My gaze slid past him, tracking the man ahead of me as he slowed near the end of the block.
“Now’s not a good time, Burke,” I said, keeping my tone even.
“That serious?” he asked, amused. “Because if it is, that opens up a whole new set of?—”
“Burke,” I cut in quietly, stopping just long enough to meet his eyes. “Whatever you’re fishing for, you’re not getting it from me.”
His smile widened. “Still feisty. That’s what I always liked about you.”
“Always disappointed I never went out with you,” I said, already stepping away.
He chuckled. “Still working on that.”
I didn’t respond. I simply resumed walking, letting the crowd on the sidewalk absorb him as my attention snapped back where it belonged.
The man ahead of me had paused again, this time near the corner. He checked his phone, glanced up the street, then slipped it back into his pocket. Not indecisive—deliberate.
I adjusted my pace, putting a little more distance between us.
That’s when I nearly walked straight into Josh.
“Pep,” he said, distracted, running a hand through his hair. “You got a minute?”
I stopped short. “Josh. Now’s not great.”
He barely seemed to notice my tone. “Have you talked to Kate yet?”
“Not yet,” I said.
“She is still slow at answering my texts,” he said, frustration bleeding through. “And doesn’t always pick up my calls.”
“Here’s a suggestion—talk to her about it,” I said for the umpteenth time, already edging sideways so I could keep the man in my peripheral vision.
“I don’t want to go in blind to what could be a difficult situation.”
My mouth dropped open for a moment. “You’re a police officer. You go blind into situations every day.”
“This is different,” he snapped, annoyed. “And why are you giving me grief over it. Just talk to her for me.”
“Will do,” I said, realizing if the guy turned and spotted a police officer, he might just take off. Proof of his guilt? And a chance at losing him.
“Do it soon,” he ordered like a general, expecting immediate results and got into his patrol car.
I refocused my attention on the guy. He had reached another corner and slowed, as if deciding his next move.
And I did the same, decided on my next move. I had enough tailing. It was time to talk with him. I straightened my shoulders, lengthened my stride, and was about to call out to the guy when?—
I was suddenly pulled into someone’s arms.
Before I could react, lips pressed against mine.
A solid kiss.
Long enough to stun me and long enough to throw me completely off balance.
My first coherent thought was What the?—
My second was… Stone.
