I couldn’t get her off my mind. It didn’t help that she was my partner, and that no matter what we did we were stuck with one another, but that wasn’t what I couldn’t stop thinking about. It was those almost kisses that kept getting to me. I’d never thought in a million years that she would come back to town, and look up at me like I was the one thing she regretted losing most.

Sure, I dreamt about it years ago, when she’d first left.

But those dreams had turned into reality eventually, then I’d realized she was never coming back, and she would certainly never want to kiss me again even if she did. Yet here she was, back in my life, in my arms, and I couldn’t take what I’d waited years to get—

My second chance with her.

I glanced over at her desk. She hunched over it, biting her lower lip, typing on her keyboard quickly. Her brown hair fell over her cheek, hiding her face from my view, but what I saw of her profile was as breathtaking as always. She was everything I ever wanted and more, and I couldn’t have her. It was enough to almost make me wish she had never come back.

Almost.

Standing, I walked right past her, nodding her way once as I made my way to the Captain—Dad’s—office. I knocked twice, then waited.

“Come in,” my father called gruffly.

I turned the knob and went inside, closing the door behind me.

Dad glanced up, saw it was me, and grunted. “Son.”

“Hey.” I crossed the room and placed a file on his desk. “Here’s Liz’s file.”

“Thanks.” He took it and placed it on the left side of his desk. “I’m still pissed off that it went down like that. We should have gotten there sooner.”

“We got there as soon as we could. Me and Detective Lopez went as soon as you gave the orders.”

Dad grunted again. “How’d she handle herself out there?”

“Excellent, sir.” I hesitated, slipping out of father/son mode and into detective/captain mode easily. We had this whole dynamic down to perfection at this point in our lives. “Speaking of Lopez…”

“She’s your partner,” he said immediately. “I’m not changing it back.”

“That’s not it, sir.”

Captain frowned and gestured for the chair in front of his desk. “Then what?”

“Confidentially, I found out why she came back.” I cleared my throat and sat. “She was fleeing an abusive ex, sir.” I kept mum on her mother’s condition, as requested.

Dad leaned back in his chair. “Seriously?”

“Yes, sir. Last night the ex-boyfriend called her, freaked her out, and I took her home and spent the night on her couch.” I held a hand up. “Nothing happened, but I felt safer watching over the place. Having my partner’s back.”

The Captain nodded. “Good call. How bad is this guy?”

“She didn’t tell me much, but knowing her and the way she was acting when he called her?” I let out a breath. “Pretty damn bad, sir.”

“I may not have wanted to hire her, but I certainly won’t allow her to get hurt.” He pulled out a pen. “No one hurts one of ours. What’s his name?”

“I only got a first name out of her so far. Vinnie. He lived in North Carolina, and she has a PFA against him, so I’m assuming it’s on the books somewhere.”

“I’ll see what I can find.”

I stood. “Thank you, sir.”

“We’ll place people on her house. Keep an eye on her until we find this guy and remind him he’s supposed to stay away.”

I hesitated. “I don’t think she’ll agree to that, sir. She’s kind of independent, and doesn’t want everyone knowing her business.”

“Then why tell me?” he asked briskly.

“So you wouldn’t think anything was going on with us, seeing as I spent the night at her house, sir.” I rubbed my jaw. “And because we trust your discretion.”

“I can’t allow her to be unprotected. If she refuses to let the precinct know, then you’ll have to be the man on her house every night until we find this guy. Sleep in a car, inside on the couch, tell her or don’t tell her, I don’t really give a damn. She’s your partner, you decide on the best course of action, as long as she’s protected.” When I opened my mouth to argue, he quickly added, “That’s an order.”

He knew I didn’t disobey orders, damn it. It wasn’t in my DNA. Swallowing my protests, I saluted him. “Yes, sir.”

“And son?” Dad added as I made my way toward the door.

“Yes?” I asked, not moving.

“Keep your hands to yourself.” He set his pen down and steepled his fingers, staring at me with shrewd eyes. “We have a no-fraternization rule for a reason. Break it, and you will face suspension and possible termination. Just because you’re my son doesn’t mean I will let you get away with breaking the rules. If anything, I need to be tougher on you to avoid accusations of nepotism.”

“Why did you partner us up?” I asked, unable to help myself. “Why put her with me?”

“Because she broke your heart, and came back here like it was nothing, demanding a job.” He hesitated, and I inexplicably knew this was my dad speaking now, not my boss. “She doesn’t get to have you again, not after what she did. This was my way to ensure she didn’t get you.”

I rolled my hands into fists. I’d been a mess after she left, sure, but I’d also been a kid, and it had been a long time ago. “I’m fine, Dad. What happened between us was a huge misunderstanding, and we have talked it out. She wasn’t in the wrong any more than I was. I’m over it, and everyone else—”

“Yeah, well, I’m not, Detective.” He glowered at me. So, the boss was back. All right, then. “Keep your damn hands to yourself, or pay the price, Detective.”

I saluted again, biting back my anger. “Yes, sir.”