Burnout (NYPD Blue & Gold) by Tee O'Fallon

is a chili aficionado and eats it every day for lunch.”
    She leveled her gaze at Rose. “Don’t start with me about him again.”
    “Okay, okay.” Rose threw up her hands. “I’m only saying there’s a chemistry there you can’t deny. Anyone can see it. Even Danny, right kid?”
    Danny paused in the middle of loading a dishwasher. “Right, Rose.”
    “See?”
    “Boss, get out of my kitchen. Chuck and I can make the menu without you.” Cassie crossed her arms, shaking her head as Rose laughed and sauntered out of the kitchen.
    Cassie turned back to her menu and ingredient list, but after a few minutes, threw down her pen. Try as she might, she couldn’t get the town’s sexy police chief off her mind. Even with his cop haircut, he had a handsome, rakish look, especially with that intriguing scar on his forehead. And the way those incredible blue eyes sizzled with sensuality when he got annoyed…
    The thought of razzing Mike made her grin. She’d thoroughly enjoyed sparring with him. He had as sharp a wit as any guy she’d met. Ironically, her own bubbly nature went right out the window around him, and she’d acted like a real bitch. When she’d risen from behind the counter to find him watching her, she’d been excited to see him again. But the minute she saw that navy blue uniform with the gold stripe emblazoned on each pant leg, the .45 caliber Glock on his duty belt, and the gleaming gold badge on his broad chest, her ecstasy plummeted twenty floors and crashed right into the basement.
    Aside from anxiety over the police chief’s suspicion, she’d laughed and smiled more since arriving in Hopewell Springs than she could ever remember. But with the contract out on her, she couldn’t afford to lose her edge.
    Going soft could get her killed.

Chapter Four
    Scents of fresh marinara sauce, warm cheese, and herbs teased Cassie’s nose as she wrapped up the leftover roasted vegetable lasagna, although it was such a hit there wasn’t much left. The thought made her smile. As it had every day since she’d begun working at the Nest, a feeling of contentment spread like warm butter over her soul. Something she’d never had working for the NYPD.
    The antique bell over the Nest’s front door jangled. Cassie stared as the door slowly opened. The man entering wore a ball cap obscuring his face. Her grip on the spatula handle tightened. When he doffed his cap, she easily identified him as a town local and blew out a breath. Surveilling the door every time someone came in was becoming annoying and draining, but what if she was wrong and really had divulged her location to Dom over the bugged phone? With the likelihood there was a dirty cop in the precinct who might have overheard something, it wasn’t a risk worth taking.
    The last thing she wanted was to put the townspeople at risk because of her. They’d be totally helpless against Rod Manici and his crew of slimy thugs, let alone a professional assassin. She loved it here in Hopewell Springs, but was she being selfish? Maybe she really should go into protective custody the way Dom and Gray wanted. But the more she thought about it, the more certain she was that she hadn’t shared her exact location over Dom’s desk line. Definitely not.
    The front door jangled again. This time the dark blue uniform was easily identifiable, but it was Jimmy, not Mike. She waved to him through the kitchen opening.
    “Hey, Cass,” he called out as he gave her his little-boy grin, displaying two of the cutest dimples. No wonder Rose was hot for him. The guy was a doll.
    Despite telling herself that she’d only been eyeing the door for contract assassins, she’d been hoping Mike would stop in so she could apologize for her rude behavior yesterday. Yeah, right . She couldn’t stop thinking about him. His dark blue eyes had been the last thing she remembered before falling asleep last night and the first thing she thought of when she woke up this morning.
    The TV on the