Mr. Nicholson. Just remember that you’re the one who asked for it.”
He practically growled. “You’re a pain in my ass, Elizabeth. Just say it.”
“Fine. You’re all tied up in knots, and I don’t mean because you’re using Livy as bait. You like her. I can see it in your eyes when you watch her.”
He didn't say a word.
“I know you do because when you’re afraid to say anything, you clam up. You don’t lie, and you can’t spit it out. I dare you to tell me I’m wrong. I bet you won’t do it. Lying is against your nature.”
“I really am going to transfer your ass somewhere miserable.”
She grinned.
Yeah, she was right.
“When are you going to ask her out?” Elizabeth pushed, not giving up. “You should.”
“It’s never going to happen. I can’t do it, and I won’t.” Gabe wanted to, but he was scared shitless. Little rattled him, but that redhead was a huge distraction.
“Why won’t you?”
“Because I can’t. Why can’t we just let it go at that? Why do you have to be so damn nosey?”
She laughed. “You love when my nosey is related to a case. I’ve closed them all.”
He growled at her.
“I can do this all day,” Elizabeth warned. “You know how that makes you bat shit insane. I’m going to keep asking you until you answer. Next time, it’ll be in front of her, and you know how uncomfortable that’s going to be.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Really? Does that sound like me? Who do you know that likes awkward silences more than me?”
He closed his eyes.
“I hate you.”
She laughed.
“Fine! I do like her. I like her far too much, and that’s a bad thing. I’m going to run this nut house one day, and she’s a distraction.”
“How?”
“Sex is a distraction, Elizabeth.”
She didn't bat an eyelash. “Sex is great for the body, it’s fun, and you need to get laid on a regular basis—friends with benefits isn’t enough. You’re stressed to the max.”
He opened his mouth, and then closed it.
Elizabeth grinned.
“You realize I’m technically your boss, right? Me discussing my sex life with you is very wrong.”
“I’m aware. You also realize we’re friends, and I know you pretty damn well. We’ve done stakeouts together, I’ve had beers with you, and we’re close. Hell! I was your date to your high school reunion because you didn't want to show up alone. I kissed you to pretend I was infatuated with you. I think I’ve earned this one, Gabe.”
He was aware.
“I knew that fake date was going to bite me in the ass.”
“Hey, you didn't mind when all the men were calling you a cradle robber and lucky man, now did you? I even wore that slutty dress and heels. Time to pay up, my friend.”
Gabe knew the woman before him was more than a friend. She was a confidante. She was right. He’d taken her to the reunion, made all the assholes jealous, and didn't mind using her. So, he did owe her.
“I like her, but it can’t go any further. What would you have me do?” he asked.
“Ask her out, have sex, and have fun. My partner is just as distracted as you are, and we all know that’s dangerous.”
“Finally! One of the things I taught you stuck. I never expected you to hand it back to me though.”
“Seriously. She’d be good for you, Gabe.”
“I can’t. I’d rather just hook up with some random woman.” Yeah, because he was crazy about Livy and he couldn’t start a relationship with anyone. Despite his denial, he knew the truth.
“Hey! I’m not having sex with you. I took one for the team with the reunion. It felt weird making out with you on the dance floor. I still have nightmares.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t thinking you.”
Truth be told, he was thinking about Livy.
“The vein in your forehead is throbbing, Gabe.”
He closed his eyes. “I can’t fool around with someone who works under me. We both know it. I can lose my job. I’ve worked too hard to lose my path now.”
She leaned forward. “I'm going to
He practically growled. “You’re a pain in my ass, Elizabeth. Just say it.”
“Fine. You’re all tied up in knots, and I don’t mean because you’re using Livy as bait. You like her. I can see it in your eyes when you watch her.”
He didn't say a word.
“I know you do because when you’re afraid to say anything, you clam up. You don’t lie, and you can’t spit it out. I dare you to tell me I’m wrong. I bet you won’t do it. Lying is against your nature.”
“I really am going to transfer your ass somewhere miserable.”
She grinned.
Yeah, she was right.
“When are you going to ask her out?” Elizabeth pushed, not giving up. “You should.”
“It’s never going to happen. I can’t do it, and I won’t.” Gabe wanted to, but he was scared shitless. Little rattled him, but that redhead was a huge distraction.
“Why won’t you?”
“Because I can’t. Why can’t we just let it go at that? Why do you have to be so damn nosey?”
She laughed. “You love when my nosey is related to a case. I’ve closed them all.”
He growled at her.
“I can do this all day,” Elizabeth warned. “You know how that makes you bat shit insane. I’m going to keep asking you until you answer. Next time, it’ll be in front of her, and you know how uncomfortable that’s going to be.”
“You wouldn’t.”
“Really? Does that sound like me? Who do you know that likes awkward silences more than me?”
He closed his eyes.
“I hate you.”
She laughed.
“Fine! I do like her. I like her far too much, and that’s a bad thing. I’m going to run this nut house one day, and she’s a distraction.”
“How?”
“Sex is a distraction, Elizabeth.”
She didn't bat an eyelash. “Sex is great for the body, it’s fun, and you need to get laid on a regular basis—friends with benefits isn’t enough. You’re stressed to the max.”
He opened his mouth, and then closed it.
Elizabeth grinned.
“You realize I’m technically your boss, right? Me discussing my sex life with you is very wrong.”
“I’m aware. You also realize we’re friends, and I know you pretty damn well. We’ve done stakeouts together, I’ve had beers with you, and we’re close. Hell! I was your date to your high school reunion because you didn't want to show up alone. I kissed you to pretend I was infatuated with you. I think I’ve earned this one, Gabe.”
He was aware.
“I knew that fake date was going to bite me in the ass.”
“Hey, you didn't mind when all the men were calling you a cradle robber and lucky man, now did you? I even wore that slutty dress and heels. Time to pay up, my friend.”
Gabe knew the woman before him was more than a friend. She was a confidante. She was right. He’d taken her to the reunion, made all the assholes jealous, and didn't mind using her. So, he did owe her.
“I like her, but it can’t go any further. What would you have me do?” he asked.
“Ask her out, have sex, and have fun. My partner is just as distracted as you are, and we all know that’s dangerous.”
“Finally! One of the things I taught you stuck. I never expected you to hand it back to me though.”
“Seriously. She’d be good for you, Gabe.”
“I can’t. I’d rather just hook up with some random woman.” Yeah, because he was crazy about Livy and he couldn’t start a relationship with anyone. Despite his denial, he knew the truth.
“Hey! I’m not having sex with you. I took one for the team with the reunion. It felt weird making out with you on the dance floor. I still have nightmares.”
He laughed. “I wasn’t thinking you.”
Truth be told, he was thinking about Livy.
“The vein in your forehead is throbbing, Gabe.”
He closed his eyes. “I can’t fool around with someone who works under me. We both know it. I can lose my job. I’ve worked too hard to lose my path now.”
She leaned forward. “I'm going to
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