Chapter 7
Brooke
Ryan hates me.
He was sitting at the edge of Dean’s desk and moved away as soon as Dean sat me down in his chair. “I wanted to ask you and your partner a few questions about the similarities in the crimes scenes,” my brother said, coolly. He thought whoever killed the cadets had something to do with the break-in at the dentist’s office.
Without giving me so much as a sideways glance, Ryan dragged another chair over for Mark to sit on, then shoved his hands in his pockets and stared down at the floor.
Even though Dean was asking Mark and me questions, I couldn’t stop myself from stealing quick glances at Ryan, and not giving any answers. I had none to really give. I was stuck daydreaming about how Ryan’s tongue had felt in my mouth.
How stunned his face looked when I pushed him away.
How I desperately wanted to pull him back, but was too damn scared. Being with someone else in the same office, again? I couldn’t deal with seeing the Captain every morning now. I wanted a transfer so badly I could taste it. Harris was already saying that I had started a relationship with him, because I wanted a promotion. What would my reputation be after it got around that I was screwing withsomeone elsea higher rank than me?
I peeked at Ryan again. He leaned back on the edge of another detective’s desk, arms folded across his chest. His face looked grim, like he had a lot on his mind, his eyes never looked up from the floor.
Dean fired questions at Mark while I kept my mouth shut, for fear I would embarrass myself and mention the words kiss, tongue, or anything about the damn dreams I had about Ryan all night.
Those dreams were so real my thighs were still tingling. I swallowed hard and tried to pay attention.
Mark was doing most of the talking. He mentioned Nathan’s and hotdogs a lot.
When we were both excused, Ryan straightened up and softly reached out to my wrist, tugging me back toward him. “I need you to tell me about your ex, Brooke,” he whispered. His eyes looked around behind me, “I’m going to need his or her name.”
“His orher?” I repeated.
“Trying to be politically correct here.”
“Well thank you. It’s been all men,” I said, stunned he asked so casually. He didn’t flirt at all like he normally did, and I found myself bothered by it. I wanted him to say something like great there’s more of a chance for me, but he remained quiet, gazing past me. It made my chest ache.
“There’s no need for you to know,” I said softly, shaking my head. “Believe me, this doesn’t have anything to do with him.”
“You went on a date with the dentist, and you worked closely to both cadets. One cadet even had a fight with his girlfriend, because she was so jealous of all the time he spent talking about you.” His tone was flat, and his eyes stared out over my shoulder. He waved to someone behind me and smiled with that flirty crooked grin of his. I would’ve bet it was the gorgeous-haired Martinez. Something strange burned in my chest, and I closed my eyes, pushing the jealous thoughts away.
“That’s not true, that’s…I…but…” I couldn’t focus on the words.
“It’s exactly what was said to me by his girlfriend,” he said, curtly.
“Cage. I promise you that there’s nothing—”
“Why are you so scared to tell me?” he snapped.
I couldn’t seem to stop myself from watching his lips move—the lips that kissed me. Did he think about the kiss at all? Or did he give up thinking about it, because I rejected him?
“Look, Fury. I understand if you don’t want to talk to me about it. I’m sorry about what happened last night. I should have never touched you,” he took a deep breath and raked his hand over his head. “And I promise, it will never happen again. But, at least tell your brother, so he can check shit out.”
“No, that’s…that’s not why I won’t say—” I stammered.
“Fury!” the captain roared in the hallway.
Shit. Shit. Shit. Not now. I didn’t want to deal with this now.
“In my office, now!” he shouted, banging his fist on the door.
Ryan pinched his lips tightly and shook his head, “Just talk to your brother, okay? Or the Captain. Tell someone you trust.” He kicked the chair out of the way with his foot and stalked off toward Martinez’s desk, instantly making me feel like vomiting.
Ugh. Get over it. It was my choice to push his gorgeous stupid lips away. Now, I had to deal with my decision.
