He saw Jed give her a look. “What the hell’s he talking about?”
“I don’t know.” The glare she shot Mack told him she knew exactly what he was talking about. Their Saturday morning.
He’d rather have just asked her on a date, but then she’d call him possessive. So he resorted to antagonizing her. Whatever worked.
He smiled easily. “Hey, you tried hard, I’ll give you that. But it’s okay. I still haven’t found anyone who can keep up with me. But you were better than most.” That was pushing it, but Cass would have to come back to him now. If only to punch his lights out.
Her eyes narrowed, and he could almost feel the laser beam slicing him from neck to groin.
“Great job tonight.” He waved and hurried into the truck before she could respond.
Brad drove them away, shooting Mack a questioning look in the rearview. He said over his shoulder, “What was that about?”
“That was to remind Cass that I’m not about to let her run scared. If she wants to win this fight, she needs to meet me head-on.” He gave the broken ankle patient more ice and shone a light at the potentially concussed man’s eyes. Yep. Pupils were definitely of unequal sizes.
Brad snorted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but she looked beyond annoyed. Watch out that she doesn’t swing by the station and clock you in front of everyone. Because if she puts you on your ass, you will never hear the end of it.”
Mack laughed. “I bet she could do it too.”
“You need help.”
“Yes, police help. I need a sexy officer to show me the error of my wicked ways.”
“Professional help,” Brad muttered. “Of the psychological kind.”
“I wonder how many pairs of cuffs she owns…”
***
Cass watched the mouthwateringly handsome Mack Revere take off in an ambulance with several men pending assault charges. But she couldn’t think past the fact he’d challenged her in front of people she knew. In front of Jed.
Should she confront him after her shift ended or just continue to ignore him? He hadn’t exactly hinted that they’d had sex. But he’d deliberately needled her about it in public, forcing her to hear him.
Tricky, manipulating son of a bitch.
She hated that she kind of liked that about him.
“What the hell was that about?” Jed asked later as they rode back from the precinct, having delivered several men for processing. “I thought you came out ahead Friday night. You beat Revere at darts, didn’t you?”
She fought a blush. Since Saturday morning, she hadn’t been able to stop thinking about Mack and how amazing he’d been in bed. It bothered her more than she could say that she still had no idea what he’d meant about being “one up” on her. Especially because that orgasm had rung her bell, and she honestly didn’t care who might have won some imaginary contest. To her way of thinking, they’d both been winners.
Her indecision on how to approach him had dragged, and several days had passed. What were the odds she’d find him out in the snow, taking care of the drunk and disorderlies she’d been calming down?
“Hello? Space cadet? What was he talking about? I thought you won the big money. You lost at pool but nailed him at darts.” Jed paused with a grin. “See what I did there? Younailedhim at darts?”
“Yeah, well, apparently he’s holding on to that win at pool.”
“You should make him eat those words. Challenge him to something else.”
“Why the interest, Jed?” She almost saidWhy the interest in my love life?but fortunately censored herself. Dating a firefighter? She’d never hear the end of it.
“Because no man I know can best Cassandra Carmichael. And no firefighter—no matter how connected he is through his brothers—deserves the Princess of Pain. You’re meant for bigger and brighter things, in my opinion.”
“Aw, Jed, you say the nicest things.” Princess of Pain? Ha. She’d have to jot that one down.
“Well, actually, there’s a reason you shouldn’t let his challenge go.”
“Oh lord. What now?”
