Jake planned to play things straight with her from here on out. “She gets off work at five. I’ll bring her down then.”

Thompson raised an eyebrow. “I thought you were her patient, nothing more. I’ll have her picked up and brought down here. You don’t need to act as her bodyguard.”

Jake would guard Brianne’s body with his last dying breath, but he wasn’t about to fight with Thompson now. Jake ignored the comment and decided to spring his plan on the lieutenant instead. “Since I’ve been out asking questions and making his life uncomfortable, Ramirez wants me as much as I want him. I figure we can set me up as a target-”

The phone rang, interrupting him.

“Thompson,” the lieutenant barked into the phone.

For the first time since Jake had walked into the office and leveled with his boss, the room grew silent. Finally Thompson said, “Well, I’ll be damned.”

He hung up the phone and eyed Jake with a glare that made the hair on the back of his neck prickle. “What’s up?”

“We’ve got our link between the drugs and The Eatery. Looks like we can shut the place down.”

Jake leaned his hands against the old metal desk and rose. “Let’s go. I’d like to shake the hand of the person who scored.”

“I’m going. You’re heading for a physical. But don’t worry. I’ll congratulate your girlfriend for you.” The lieutenant smirked, telling Jake he’d guessed about his personal relationship with Brianne.

“What?” The muscles in Jake’s back and shoulders tensed and his heart lodged somewhere between his chest and his throat.

“Apparently Brianne Nelson ditched the bodyguard you said was so good and went to The Eclectic Eatery, where she figured out the right request and scored. Then she called the cops. I don’t like a civilian involved, but we’re halfway home.”

The lieutenant looked damn pleased they’d connected the restaurant to the goods, but Jake’s gut clenched in pure fear. Brianne had put herself in danger, and if anything had happened to her…if he’d lost her before he had the chance to tell her he loved her…

He loved her. Why the hell hadn’t he realized it sooner?

“Your girlfriend’s got talent,” Thompson said.

“She’s not my girlfriend,” Jake answered automatically, his thoughts still reeling from his realization. He ignored the lieutenant’s disgusted look. Jake never shared his private life, and despite his self-made promises to the contrary, he sought to protect Brianne now. Again, when it was obvious she didn’t need his protection. Hell, she probably didn’t even need him.

But he needed her. Hell, he loved her, he thought once more. Admitting it to himself wasn’t half as hard as it should have been. The harder part would be admitting it to Brianne…and seeing if she walked anyway.

If she was alive and well. “Is she…”

“She’s fine. Safe and talking to our guys. But if she’s not your girlfriend then why do you look like you’re going to bust a gut unless you get the hell out of here? I knew there was more to this story. You’re holding out on me again, Lowell. And I don’t like it.”

Jake knew when to shut up, so he remained silent. It was the only hope he had of joining Thompson to see Brianne.

Thompson’s thoughts returned to the case. “With a little luck, any employee who’s scared enough of hard time will roll on Ramirez-if they can ID him. And we’ll have him behind bars.”

“If he doesn’t get Brianne first.” Jake started for the door.

“Stop!” Thompson barked.

Jake paused. “Make it quick, Lieutenant. Much as I respect you, I’m out of here.”

“If you want to return to this department-ever-you’re taking a physical. Now.”

In that instant, Jake’s dissatisfaction with his job and his intent for the future crystalized into one thought: Brianne. Jake hadn’t just been dissatisfied with his career, he’d been dissatisfied with his whole damn empty life.

He didn’t have time to think it through now, but he knew his solitary lifestyle and a cop’s frustrated duty were the core of his restlessness-summed up with his unpredictable hours and cold meals eaten alone while struggling to nab scum like Ramirez only to have them go free. It had taken Brianne bursting into his life to show him the light.

Jake turned to his superior, a man whom he respected and who’d taught him everything he knew about good police work, procedure, leadership and even friendship. Thompson knew how to balance the two well. Jake would like to sit the older man down and break it to him gently but he didn’t have the time.

“Sorry, Lieutenant, but to hell with the physical.” To hell with the department. The only thing that mattered was Brianne, and when Jake got his hands on her, he was going to kill her. Then he was going to kiss her and make love to her until she was too tired ever to move again.

The older man’s eyes narrowed, and he pinned Jake with his glare. “I’m not having the Ramirez case thrown out again because one of my men put his dick before his brain and screwed up.”

Jake didn’t take offense. Both men were taking a stand. “Then we’re in agreement,” Jake said.

The older man slammed his hand down on the desk-a gesture of frustration, but also an expression of understanding because Thompson knew what was coming and didn’t like it.

“I’m not one of your men anymore,” Jake said.

Thompson swore, but must have known Jake was serious because he didn’t argue. “We’re out of here. But we’re not through, Lowell.”

Jake nodded. He owed the older man an explanation, after he got finished with Brianne. Scoring drugs at The Eclectic Eatery! What the hell had she been thinking? He clenched his jaw until his teeth hurt. He didn’t give a damn how much he loved her, he’d shake her until her own teeth rattled, he thought, overcome by both fury and fear.

By the time Thompson pulled his car up to the restaurant, now surrounded by cops, Jake was in a sweat. He grabbed for the handle, opening the car door before the sedan reached a stop.

“I suppose you’re still going to try to feed me that bull about how she’s not your girlfriend?”

Jake ignored the lieutenant. He jumped out of the car and ran to find Brianne.

“IT WAS EASIER than I’d thought it would be,” Brianne told the uniformed cop who was watching her but not really listening. It was his job to guard, not to listen. Besides, she’d already given her story to the detective named Duke, who’d immediately called someone named Lieutenant Thompson. Brianne had a hunch it was only a matter of time before Jake arrived and wanted to strangle her.

She lifted her hair off the back of her neck. The heat was trapped inside the stifling police cruiser where they sat on a side street near The Eclectic Eatery. She’d called the police from a pay phone around the corner-after she’d ordered take-out and discovered she’d actually scored drugs by asking for The Garden of Eden. The description had been simple: a bouquet of mixed greens, tomatoes, bean sprouts and flowers. After her delivery of poppies, the word bouquet had jumped out at her and she’d made sure to use it in her order, along with the salad’s name. She’d guessed correctly, and in return she’d received a silent nod and, along with her order, little colored pills. She recalled Marina in the hospital bed, and shivered despite the heat.

The police were now waiting for a court-ordered search warrant, and then they’d close down the place for good. Would one of the employees rat out Ramirez? Brianne didn’t know but, Lord, she hoped so. The thought of the man’s voice and his ability to find her easily put her nerves on edge; she clenched her fists, resting them in her lap.

She still didn’t know where she’d gotten the courage to walk into that restaurant in the first place. But somehow, she knew she’d succeed. God knows, she didn’t look like a cop, so the restaurant staff shouldn’t suspect anything. Still there’d been so many unknowns-was Ramirez already there or was he following her?-yet she’d ditched David, anyway. Not only because she wanted this situation over with, but because she didn’t want Jake taking any risks on her behalf. Because she loved him. Her heart still rose to her throat when she admitted it to herself.

And when Brianne loved, she took over. She’d seen herself do it with Marc and now she was doing it with Jake. She put her head in her hands, knowing she still had to face him. In order to prevent him from making himself a target, she’d put herself on the line instead. He’d be furious, she knew, but at least they were a step closer to getting Ramirez out of their lives. After they’d linked Ramirez to the drugs, the case would be over. But for Jake there would be another one after that, then another.

Could Brianne live the rest of her life wondering each day whether he’d walk in the door alive and well? Did he even want to walk in her door or was he still tied to the notion of a short-term affair? Affair. Such a cold word for such a hot relationship.

A loud thumping noise reverberated through the car, startling her, and Brianne jumped in her seat. She glanced up to see a man’s fist pounding on the shatterproof glass window. “It’s Lowell. Open up.”

Brianne bit down on her lower lip and glanced at the cop in the front seat. Apparently he recognized Jake’s voice because he unlocked the doors and stepped out of the car. Minutes later, the front door swung shut, the back door flung open, and Brianne found herself facing Jake.

His face was flushed with anger, his jaw was clenched and his blue eyes were blazing with banked fury, but he remained silent. She winced in anticipation of the tirade she felt sure would come. He lifted his hands and braced her cheeks more strongly than was comfortable but still he said nothing.

She needed to break the tension. “Jake?”

He responded in the least expected way. He sealed his lips over hers, his mouth hard, hot and demanding. He didn’t ask, he took, and he pushed his tongue past her barely parted lips in a masterful act of possession. One so strong, she felt the pull both between her legs and deep inside. Sexually, he’d aroused her in an instant, but emotionally he tugged at her heart.

Just as she melted into him, he jerked his head back, breaking the kiss. “I needed to feel you were alive and okay.” He ran a shaking hand through his hair.

“I am.”

“I know. And now I can throttle you. What the hell were you thinking?” he yelled, the anger she’d expected flooding out.

She blinked hard. He’d never shouted at her before.

“Don’t you have anything to say for yourself?” Jake asked.

She shrugged lightly. “I did good, didn’t I?”

He lowered his hands from her face, probably to stop himself from squeezing her to death, Brianne thought.

“You could have gotten yourself killed.”

Her stomach churned at the thought.

“Why didn’t you call me instead of the department?”

She understood his anger and frustration. But she’d entered that store in part to keep Jake out of danger and in part to make sure Ramirez stayed behind bars this time. Calling Jake would have been an emotional reaction, so she’d refrained.

“Because I was afraid Ramirez’s lawyer would say any evidence I got was tainted. Is that the right word? You’re not on official duty and you have a grudge. I didn’t want him to claim entrapment and get off again.” She shrugged, and when he didn’t reply, she continued. “I was protecting you and your case. And afterward, I wanted to call you but the police wouldn’t let me. They said they’d handle things from here, put me in this patrol car and-”

His sharp exhale told her he’d accepted her explanation, although he was by no means calmer. “You need to give your statement, and then we’re going home,” he said tersely.

“I already gave information to an officer.”

“Lieutenant Thompson wants to talk to you, and you’ll need to give an official statement downtown. Then we’re going back to the penthouse and you’re not leaving there until Ramirez is behind bars.”

“Now that’s a little extreme, don’t you think?”

“You don’t want to test me right now, Brianne.”

His anger was palpable. So was his fear. He braced one arm on top of the back seat and leaned close. His masculine scent wrapped around her, overpowering her in the confines of the small car.

“You want to do exactly as I say and let me take you home.”

Her stomach did an excited flip at his insistent, severe tone. Reaching up, she touched her fingers to his cheek, then let them roam downward until she found the muscle in his jaw and massaged the side of his face. “I’m sorry I scared you,” she said softly.

He remained outwardly unaffected by her touch. “Do you have any idea what could have happened to you if Ramirez had gotten a hold of you?”