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  “Finally! One of the things I taught you stuck. I never expected you to hand it back to me though.”

  “Seriously. She’d be good for you, Gabe.”

  “I can’t. I’d rather just hook up with some random woman.” Yeah, because he was crazy about Livy and he couldn’t start a relationship with anyone. Despite his denial, he knew the truth.

  “Hey! I’m not having sex with you. I took one for the team with the reunion. It felt weird making out with you on the dance floor. I still have nightmares.”

  He laughed. “I wasn’t thinking you.”

  Truth be told, he was thinking about Livy.

  “The vein in your forehead is throbbing, Gabe.”

  He closed his eyes. “I can’t fool around with someone who works under me. We both know it. I can lose my job. I’ve worked too hard to lose my path now.”

  She leaned forward. “I'm going to break my own damn rules for you. You need to listen to what I’m about to tell you.”

  “What?”

  “She has it bad for you.”

  He looked surprised. Yes, she’d dropped some innuendos, but Gabe didn't think it was anything but to rile him up. Livy was a tease, and that’s what he assumed was going on.

  “She’s serious?”

  “Livy isn't a dick tease, Gabe. She’s a nun, and she’s waiting on you.”

  He didn't know what to say.

  “If you tell her I told you, I’ll kick your suit wearing ass. You’re my boss, but we’re family.”

  He had a million questions to ask. “Are you yanking my chain?”

  “No. Rule number two in the girlfriend code allows me to keep secrets from my best friend. Me telling you is a huge one. I just want to know one thing.”

  “What?”

  “If you weren’t her boss, what would you do?”

  “I’d ask her out, I’d take her to bed, and I’d have one hell of a time doing it.”

  She grinned. “So do it.”

  “I just told you…”

  “There’s such a thing as doing it discretely. Hell! J Edgar Hoover was gay and had sex with his second in command. He was discrete. No one ever found out, so be discrete. Who will know?”

  Gabe closed his eyes.

  “I will.”

  “Do you think there aren’t people here under this roof who aren’t knocking major boots with their partners? Come on, Gabriel. I can name four sets of people right off the top of my head who are involved with their partners.”

  “Who?”

  She laughed. “Yeah, that’s never happening. If you can’t see what’s clearly before you, I’m not giving you my rose colored glasses to find the fornicators.”

  He crossed his arms.

  “Rules are meant to be broken.”

  He laughed. “Uh, no they aren’t. You’re just sick about rules, and you hate them. I happen to like order.”

  “Order schmorder. My point is that she’s into you, and your dick is in a knot over her.”

  “Again, I’m your boss.”

  “Again, you’re like my freaking brother. I do believe once you kiss someone and play sexy girlfriend at a reunion, you can’t pull the boss card. Your hand was on my ass, Gabe!”

  He laughed. “I didn't enjoy it.”

  Elizabeth lifted a brow. “Gee. Thanks.”

  “You know what I meant.”

  “Elizabeth.” He sighed. “I can’t think about this right now. We have a huge case. I’ll mull it over at a later date.”

  That was him basically telling her the conversation was officially over. He wasn’t going to have the discussion.

  They were done.

  Elizabeth stood. “Boss man, that’s up to you. All I'm saying is if you lobbed a pass at her, it wouldn’t be batted away. Livy thinks you’re pretty sexy. I personally think she’s blind…”

  He glared at her.

  “Hey!”

  “That was for the ass comment. Besides, do you really want me thinking about you like that, Gabe?” she asked, laughing at his retort.

  “No, I don’t! I’m not entirely comfortable with her thinking about me like that.”

  It was a total lie.

  Gabe heated up at the mere thought that Olivia Spencer was getting all hot and bothered about him. It was only fair since he was too.

  “Did you tell her I run at the park?” he asked.

  She grinned. “Nope. She hunted you down all on her own by eavesdropping on your conversation with Lenny. She made the first move, so the rest is up to you.”

  Elizabeth headed toward the door.

  When her hand hit the doorknob, she paused. “Gabe?”

  He didn't look away from her. “What, Lyzee?”

  “Are you really working this with us?” she asked. “I mean, are you really going to be in the trenches with us on this one?” She needed to know where they stood.

  There was a lot on the line—like Livy’s life.

  “Are you worried?”

  She turned to stare into his eyes. “Yeah, I’m scared. I don’t want to see Livy hurt.”

  He stood and crossed to her. Gabe knew she wasn’t often serious when it came to life or her job. When it was about someone she cared about, Elizabeth LaRue didn't hold back.

  “I’ve got your back. You know I always will, Lyzee. I swear. You played my girlfriend. That’s something no one would do. We’re family.”

  She stared up into his green eyes, seeking the truth. “I’m not worried about me. I just have this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach.”

  “About Livy?”

  “Yeah. I need your promise that you’ll watch her back. I can keep myself out of trouble. She’s not like me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “She believes in the good in people. She trusts.”

  He found that odd. “And you don’t, Elizabeth?”

  Her icy blue eyes filled with emotion. “I used to. Then I saw that crime scene.”

  Yeah, he knew exactly what she meant. It changed him too. Each grizzly one took a chip out of your soul, and you never got it back.

  “Livy believes in the good still. I’m a realist. I believe in the reality of it all. People suck, and we deal with death.”

  He agreed there.

  “Let’s head to autopsy,” he said, patting her on the shoulder.

  When she opened the door, Elizabeth nearly jumped. Livy was right there, and she hoped the woman didn't hear what she’d told him.

  “Christ! Wear a freaking bell, Livy!”

  She laughed. “Sorry. I was about to knock and you pulled the door open before I could. I tried to dump our cases, but I have two left,” she stated, handing Gabe the files.

  “What? No one would take them?” Elizabeth asked. “Gee! That’s a shocker.”

  Livy laughed. “They heard your name and backed away, Elizabeth. I think people hate you.”

  She snorted. “Likely. I bust balls. I’m glad to see I’m building a reputation here at the FBI.”

  Livy grinned. “Oh, you have.”

  She fist bumped her partner.

  “I’ll handle it,” he stated. “I’ll meet you down there. Give me fifteen minutes to find a set of agents to take over your cases. It won’t take long.”

  “I have to grab coffee for our ME,” Elizabeth offered. “Would you like me to grab one for you too?” She didn't mind. It was going to be a shitty meeting in the morgue, and she knew it.

  Why not have caffeine to lessen the blow?

  “Yeah, grab me one. I can use it. I didn't get any after my run this morning.”

  Livy started laughing.

  Gabe realized what he’d said and he furiously blushed at the implication.

  “I meant caffeine.”

  Elizabeth grinned. “Yeah, think about what we discussed, Gabe.”

  He changed the subject, and fast. If he wanted to keep his sanity intact, he needed to move them along. Livy was staring at him, and his heart was pounding.

 
“Who’s working this one?” Gabe asked. He liked working with Majors, but he allowed his team to pick their ME. Everyone had to get into their own groove.

  “Doctor Christopher Leonard.”

  He groaned.

  “What?” Elizabeth asked.

  “You had to pick the newest ME, Elizabeth?” he inquired. “Really? We aren’t screwed enough?”

  “Hey, we were all new once. Besides, I’ve watched Chris Leonard. He’s got some crazy mad ME skills. In ten years, he’s going to be running that lab. Mark my words.”

  “Bullshit. He’s too green. In ten years, he’s going to be working in some sleepy town where the only death is old age or a car accident. He doesn’t have what it takes. I’ve seen a few ME’s burn out.”

  Elizabeth shrugged. “You were green once too. I have faith in him.”

  Livy made kissy noises.

  “Shut up,” she muttered. “I swear I’ll hurt you if you don’t stop.”

  Gabe ignored them.

  He didn't want to know.

  Honestly, he couldn’t remember the day where he was still innocent and green. It was over ten years ago. With each passing one, it seemed further and further away.

  “Just make sure he doesn’t screw up,” he stated. “Now get down there. I have to pass off these files.”

  As they headed out, he pulled out his phone and made a call.

  He knew an up and coming agent who would run with them. Dialing his number, he waited.

  “My office. Now.”

  Then he hung up.

  Gabe couldn’t help but be testy. What Elizabeth said had rubbed him the wrong way. She was absolutely right about the whole thing.

  Now he was even more worried than before.

  He just wasn’t sure if it was because he was going to use Livy as bait, or because he was going to have to stick close.

  Real close.

  Either way, his mood soured.

  Fast.

  CHAPTER TWO

  When he got the call, he was just pulling into the parking lot. Ethan Blackhawk, and his partner, Jay Melrose, were back in from a case.

  He wasn’t quite sure what had the boss all riled up, but something had ruffled his feathers. After he hung up, he had that feeling.

  “What was that all about?” Jay asked, glancing over at his partner.

  “That was the boss. He’s stirred up about something. He’s ordered us to his office.”

  “Shit. What did we do now? I swear I haven’t broken any of the rules, so it had to be you.”

  Blackhawk laughed. “Yeah, nice try. I wasn’t the one trying to get into the sheriff’s pants. She probably turned you in for lecherous behavior unfit for the FBI.”

  “Don’t be a hater, dude. You should date more. You’re cranky. Besides, you’re the serial rule breaker, not me.”

  “I don’t need women. I have my career, and I don’t think rules pertain to me. I’m here to do a job, not live in the shadows of a procedure book. The best agents go by their guts. I’m living my life like that.”

  Jay glanced over at his partner. The man was a mystery to him. Ethan Blackhawk was a decent partner, but he liked to run fast and loose with the rules.

  Honestly, he couldn’t see him going very far in his career. If he did, it would be one hell of a miracle. The man was going to burn out. Granted, he’d go out in a big ball of fire, but still…he wouldn’t last long at this rate.

  “We filed the paperwork right,” he offered. “I know I did, so I can’t even guess what we did now,” Blackhawk stated.

  Jay hoped he was right.

  Since hooking up with the Indian, his ass was always in trouble. It was getting…bad.

  As they headed into the J. Edgar Hoover building, they were both nervous.

  No one liked getting called into Gabe’s office. Yes, he was merely a supervisor, or special agent, but still…

  He was technically their boss.

  As they stood in the lobby, Jay continually hit the button to get the elevator to arrive.

  “It’s not going to make it arrive any faster,” Ethan stated, checking himself out in the reflection. “You need to be more patient with things.”

  “You should talk. You like to get shot at.”

  “It’s been a couple of weeks,” Ethan admitted. “Besides, we have an excellent closure record. I think we’re in second place in the division.”

  Jay laughed. “You just want to be first.”

  “Yeah, I do. I hear it’s two newbies. They must be getting the easy cases. There’s no way two babes can be kicking our ass. I just can’t see it.”

  Jay shrugged. “I like living, so I’m good with second place, Ethan. It’s not a competition.”

  Oh, that was easy for him to say. His partner was from a rich family, and he was white. When you spent your life fighting out of the ghetto of a reservation, you didn't look at the world through rose colored glasses.

  It was an eat or be eaten world.

  He didn't plan on being anyone’s dinner.

  Ethan fixed his tie in the shiny metal door. It was pricy, silk, and fit his persona.

  This was how he wanted to be seen.

  “You look fine, playboy. I’ve never seen anyone fixated about his attire more than you. I don’t get it.”

  Blackhawk laughed. “In this job, you can never look good enough.”

  Truth be told, he was the only freaking Native American in the place. How he lucked out and got this job was beyond him. Ethan came from a small reservation, a dinky college, and wasn’t the same caliber as many of the agents. The only thing he had was a skill at profiling.

  He prayed it payed off.

  It might just afford him a ride up the food chain from special agent to boss one day. Those were his hopes and dreams. There was no way he was going to let anyone judge him by his past. There was too much riding on it. Ethan had to support his grandfather back on the Rez. Timothy needed him to be the best and the brightest.

  Or he was going to have to resort to a life of crime.

  That didn't sit well with him. Next to profiling, the only thing he excelled at was stealing.

  “What the frig?” Jay muttered when the elevator stopped at the morgue floor. “Why can’t the dead rats use the freaking stairs like everyone else?”

  Blackhawk laughed.

  “Seriously?”

  “Maybe it’s because it’s a free country? Man! You’re uptight. I really hoped my next partner would be a little more laid back,” he said sarcastically, as he glanced down at his partner’s attire.

  Chinos?

  Did the man have no dignity?

  What was next? Jeans?

  God!

  Ethan hoped not. He wouldn’t know what to do with himself if his partner went that route. It might just make him insane. Dressing down had a place, and it wasn’t at work.

  “Finally! It’s moving again,” Jay said.

  Blackhawk ignored him. Jay was insane, and he didn't want to continue discussing the elevator. Ethan was the silent type. He liked to watch, observe, and not miss anything.

  When the elevator opened on their floor, they got in. Ethan could distinctly pick up some delicious scent. It was like someone had fresh baked cookies in there before they got in. It was spicy and warm, and very appealing.

  “Do you smell that?” he asked, sniffing the air. It was making him hungry.

  “What?” Jay asked, checking his phone for any messages. “What are you talking about?”

  “The perfume.”

  Jay sniffed the air. “Yeah, it smells good.”

  Good? Was he kidding? It smelled like heaven to Ethan. He’d never experienced it before. Women often smelled flowery, but this was delicious.

  It made him hungry.

  “You need a vacation. It’s perfume,” Jay said, grinning. “Some chick put on too much.”

  Ethan couldn’t shake it. He swore it was the best scent he’d ever smelled before.

  As they got out on their floor,
Gabe was waiting for them. “What took you two so long?” he asked, glancing down at his watch.

  “The elevator was tied up. Someone took their time getting to the morgue,” Jay stated.

  “Oh, yeah, I just sent a team down. We have a case that’s come up.”

  “We?” Ethan asked. “You’re actually working one? That’s new.”

  “I’m your boss. I’m far from old and out of my league. I can certainly teach you two a lesson or three when it comes to working in the field.”

  “Sure thing, boss.”

  Gabe genuinely liked Ethan Blackhawk. The man was a hard worker, and his profiling skills were pretty damn handy. Now, if he could only keep him from running around like a maniac, he might be ahead of the game.

  “Let down your hair, Ethan, and get ready for some cases.”

  Automatically, he touched his ponytail. He kept his hair back for a reason.

  He wanted people to see him, not his ethnicity.

  “Uh, do I have to?” Blackhawk asked.

  “I meant figuratively, not literally,” Gabe offered, finding that funny.

  “What do you mean? We just got in from the field. There’s a twenty four hour day off between cases,” Jay stated, seeing his night off going down the tubes.

  “You picked up two more cases. I had to pull the agents, and tag, you’re it.”

  They both groaned.

  The worst thing in the world was cleaning up after two agents. They often made a mess and you had to fix their shit.

  “I don’t want to hear about it. You both need to pick up the slack. Just do it. The lead investigator left you her notes.”

  Jay opened the file. Inside, the pretty handwriting made him roll his eyes. Then he saw the name.

  Screw it.

  He’d take the case. Elizabeth LaRue might owe him a favor when it was done. That was something he wouldn’t mind. He heard through the grapevine that she was sexy as sin.

  “I have to run. I’m working the ‘Irish Butcher’ case with LaRue and Spencer. If you need me, don’t hesitate to call me. I’ll be available.”

  With that, Gabe was gone.

  “Who are they?” he asked, watching his boss run off.

  Jay grinned. “You’ve been out in the field too long, Ethan. They’re two newbies.”

  “Great.”