I jogged down the hall to our lab at school. Today was a day I was supposed to be at the department, but first I needed to grab an updated book on some of the equipment. The technicians were quick to pick up the protocols and this book was a great tool. I turned the corner and bumped into a wall. Well, maybe not exactly a wall, I realized as I stumbled back and stared up into a pair of smiling brown eyes.

“Whoa. Careful there.” Dr. Voet gripped my upper arms to help keep me on my feet. “Where’s the fire?”

I laughed. “No fire, just trying to run in for a book.” I swallowed, always nervous around him, and brushed my hair back from my face. “Sorry about that.”

“No worries.” His grip loosened and his hands dragged down to my elbows before letting go. That was normal. A harmless, normal gesture. “I’m glad I ran into you—or actually you into me. I wanted to ask you how things were going at the police department.”

“Great. They have all new equipment and, not that I would admit to anyone, I may have Googled how to turn on the HPLC. Turns out they moved the on switch to the other side.”

“It’s always the smallest things that trip us up. And how are the technicians? Are they picking up on it okay?”

“Yeah, they’re doing great. Really fast learners and they ask all the right questions. Thank goodness.”

“Good. One of them used to do research in my lab a few years ago. Frank, I think.”

“Oh, yeah. Frank is really funny and very smart.” Frank was probably too advanced to be a technician, but said he didn’t have the time to devote to going to grad school.

“Well, I won’t keep you. I just wanted to check in to see how it was going, and I always seem to miss you on the days you’re here. Keep up the good work.” I almost choked on my tongue when his hand patted my shoulder and then dragged down my arm before he walked away. I tried to decide if the giggle bubbling up my throat was from nerves or excitement at the overly familiar touch.

“Lingering in the hallway is unacceptable and a waste of time,” Jolene said in a deep voice behind me. I turned and rolled my eyes. “Don’t let Dr. Stahl see you. You know how much he hates when you waste time instead of slaving away over his notes.”

I walked alongside her to our room. “I’m just swinging by to grab a book and then I’m heading out.”

“Well, you can take five minutes to give me the DL. I feel like we’re ships passing in the night and never have time to catch up at work.”

“Not my fault you have a man to keep you busy.”

She bit her lip and smiled. “I know, I know. But he makes my late nights at his place worth it.”

I smirked. “I bet he does.”

“Okay. Tell me. How is the station with Shane, and how was your date Sunday night?”

“Honestly, other than that one time, I haven’t really seen Shane at the station. They keep me locked away with all the pretty new equipment.”

“Ugh, bitch. I’m so jealous of all your cool toys.”

“Don’t be too jealous. My date Sunday was a bust. He was a total creeper. I think he applied four thousand coats of Chapstick throughout the night. And would only drink half a cup of water before demanding a fresh, new one. Also, his hand tapped against the table the entire meal. So annoying.”

“Wow. Sounds . . .Awesome. Were his lips at least soft at the end of the night?” she asked, sounding hopeful.

“Er. I wouldn’t know because I was not going to even try.”

“Are you giving up? I know this weekend was a bust.”

“Hell, no. I met another guy at the supermarket on Tuesday, and he’s taking me out Saturday.”

“Yes, girl.” She lifted her hand for a high-five.

“Okay, I have to get going. Let’s make a date for ice cream, pizza, and movies soon.”

“You had me at ice cream.”

Mercifully, I made it out of the building without running into Dr. Stahl. Last time I saw him, he gave me a disapproving speech about falling behind in my research, and informed me that he knew it was hard for a woman to multitask effectively, but to at least try. I thought I was going to need to make an appointment with the dentist after grinding my teeth through that talk. He was such a dick.

When I strolled into the lab, Laney greeted me with a smile. “Before you get settled can you take this up to the Chief? They’re the results he’s waiting on for a case.”

“Sure.” I set my purse down and hung up my coat before heading to the bullpen. Was Shane working? Would he stare at me as I walked past his desk toward the Chief’s office? I wore a new pair of slacks, and they made my ass look fantastic if I had to say myself. Would he imagine gripping each cheek and hoisting me against the wall and grind into my core? Maybe he’d follow me out and corner me in a supply closet, unable to control himself.

Stop! I squeezed my eyes shut, forcing my imagination to quit with the possibilities. He probably wasn’t there, just like he hadn’t been there the entire week.

Except that he was there, and as soon as I saw his dirty blond hair across the room, I stood a little taller, swayed my hips a little harder in case he looked. And he did look. I’d made it about halfway to the office when his eyes zeroed in on me. I smiled—to be polite—not because my heart skipped a beat in my chest and butterflies fluttered in my stomach. My body would never be so traitorous.

Unfortunately, his eyes didn’t track to my ass looking fantastic. Instead, he gave me his signature blank stare.

I softly knocked on the open door.

“Come in,” a gruff voice responded.

I walked in and smiled awkwardly at the large man with dark mocha skin behind the desk. “Mr. Pearson.”

“Yes?”

I stepped forward and held out the file. “I’m Juliana. From the forensic lab. Laney asked me to bring these up to you.” As soon as I explained who I was his expression went from irritated to relaxed and smiling.

“Ah, yeah, Ms. MacCabe. I’ve heard a lot about you from Jack. I should’ve recognized you since you both have the same blue eyes.”

“I get that a lot.”

He stood and took the file, but blindly set it on his desk, still smiling at me. “How are you liking the Queen City?”

“I love it. Cincinnati is beautiful.”

“Good. Good. Well if you ever need anything, you let me know, and we’ll be sure to help however we can. We like to take care of our own here.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

I walked out the door and only managed to take two steps before I ran into another wall. “Dammit.” I swore at my clumsiness and stumbled back, looking up into a pair of familiar light eyes.

“How was your date, Mini MacCabe?”

I didn’t know why he was asking. By his condescending tone, probably just to taunt me, but I wasn’t going to give him the opportunity. I plastered a big smile on my face. “It was fantastic. He was a real gentleman. Hot. Such a strong man.”

I accentuated the word ‘man’ as a rebuttal to all the times he told me I should go date little boys.

He laughed under his breath and stepped closer. “Did he take you home? Kiss you goodnight?” he asked, his voice deep and gruff.

I swallowed past the dryness in my throat. He was closer to me than he’d been since our night in Jamaica, which wasn’t saying much, but it still kicked up my heart rate. “A lady never kisses and tells, Shane.”

Another step, this time almost coming into contact with me. I struggled to keep my aloof composure when he went one step further and leaned closer to my face.

He hummed. “Did he find out what you sound like when you scream? Moan? Come? Does he know that you taste rich and decadent?”

My eyes dropped to his lips as they formed the words. My mind scrambled to form a response. Taking in his words, I replayed the way he made me scream, moan, and come as he figured out how I tasted.

“Shane.” I breathed his name, unable to control the small pants puffing past my lips. “Why do you care?” I didn’t understand why he would push me away, make fun of my dates, and then taunt me with what had happened between us. He had to know what his words were doing to me. I just didn’t understand why he was saying them.

He opened his mouth and took an incremental step forward. One more inch and we’d be chest to chest.

“I didn’t do it!” A shout came from the front of the office. “I swear. Get your hands off me.” Our heads jerked in the direction of the commotion and saw two officers bringing in a man who clearly seemed to be resisting.

I took in the dirty jeans and white t-shirt, looking up to find a familiar face. “Oh, shit.”

There, being dragged into the station, was my date. The one I’d just been talking up.

“What?” Shane asked beside me.

I stepped back and tried to turn my body, but the motion drew the man’s attention.

“Hey! Hey, baby,” he directed at me. Then turned to the two cops over his shoulder. “She can tell you. Her. Baby, tell them I would never be a creeper. I’m a good guy.” The whole station turned to look at me–Baby. “She knows. We went on a date. Tell them Julie. Baby! Julie!”

My face flamed. I dropped my head and worked to take subtle, deep breaths to help control the way my blood was pounding underneath my skin. I could feel Shane’s eyes on me, and I seriously considered just running out without looking at him. Maybe I’d never have to see him again.

“It wasn’t me,” he said again. “That lady was lying about me jerking it to her. And even so, maybe she shouldn’t leave her blinds open. She was wanting me to see her.” I cringed and felt a little sick that I sat across from him for an hour over dinner. “Julie!” he shouted one last time as they took him through the door.

Shane chuckled next to me, and I glared at him from beneath my lashes, still not facing him head on.

“Sounds like a good date, Julie. Can’t wait to see who you date next.”

“Fuck you.” It was a real mature response. And his laughter as I stormed away was really the icing on the cake.