s back.

“Thank you, Dom,” Alex said as they turned to leave.

“My pleasure.” Dom bobbed his eyebrows, giving Alex a glimpse of just how charming the man could be. To Gray he said, “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.”

Gray cut his partner a sharp look. “I don’t think there is anything you wouldn’t do.”

Dom tilted his head and looked briefly at the ceiling. “True. Now beat it before Lt. Frye volunteers us for something on a Friday afternoon.”

Gray glanced at Lt. Frye’s closed door. “Point taken.”

As Gray hustled Alex back to her desk for her coat and bag, she realized that Gray and Dom had the kind of tight-knit bond that she had with Daisy.

If Dom didn’t have such a ladies’ man reputation, she might think about introducing the two of them. She wanted her best friend to have that same kind of crazy, wonderful feeling she had with Gray.

The kind that gave Alex hope that there really was a knight in shining armor in her future.

…

“Get any sleep last night?” Gray asked just before he bit into his Italian sub.

He and Alex were seated in the rear of a noisy deli frequented by just about everyone at One PP. Uniformed officers and other detectives they both knew were seated around them, chowing down and chatting.

Alex’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink. “Not much. You?”

“Nope.” He grinned. Hearing that Alex hadn’t gotten any sleep last night, either, stroked his ego like nothing else could. The amount of shut-eye he’d lost staying up late talking with her, kissing her, then tossing and turning in bed thinking about what had passed between them… Well, let’s just say he’d be happy for a repeat.

He took a swig of bottled water, pausing to watch Alex delicately eat a forkful of salad then lick her rosy pink lips. When she was done chewing, he swallowed. Hard. “My schedule for the weekend changed. I’ve got a family thing tonight with Cassie and her husband, but I’d like to take you to dinner and a movie tomorrow night.”

“If I can get a sitter, I’d love to.” Alex dabbed at the side of her mouth with a napkin, and Gray was tempted to say that whatever it was, he’d be happy to lick it off with his tongue.

His eyes must have been fixated on her mouth because when he looked up, she had the sexiest little smile on her face. He reached across the table to thread his fingers with hers. Her skin was soft and smooth. Looking down at their linked hands, he felt a shiver of anticipation run through him at the thought of being alone with her again.

His cell phone took that untimely moment to vibrate on his belt. He released Alex’s hand and grabbed the phone from its holder. “Yates.”

“Buddy, you still at lunch with Alex?” Dom asked.

“Yeah. What’s up?” Gray took another swig of water.