Hot Pursuit by Jo Davis Page A

into a grim line, his expression determined. “And no police. Taylor knows what happened and that’s enough.”
    Understanding the boy couldn’t afford a hospital visit, Taylor felt bad for him. Since he didn’t seem to be that badly hurt, he wasn’t about to push the issue. He didn’t blame the boy for not wanting an official police report, either. He knew male pride, not to mention suspicion of authority figures, all too well. Especially being young, with nothing and no one to turn to.
    Taylor interjected. “That’s fine—no hospital or police. But if you see those guys anywhere around again, you
will
tell me so Shane and I can deal with them.”
    The boy nodded, looking shaken. “Promise.”
    Cara sighed, giving in. “Okay. But if you get a bad headache or blurred vision or can’t breathe—”
    â€œYes, Mom,” Blake interrupted. “I’ll go if I think I’m gonna keel over. Okay?”
    â€œYou’re damned right you will.”
    Cara headed out of the restroom behind the boy, hovering over him like a mother hen. Taylor thought that was funny. Sweet, too, and directly opposite the prickly attitude she’d shown Taylor. Fascinating.
    Is it all men who’re interested that she doesn’t like, or is it just me?
    â€œTaylor?” Blake paused, letting him catch up. “Thanks for being there.”
    â€œAlways, kid.”
    Cara gave him an inscrutable look and said, “See you at closing time.”
    Then she was gone, ushering her charge though the crowd. Humming to himself, Taylor went back to his table, where Shane immediately pounced on him.
    â€œWhere the hell have you been?”
    â€œMaking a hot date for later,” he said, trying not to sound smug.
    â€œReally? Damn, you work fast.” His partner took a swig of his beer. “Who is she?”
    Just then, the band kicked off their new set, and the floors vibrated as Cara’s smoky voice crooned the first lines of “Barracuda.” Grinning, Taylor pointed toward her.
    Shane followed his finger, then looked back at Taylor, mouth open. “Her? No fucking way.”
    â€œWay.”
    â€œYou dog! How’d you score that?” Cunningham bellowed above the music.
    â€œIt’s a talent,” Taylor shouted back. Ignoring his friends’ whistles and jokes, he sat back and enjoyed himself.
    And if his love interest wasn’t quite as enamored as he believed? Well, they didn’t have to know that.
    But he was going to change her mind if it was the last thing he did.
    Watch me.
    â€¢Â Â Â â€¢Â Â Â â€¢
    Cara watched the handsome blond all through her sets. Couldn’t take her eyes off him no matter how hard she tried.
    Taylor fucking Kayne
. He wasn’t supposed to be so together. So damned
nice
. On top of that, he obviously cared a great deal about Blake, and the feeling was mutual. Nothing weird about their relationship that she could tell—just a man who’d befriended a homeless teen and wanted to see him succeed. To be almost an older brother figure.
    On their set breaks, the detective didn’t seek her out the rest of the night. Why had that become increasingly more irritating as the night wore on? Her attraction to him was nuts. She didn’t just dislike the man.
    She hated his
fucking guts
.
    Or thought she did. Until she met the man and he wasn’t anything like the monster she’d imagined. Now she was baffled. Curious completely against her will. She wanted—no,
needed
—to find out who the real man was behind the cute, lopsided smile and gorgeous green eyes. Looked like she’d get her chance, too.
    Maybe a golden opportunity had been dropped into her lap. Instead of watching and waiting for an opportunity to destroy him from afar, she’d do it from within his inner circle. Sort of like the Trojan horse—come as a friend, then vanquish the enemy in his own