She’d always been petite, topping just a couple inches over five feet.Her Italian heritage was strong, with clear olive skin and dark eyes fringed with thick lashes that reminded him of a gypsy who could bewitch with just a look.Her brows were thick and delicately arched, and she had a mane of dark hair that made him long to feel it across his skin once more.
Her hair was longer than it had been the last time he’d seen her.And gone were the waves that had been the bane of her existence.It was thick and straight, and streaks of royal purple peeked between the black.He liked it.A lot.And high on his priority list was getting his hands in it.
She wore a plain black tank top.Her arm was covered from shoulder to wrist with an intricate sleeve tattoo, and he could see she’d added to it since the last time he’d seen her.That arm told an entire story, and he wondered if she’d added him anywhere, or if he’d even mattered enough.
Her figure was full and feminine.In fact, she’d filled out everywhere beautifully.The way she carried herself made his mouth go dry, and he remembered what it felt like to hold her close.
“Well, great,” she said.
Her words pulled him back to the present.“It’s good to see you too, Mia.”His voice was husky and he cleared his throat.“I thought you told me you were getting as far away from this state as you could?Looks like you didn’t make it very far.”
She smiled and a lesser man would’ve felt his courage shrivel.“No,” she said politely.“I told you I was getting as far away from you as I could.Isn’t your field office out of Boise?You’re a little far from home.”
He shrugged, unoffended.“Not that far.”He matched her smile with one of his own, and for the first time in too long he felt the embers of excitement starting to flame into anticipation.
That was the danger with working undercover.He’d been doing it for fifteen years.The fear wasn’t as strong as it had once been.He had to pay closer attention to the little signs and signals that his gut used to be better at picking up on.He’d known for a couple of years it was time to get out of the game.Before he ended up getting killed or getting one of his men killed.It had taken him forty years on earth to understand what was really important in life.And she was standing right in front of him.Now he just had to prove it to her.And it looked like it was going to be a heck of a job.
Zeke looked at Barnes and debated whether or not to rearrange his face for putting his hands on Mia.Or for just being a jerk in general.Whether he put a fist in his face or not, he could make the guy’s life miserable.
“Take it back to headquarters, Barnes.We’ll talk when I get back.You’re on unpaid leave until I can figure out what to do with you.”
“What for?”he asked, incredulously.“She just tried to break my jaw.”
“Every word she said is true.You pushed your way in here using intimidation and force.Your orders were simple.You’re the one who chose to take them in a different direction.I didn’t want you on my team to begin with, but didn’t figure you’d be this stupid if I actually let you out in public.You’re a disgrace to every cop that puts his life on the line.So you’ve got about three seconds before I don’t ask you to go so nicely,” Zeke said.“And if you ever touch her again you’ll get to see what it’s like to be someone’s enemy behind bars.”
Zeke almost wished Barnes would do something stupid.He could see it in the other man’s face.He had a quick temper, he wasn’t a team player, and Zeke had never trusted him.He didn’t deserve to carry a badge, but sometimes it was better to keep those people close where you could keep an eye on them.But Barnes had lived out his usefulness and it was time for him to go.
The other man shifted his feet so he was in a fighting stance, and Zeke just grinned.Maybe he’d get to punch someone after all.
“Barnes,” Mia said, before tempers could ignite any more than they already had.“Take my advice and don’t be stupid.Have you ever seen Zeke fight?One punch and your skinny rear will be out cold.Leave with all your teeth intact and some of your dignity.”
“Screw you,” Barnes said.“Who are you, anyway?Unless you’re just another badge bunny looking for her next good time.Is that why you sent me here?”Barnes narrowed his eyes at Zeke.“Passing her around?”
“Zeke,” Mia said, jumping over her counter and standing between them.“Killing him won’t help your career.”
“But it’ll make me feel better,” he growled.
“This is my shop,” she said.“I’ll handle it.”Then she turned her wrath on Barnes.“I will cut you off at the knees, little boy, and smile while you bleed.”She took a step closer and looked Barnes up and down from head to toe.“Let me guess.You’re a couple years out of the academy.Big city cop.But you’re impatient.Wanted the brass without the years or the work.Why does a big city cop run away with his tail tucked between his legs and end up in Nowhere, Idaho?”
His eyes widened in surprise.
“You’re so green you can’t even sniff out someone who’s worn the badge?”she asked.“I had you pegged before you rang my buzzer.I might not be working the streets anymore, but some things never leave you.You’ll never be half the cop I was or that your commander is.And if you ever touch me again you won’t have to worry about being someone’s target in prison.You’ll be someone’s target in hell.Understand?”
Barnes stared at her about two seconds before turning and walking out of the shop.He never made eye contact with Zeke.Smart choice.
“Now there’s something I’ve missed,” Zeke said, patting his chest.“No one gives better parting lines than you.You always did have a mouth on you.And it always got you into trouble.”
“And always got you out of trouble, if I remember right.What are you doing here, Zeke?And what do you want from me?”
It was a good question.One that didn’t necessarily have just one answer.He made a decision and hoped it was the right one.They could deal with the other later.
“You want to know why I came here?”he asked.
Her eyes widened slightly as he moved closer.He braced his hands on the counter at her back, leaning in.The pulse in her neck fluttered and he wanted to kiss her there.Wanted to hold her every way he could.
He stopped with his face close to hers, close enough to feel the warmth of her breath.“I needed to see you again.”
“I don’t believe you.”But her voice wasn’t as strong as she wanted it to be.He’d always had the ability to make her lose her senses.“This is a mistake, Zeke.”But her hands came up and rested on his chest.
