"You may go in now," she told Maritziasoftly.
Rushing to the door, she stopped and took a deepbreath before opening it. Sitting with his elbows on his desk, her uncle gaveher a small smile as she closed the door. A smile was good, right? Sweeping hergaze to Cade, Maritzia stopped short. The side of his face she could see waswelted and red. Immediately, she felt her heart reach out to him as she steppedcloser to him. Sensing her worry, Cade gave her a grin before replacing it witha dramatic little pout.
The pity she had for him evaporated as she made ahuffing noise under her breath and purposely looked away from him and back toher uncle.
"Chief, I-"
Andres held up a hand. "Save it,Ritzy."
The use of her nickname surprised her. Well, hecouldn’t be in too bad of a mood, she thought.
"You're not in trouble," he continued,"and you don't need to take responsibility for anything. Cade has alreadymade it quite clear you were not involved in any way."
She looked back at Cade's now serious expressionand couldn't help but linger over the bruise. She couldn’t believe they hadactually fought one another. How could she not be involved? It felt like all ofher fault. "But-"
Her uncle gave her a stern, quieting look.
Knowing when to shut up, Maritzia nodded."Sir."
Seeing that he had their full cooperation Andrescontinued. "By his own request, Victor has asked for a transfer to anotherprecinct. Understanding that would be best for all involved, I have granted it.His position will be replaced by Officer Hadley next week."
Maritzia felt relieved by that and also a littlehappy for Hadley since she knew the older female officer had always covetedVictor's position in the equipment room. The mom of four would certainlyappreciate the change.
"Okay, so be straight with me. Is this thingbetween you two finally happening?" Andres gestured between them.
The cold pit of dread that sat in her stomach outin the hall moments before completely vanished at his words, replaced by atwisting mortification that made her whole face heat up. Casting a worriedglance to Cade, Maritzia nearly groaned at his wide grin.
"Yes, it is, sir," Cade answeredhappily.
Andres nodded. "You will continue to workwith your new partners for the foreseeable future, and don't be surprised ifthe change becomes permanent," he added looking at Cade. "As Iexplained to you two before, I can only bend the rules so far until my ownsuperiors start questioning my judgment."
"Yes, sir," they both answered at once.
Nodding once more, Andres looked down at thepapers on his desk and began reading one. "However, not speaking as yourchief and speaking from a place of family—I'm glad you," he lookedpointedly at Cade, "finally got your shit together and went after her,instead of coming over to your mom's place at nearly midnight and heavy sighingall around her kitchen."
"Oh, I'm sorrydad," Cade raisedboth hands in the air. "Was I messing up your romance time with myprecious mother when I came overoccasionallyto get things off mychest?"
"As a matter of fact you did," Andrescoolly shot back and Maritzia smiled. "Now go. You both have work todo."
Leaving the office together they walked down thelong hall towards the elevators.
She could feel Cade's searching gaze on the sideof her face as they walked. "Are you mad at me?"
"Unbelievably so," she stated crisply.
"So, if I pull you into an empty room rightnow and kiss you until we lose track of time, you're saying you would not becompletely on board with that?"
Stopping abruptly, she turned to look at him,ignoring his handsome smile. "I'm saying I would lay you out on this floorright now," she threatened.
Cade lifted his shoulders in a slow shrug as hissmile grew larger. "I've never been big on PDA, but for you, I would covermy naked body in baby oil right here and right now while participating in themost obscene acts in the middle of this hallway."
Maritzia couldn’t help but laugh. "Cade, I'mserious. How could you get into a fight with Victor?! You know we walk on thinice around here as it is," she moaned.
Cade made a face that threatened mischief justbefore grabbing her elbow and pulling her into the nearby dead-end hallway.Cupping both of her elbows now, he stroked his thumbs back and forth across herskin as he gave her a penetrating look. She could tell by the firm set of hisjaw and the awareness rippling between them he wanted to pull her in close formore.
"Ritz, my shining sun, believe me when Itell you it took all my goddamn strength not to break the man's jaw. He got offlight. And you and I and everyone who knew the man knew he had an ass-beatingcoming. It's actually a crime how easy I let that piece of-"
"Cade!"
