Page 42 of Professional Consult

I relish the shocked expression that washes over Luke’s face.

“Officer Stick Up Ass—you need to learn to lighten up.”

“You just look so damn innocent, it’s a shock hearing you cuss.”

“How is it so shocking when you’ve seen this angelic face behind bars?”

“Point taken.”

“You know who’s not an angel? Barb. She threatened to turn Bernard into a rug.”

“Yeah, well, she’s going to be pissed.”

“Why is that?”

“Yesterday was a busy day, and today, crickets.”

“I hear you’re part of the fire department, too.”

“I help out when I can, but to be honest, there are only around three events a year.”

“You’re a real life town hero.”

He huffs out a breath. “I am a far cry from that.”

“No, seriously. People write Lifetime and Hallmark movies about men like you.”

He turns his face, but I can see by his expression that he’s pleased.

After lunch, we continue working on takedowns and other moves, but when the walkie-talkie buzzes to life, it’s game time.

And by game time, I mean we’re needed to assist with getting a raccoon out from under someone’s porch. Apparently, small-town police officers do a whole lot of pest control.

Seated in the cruiser after a fairly productive morning, I can’t help but admire the police chief. He is a busy man, a jack of all trades, and a master of many.

And he’s a filthy kind of hot that makes me wish we’d gotten down and dirty like Alvin had insinuated. He’s not pretty-boy muscular, he’s rigid and manly with a sharp jaw and a dusting of stubble I long to feel against my inner thighs.

His rough, calloused hands are certainly not Hollywood leading man quality, which only makes me long for them to touch me more.

I wish I could hate Luke as much as I hated Clint, because then it would be easy to focus on the mission. I’ve worked with dozens of people I’ve hated, and our animosity only led to me giving stellar performances.

But Barb’s warning still lingers in my ear.

“Lay off Luke,”she had said with a stern gaze, to tell me she meant business.

It’s not like she’s hot for the man herself, which means there’s a reason she wants me to keep this strictly professional.

Maybe she’s worried it will end up in the tabloids or an interview I might give. Or perhaps there’s something more to it.

Luke lives alone, and I have a strong feeling he doesn’t date. So he must want to be alone.

Or…he doesn’t have a choice.

But that’s crazy because he’s a woman’s wet dream.

Perhaps in a few days, the answer will reveal itself. It’s not like I’m down for sexy time at the moment, seeing as how I just started my period, so this is a good time to let tension simmer.

“What are we doing next?” I ask the good chief.