CHAPTER THIRTEEN
GRACE
I considered having Hunter enter the precinct separately but fuck it. This is the twenty-first century last time I checked.
Are you fucking falling for this guy?
I’ve dated before, sure, but Hunter’s the first guy I can see myself settling with, whatever the hell that means. It’s certainly not a comfy three-bedder in the ’burbs with a gaggle of tiny tots.
His package alone is magical, to say nothing of his no-bullshit manner. That is something I can appreciate—a classic man who knows what he wants and how to treat a lady.
You’re calling yourself a lady?
Yeah, that one’s a bit of a stretch.
I notice Hunter struggling to contain his smile as he walks beside me. “Feeling pretty good about yourself, aren’t you, Beckett?” I tease.
“It was a long, hard night, Detective Siddell, but I feel progress was made.”
One of the guys from Larceny looks on suspiciously at the charade. “Morning, Spencer.” I smile.
“What the hell’s got you so rosy, Siddell?” he says to my back.
“A good night’s rest,” I call back, winking at Hunter.
We come into my office.
“Close the door,” I tell him.
“So you can have your wicked way with me on the desk?” he replies. “Kinky, but I’m down.”
I take a seat at my computer. “Another time. For now, we’ve got actual work to do. There’s probably ten-thousand emails here about the Doyle thing. You noticed the Captain’s a no-show?”
Hunter takes a seat in front of desk. “I don’t know if a day or two off the job necessarily means someone’s caught up in a murder conspiracy.”
I lean forward. “I’ve worked here for five years. You know how many days the Captain’s taken off in that period?” I close my thumb and forefinger together to make a zero.
“Damn.”
I lean back, quietly pleased at the soft ache between my legs. “That’s right, which means something is up, and it’s not that beautiful cock of yours.”
Hunter looks down. “Beautiful? I was thinking something more alpha, like ‘majestic’ or ‘epic’?”
“How about ‘mine’?” I suggest, unable to stop the flood or hormones that makes me want to close those blinds, lose my pants and go to town on that thing.
Dream on, sister.
“Now, I continue, I do know a nefarious way or two we could find out where El Capitan is, but I’m not sure if I’m willing to risk life and limb to dial up those measures just yet.”
Hunter stretches out in the chair. His huge frame looks ridiculous in it. “So what do you suggest we do? Sit here and play tiddlywinks? Solitaire?”
“First things first, we’ve got to get the paperwork in for Doyle and his cumwads, because if the Captain does show and it’s not in… Well, I could head on down to the local Chuck E. Cheese’s if I wanted that kind of aural torture.”
Hunter’s right eyebrow twitches in amusement, the light shading of stubble highlighting his smirk. “You don’t like kids?”
“Tiny drunk adults, you mean? Full of snot and germs and god knows how many types of diseases. If I wanted to be slobbered on all day, I’d buy a dog, thanks.”
Hunter whistles. “That’s so weird. I totally had you pegged as a maternal type.”
I spin the computer screen around and hand him the keyboard. “How about you stop with the shade and start putting those magical fingers of yours to practice.”
He smiles seductively. “Your wish is my command.”