Between The Lines (Hot in the City, #4)

1. Auflage 2021
ISBN: 978-0-6487943-3-2
Verlag: T
Format: EPUB
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 263 Seiten

Reihe: Hot in the City

Justin Tibbs might be a hot, athletic, and amazing firefighter but he also has a reputation as a manwhore. Tessa Ricci worked too long and too hard to be taken seriously in the NYPD to fall victim to his charm.
Assuming he was interested, which he wasn't.
Until he was.
And then neither of them was sure who was seducing who.

Autoren/Hrsg.

T

Leseproben

Tessa

NEVER LEAVE A fallen soldier behind.

It had been drummed into me since before I could walk, service and sacrifice hardwired into my DNA like my brown eyes and dark hair. Not that I had much of a choice when both my parents were retired military, each of them having done stints deployed in warzones. Mom was Air Force, and Dad, a Marine, and it didn’t matter they’d long hung up their uniforms, they lived—and held their two daughters—to the same standard.

“Okay, so here’s what’s going to happen.” My eyes panned across the room, cataloging intel as I memorized the layout. “You’re going to start on the south perimeter and work your way in. I’ll keep eyes on you and be your backup. If it looks like it’s getting hairy, I’ll come in and pull you out.”

“I don’t know, Ricci,” Miller hesitated, the fear in his eyes very real, “maybe we fall back, get some more recon.”

A frustrated breath blew out my lips, my commitment to my partner and my last name keeping my feet rooted in their place. “Grayson,” I used his first name, hoping it would ease some of the tension, “you can do this. It’s been two months since Maxine left and you said that meeting someone new was what you wanted.”

Spending Saturday night at a club with a friend was never a hardship, but Vault was the shiny new thing in the Meatpacking District and filled with pretentious assholes. I also despised Maxine, and as much as I hated seeing my friend going through the heartbreak, I was glad she was gone.

He was visibly deflated, scanning the offerings of beautiful women but lacking any of the confidence he’d had when we’d walked in. And when you’re a cop in New York City, confidence wasn’t something that was usually in short supply.

“Miller, you’re a good guy. You’re smart and good-looking, and any woman would be lucky to have you. Don’t try and find someone to date, just go have a conversation. Let them tell you how great you are, because you obviously don’t believe me.”

He shrugged, sinking his hands into his pockets. “Maybe it’s too soon? And speaking of getting out there, why aren’t you? I know you didn’t wear that dress for my benefit.” His eyes floated down my mostly exposed body. “Not that I don’t appreciate the effort.”

My balled fist punched him in the arm, laughing as I tossed my hair back. “Just because I have to keep myself regulation appropriate most of the time, doesn’t mean I don’t like reminding the world I’m a woman. And you’re welcome, just don’t stare at my tits too long and make it weird.”

Miller’s lips spread into a smile, shaking his head as he looked back at the crowd. “Fine, I’m going in. But if I give you the signal, you pretend I’m like your baby daddy or something like that and get me the hell out. I’m out of practice, and these women look like they’d eat me alive.”

“Only if you’re lucky, Miller.” I gave him a not-so-gentle shove. “And I’ll extract you from hostile territory the minute you put out the distress call.”

Like a proud parent on the first day of school, I watched as my amazing partner, Grayson Miller, took the first tentative steps into the crowd. I knew he would be okay, which was why I agreed to go to Vault in the first place.

While our station was in the Hell’s Kitchen precinct, over the bridge in Brooklyn was where we called home. I lived in a tiny cubbyhole my dad told me I was paying way too much for, with Grayson living in a cupboard remarkably similar about a few miles away. It was dumb luck that we got along so well, our friendship evolving from the minute we’d been paired up by the department. And while there’d never been a romantic attraction between us, I would, without a doubt, take a bullet for him. So I guess standing around a nightclub while he tried to get lucky wasn’t such a big deal.

And as much as we hated coming into the city on our time off, Manhattan was definitely the place for our latest mission. Not only were there more options, but no one seemed to care what we did. And if you were looking to hook-up rather than hunt for a relationship, being somewhere no one gave a shit was preferable.

“Hey, beautiful.” Some dude in a suit sidled up next to me as I watched Grayson from a safe distance. “What’s someone as sexy as you doing alone in a place like this?”

I tried not to laugh, wondering if his old man had given him pointers. Because surely that little gem didn’t work after 1985. Turning, I noticed that while his line might have been tired and old, he wasn’t. He was good-looking, late twenties to early thirties, and his suit was incredibly well-tailored. It fit him just right, showing off his attributes in the best possible light, which is why I assumed he was wearing it.

“I’m not alone.” I smiled, deciding I wasn’t interested in the distraction. The night wasn’t about me, and even though it had been a while since I’d had a hook-up of my own, I needed to stay focused. “Better luck next time.”

“So, where’s your date?” Suit man didn’t take the hint, glancing around us and probably expecting some angry possessive meathead to make an appearance.

“Why? Am I a piece of luggage that can’t be left unattended?” I asked, slightly irritated. “Or are you angling for a threesome and want to see if he’s up to par?”

Suit man’s eyes blinked wide in surprise, probably not expecting the last part. And I’ll admit, it was added purely for shock value. Because if I had to tolerate a stupid question then I might as well entertain myself.

His silence spoke volumes, his mouth opening and closing with no real comeback. It was clear that looks were all he had going for him, which was a shame because I might have welcomed a little intellectual sparring. Foreplay was mental for me as much as it was physical.

“Nothing?” I shrugged, already bored. “Better stay in the shallow end of the pool then, have a good night.” I grinned, leaving him with what I thought was some helpful advice as I went looking for Grayson.

It wasn’t ideal that I’d lost my line of sight, praying he hadn’t gotten himself into too much trouble, or was looking for a bailout while I’d been occupied.

“Ricci!” I heard my name, a female voice calling me from the direction of the bar. My head swiveled, torn between continuing to look for my partner or acknowledging whoever wanted my attention. My eyes flicked back to where Grayson had disappeared, squinting as I tried to find him in the sea of people.

“Ricci!”

My name again, the choice made for me as I felt a tug on my arm. “Hey, I thought it was you. I can’t believe the law is in my house and didn’t say hello.” Her eyes floated over my dress before returning to my face. “Oh, so I guess you’re here on pleasure rather than business.”

Her smirk was predictable, the fiery redhead not known for being subtle. I grinned, lifting a shoulder in a shrug. “I’m trying to blend in, Raelle. Advertising I’m a cop is probably bad for business.”

“Please,” she scoffed, waving her hands. “You think Marcus would let anything illegal go down in here? You guys wouldn’t even be able to cite someone for littering in this place. But it’s good to see you enjoying the spoils of our fine city. Let me know if you want me to set you up. There is a day trader, that is hotter than should be legal, sitting at the bar primed for a good time. And trust me, in that dress,” her finger swirled in my direction, “there isn’t a man in this place going to assume you’re a cop.”

Well, if anyone knew what the men in the club were thinking, it would be Raelle. As the sultry bar manager for the hottest new club, she was living up to both of those reputations. She was beautiful with an unapologetic sexy vibe, unashamed to flaunt what she had while working the bar like she’d been born to do it. Guess that was how she’d noticed me in a crowd of sweaty, gyrating bodies, her eagle eyes spotting that I wasn’t looking to score like everyone else.

“I’m just here to help Miller get over his cheating ex, not really interested for myself.”

It wasn’t a lie either, my expectations of finding anyone remotely engaging were at an all-time low. Not because the men in the club weren’t attractive, that wasn’t the problem. But because I was tired of dealing with guys who were intimidated by the badge or my attitude. Even in a city as big as New York, it was hard to find someone who was secure enough in his own manhood to deal with me. And despite sometimes feeling like I was “too much,” I refused to compromise. At least for the current week. A cheeky hook-up, with a guy who didn’t know who signed my paycheck, could very well be on the agenda at some point in the future if my hormones took over.

“Miller looks like he has it handled.” Raelle lifted her brow, my partner shooting us a sly smile as he came into view. He’d acquired some company since he’d disappeared, an enthusiastic...