Page 23 of Burning Justice

Back in the bedroom, she grabbed the matching beige jacket from a hanger and draped it over her arm. Jaws swam to the side of his bowl, his tiny fins fluttering and holding him in place as he watched her. His mouth gulped open and closed.

“What?” She picked up the jar of fish food. “You think I’m overdressed, don’t you?” She uncapped the food and dropped a pinch of flakes into the water. Jaws swam to the surface and began gulping the flakes into his mouth. In seconds, the food was gone.

Gemma’s stomach grumbled. Speaking of food, there was an everything bagel with scallion cream cheese and a large coffee with her name on it waiting at the deli. And Brett.

A tiny shaft of…excitement? Or was it anticipation spearing low in her belly, creating a tiny flip flop, frighteningly similar to what she’d felt yesterday, when their arms had brushed briefly, and later, when he’d complimented her, touching her shoulder and giving her that killer smile?

She clenched her hand tighter around the fish food jar. No! Gemma pointed to the fish tank. “And before you say it, I did not get dressed up for him. I did not. I’m just looking forward to seeing Blaze again.”

Done eating, Jaws stared back at her, as if to say: Yeah, right.

She spun, snatched up her portfolio and keys, then stalked out the front door. She’d been hoping to make a quick getaway when Bonnie waved to her from the adjacent driveway. She waddled over, one hand on her protruding belly and the other on the small of her back.

Bonnie was the college roommate Gemma had told Brett about yesterday. Married now, and with her second child about to be born any minute, Bonnie was happier than Gemma had ever seen her.

“Morning, Gem.” Bonnie’s gaze dipped to take in Gemma’s slacks and shoes. “Something I should know?”

“You mean, because I tell you everything?” She glanced at her watch again. The deli was only five minutes away, but she hated being late.

“Well, yes. You look nice today.” She grinned. “All gussied up.”

“I am not—” Oh, who am I kidding? For her, this was gussied up. Even Jaws knew something was different this morning. “I’m meeting a colleague for coffee, then we have two appointments at the Denver courthouse.”

“Coffee, hmm.” Bonnie began massaging her belly. “Oh! There he is again, kicking like mad to make his escape.”

As she’d done many times during Bonnie’s first pregnancy, Gemma placed a hand on her friend’s belly. Sure enough, she felt a quick little jab. “I’d say kickball is going to be his favorite sport.” Despite the smile, a sliver of sadness sliced through the joy for her friend.

All three of her brothers were married and had given her parents at least one grandchild apiece. Having children was something Gemma had secretly hoped for, yet with each passing year, the chance of that happening was getting dimmer and more out of reach.

“Tell me something.” A suspicious glow came to Bonnie’s eyes. “This colleague wouldn’t happen to be a he, would he?”

“Yes,” she admitted. “But in my line of work, most of my colleagues are.”

Bonnie nodded, as if giving Gemma’s explanation serious consideration. Then she grinned again. “But I’ve never seen you get all dolled up for one of them before.”

Gemma groaned. For some stupid, pathetically unfathomable reason, she wanted to look nice for Brett. “I have to go or I’ll be late.” As she got into her pickup, Bonnie’s laughter followed her. Both her best friend and her goldfish knew she was full of it. Full of shmear.

Five minutes later, she pulled into the parking lot outside the Great Scott Bagel Deli. The sign over the shop proudly displayed not only the name, but a replica of the Brooklyn Bridge.

Brett’s ATF Expedition was already parked by the side of the deli. When she pulled up next to him, she saw that the driver’s seat was empty. A big wet rosette left behind by Blaze’s snout graced the kennel window. She got out of the truck, ready to go inside, when she noticed the kennel, too, was empty.

Beneath the shade of trees adjacent to the parking lot, Brett walked Blaze on a leash. Catching sight of her, Blaze’s tail began whipping back and forth. Brett waved, started walking toward her, and wow.

What was it about a suit that made a man look hot? Or, God help her, was it just this man? Because she’d never really given it much thought before. Sure, her father and brothers had looked spiffy in a tux at all their weddings, but this was different.

Gemma swallowed. At eight in the morning, the summer sun blared down on them, so she pretended to shield her eyes when what she was really doing was checking him out.

Dark gray slacks made his legs seem longer and his waist trimmer than when he’d worn his 5.11 Tactical cargo pants. A white dress shirt, with its sleeves rolled up to his elbows, made his shoulders seem broader, more powerful. The hot morning sun glinted off the gold badge clipped to his belt in front of the holstered gun.

So he was good looking. Big whoop. Lots of guys were. The guy she’d gone on a blind date with had been drop-dead, cover-model gorgeous. And a total dick. Not that Brett Tanner was anything like that guy, but what had changed in the last three days that she was starting to think about him in a completely different light?

“Morning,” he said, smiling. “Give me a sec to put Blaze up in his kennel.”

With the SUV’s engine running, Brett locked the vehicle, then held open the door to the deli, waiting for Gemma to go in first.

“Thanks.” She scooted past, taking extra care not to brush up against all that firm, toned godliness. That didn’t keep her from breathing in that awesome, manly aftershave he wore. He smelled better than she did. No fair. Should she start wearing perfume? The stuff always made her sneeze.

Gemma expected her family to greet her loudly like they always did when she walked in.