He shrugged. “Just a lucky guess. Everyone is a little nervous in the beginning, but don’t worry, I got yourback.”
I melted into the passenger’s seat, thankful to not have a raging dick for a partner. That would have made everything so muchworse.
“So, your parents were cops, huh?” he asked as he put the car inreverse.
I nodded. “It was kind of a no-brainer for me. I always wanted to be just like them. They were my real-life heroes, yaknow?”
He flashed his toothy, panty-melting smile, and I about damn nearfainted.
How am I supposed to be professional and not swoon over my partner every time he grins atme?
“Yeah, I totally get it. My uncle was a cop, and I thought it was the damn coolest thing in the world. When we were little, he’d let me and my buddies ride around the block in the back of his car with the lights on and I even got to play with the siren sometimes. I thought it was the best shit on the freaking planet.” Sean was luckily oblivious of my drooling as he talked tome.
Sean and I spent the day driving around, writing traffic citations and a speeding tickets—nothing to write home about. I didn’t care, though; to me, it was the most thrilling day of my fucking life. I was actually dressed in my uniform, wearing a badge I had earned, riding around with a partner in a cop car, protecting and serving the community that Iloved.
“You did all right today, McBee.” Sean winked at me, putting the car in park in the back of thestation.
I shifted in the lumpy seat to get a better look at my new partner. “Thanks for everything today. I learned alot.”
“Don’t mention it.” He rubbed the back of his neck slowly. “Say, would you want to grab a drink with me and a few of my friends tonight? Jordan is guest bartending at a new place and Gavin and I promised her we’d showup.”
Over the course of the day, Sean had told me all about his friends. Jordan was some type of famous bartender and went all over the country helping failing bars turn their staff around before they tank. I thought it was really sweet that Sean made it a point to support her whenever he could; it really said a lot about hischaracter.
The big shocker was Gavin—I couldn’t believe my new partner was best friends with the captain of the New York Otters. That was fucking mind-blowing shit to me. Growing up in Brooklyn, the Otters were a way of life—my dad and I never missed a game when he was off in time to watch them. I had so many amazing memories of sitting on his lap watching Gideon Hayes and Reggie Cox dominating the ice back in theday.
The fact that I was getting invited out with Sean the first day was pretty awesome—I had been worried he wasn’t going to like me or would get sick of how boring of a life I had within the first five minutes of meetingme.
“I would love to.” I gripped the door handle firmly in my quiveringhand.
Get a damn grip, McBee. It’s normal to be invited out for a drink after ashift.
Chapter 4
Whistler
Gavin slunkonto the barstool next to me. “How was your date?” I asked. By the look on his face, I already knew theanswer.
“Horrid. Simply awful. My mother has the worst damn taste in the fucking world.” He threw his hands in the air as Jordan poured his Manhattan into a martini glass. “Bless you.” He bowed his head in thanks as he took the cocktail fromher.
“Was it really that bad?” Jordan asked, and Gavin flipped heroff.
“She was gorgeous with long blond hair and a huge rack, but she had the personality of a wet paper towel.” Gavin sucked in a sharp breath with his eyes slammedshut.
“Here’s to another epic fail in Mrs. Hayes’ matchmaking career.” I raised my glass to Gavin’s, and Jordan held her stomach from laughing so hard. “At least this one had a nice set of twins onher.”
“Sean, don’t be gross.” Jordan shot a sharp look over at me before turning to Gavin. “You know, Gavin, one of these days you’re going to have to tell your poor mom to just cut her losses and realize good breeding isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.” Jordan was completely right—Mrs. Hayes was just going to have to accept that Gavin was in a slut phase of his life. He wasn’t ready to settle down again after Marsheila, and picking up random chicks at bars was going to have to do until he snapped out of it or got his fill of strange. It was hard for him to find anything other than puck bunnies to deal with his traveling and odd hours,anyway.
“How’s it been going at this place?” Gavin asked,deflecting.
Jordan was barley tall enough to reach all the way over the bar. She started shaking a drink over her shoulder. “They’re paying me well to get their staff in shape, so I can’t complain. I like the change inpace.”
While Jordan was rambling, I saw my new partner was coming through the front door. I frantically started waving as I yelled, “Hey McBee! Overhere!”
“Who’s that?” I heard Gavin ask Jordan as I walked over toJess.
“Hey Jess. Glad you could make it.” I put my hand on her shoulder. I would have been a liar if I’d said I wasn’t attracted to Jessica, but she was my partner and completely off limits. I had to keep reminding myself of that unfortunatefact.
“I told you I would, and I am a gal of my word,” she stated very matter-of-factly with a closed lippedgrin.