Page 39 of Hard Pass

“Then tell me something, how fair are you being right now?”

I blink. “Meaning what?”

His gaze sharpens again, that earlier edge creeping back in. “From where I’m standing, you’ve got a significant conflict of interest sitting between us.”

There it is. I should’ve known the minute he realized who I was, that this was coming.

I clear my throat and lift my chin. “I’ve handled far more complex situations than this,” I say, keeping my tone even. “My ability to do my job is far from compromised.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

“It’s the answer you’re getting.” I glance over my shoulder to make sure the door is closed, even though I know it is. And then I realize that small action just gave him a chance to think that this concerns me. “This has nothing to do with our past.”

He chuckles. “Good thing. That means you already informed your boss you know how my kiss tastes?”

Fucking hell.

I temper my expression and hope it works to hide my sudden fear.

“That’s irrelevant.”

“Maybe we should let your boss be the one to make that decision.” He quirks a brow and picks up his phone. “We can call him now and let him—”

“Cole.” His name is a gritted plea that has his eyebrows rising.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“I’ll take that as a no.” He angles his head to the side, a smile toying with the corners of his mouth. “Like I said, conflict of interest.”

We stare at each other in a visual standoff. He has something against me, and I have the ability to seal his fate. Not good at all.

Fix this.

“I’m more than capable of being completely objective,” I say.

“Even though we were—”

“We don’t know each other,” I say sharply, the words coming faster than I intended. “Whatever happened five years ago doesn’t qualify as anything remotely close to something that would impact this investigation.”

His eyes flash at that with a mix of amusement threading through the irritation. “Especially considering how it ended,” he says.

Heat creeps up my cheeks.

“At least I know when you’re in above your head, you’ll just pretend to be asleep.” He lifts his brows. “I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for that this time around.”

My eyes widen and shoulders hitch. He knew? A little part of me dies of embarrassment. I don’t have the time to worry about this, and this sure as shit isn’t the place to either.

Deflect, Dublin, until you can fully process this conversation.

I swallow and force a strained smile. “You’re well within your rights to request a different investigator though, if that’s what you’d want.”

A smile flickers on his lips.

Yes, I’m getting this conversation back on track.

“And if I were to do that—request someone else—would I get one?”

I pause for half a beat, my heart still racing. “I can’t promise that, as GIA is very busy these days, but I can put in your request,” I say. “They’ll want to know your basis for your request.”