Chance Collision (16 page)

“I didn’t lie to you.” Pete squared his shoulders. His green gaze burned into her. Nikki couldn’t look away.

A lie of omission is still a lie.
How many times had she heard that as a child? But it wasn’t worth saying. “It if involves my gram, I have a right to know what’s going on.”

“I did what I needed to do to keep you safe. I won’t apologise for that.” His voice was hard and he glared.

Nikki scowled right back, heat creeping up her neck. She clenched and unclenched her fists at her sides. “How dare you treat me like a child?”

The squeak of shifting leather sounded in the momentary silence but she didn’t spare a glance for the obviously uncomfortable FBI agent.

Screw Lee, too. No doubt Pete’s temporary partner knew about Gram getting transported to the hospital. She could have told Nikki. Should have. Was there no such thing as woman code? Men seemed to insist on it.

Pete’s chest heaved as if he’d taken a calming breath.

Nikki glared harder. “I’m going to the hospital.”

“The hell you are.” His tone was low and deadly. And pissed her the hell off. How dare he talk to her like that?

Lee stood up as Pete took a step closer to Nikki.

Instead of backing away, Nikki moved towards him. So close they almost touched. She could feel the heat, the anger coming off his muscled body. They stared at each other.

Pete narrowed his eyes.

“I’m going to the hospital,” Nikki repeated.

In her peripheral vision, she saw Lee tense, eyes darting back and forth between them. As if she didn’t know who to grab first if they came to blows.

Nikki wasn’t afraid of Pete. He was angry, yeah, but he wouldn’t hurt her. She knew it in her gut—and her heart.

“Pete.” Lee’s voice jolted her.

She looked at the FBI agent, then back at Pete. His hazel eyes widened and his shoulders loosened, as if Lee had surprised him, too. He didn’t move away from Nikki.

“We can take her.”

Relief that Lee was on her side washed over Nikki. She blew out a breath and told her body to relax. Blinked away tears that threatened. She didn’t want to look back at her detective. Cursed the part of her that wanted to throw her arms around him.

Why? He just ordered you around and tried to control you. Made decisions for you again. Lied to you.

“We’re not staying long.” His voice was gruff, grudging.

“Being stuck in the house is affecting all of us,” Lee continued as if the detective hadn’t spoken. “It might be good to get out for a little bit. We can get something to eat, too.”

Nikki nodded, not mentioning the chicken she’d marinated. They could eat it tomorrow. God knew, they’d still be stuck at Pete’s.

Chapter Sixteen

He didn’t like this. At. All. Pete looked around the hospital corridor outside Mrs Jenkins’ room. Nothing seemed out of place as hospital staff bustled with trays and carts. Phones rang, the hum of voices carried and faded as people traversed back and forth.

The ding of the elevator around the corner made him jump.

“Relax.” Lee’s voice was meant to soothe, but the one word did nothing for his twitchiness.

Pete forced a nod and resisted the urge to palm his SIG. His gut said something was wrong even though he could see nothing out of the ordinary.

“Damn, dude. I’m wondering if there was crack in your lunch. What’d your chick feed you?”

He met the FBI agent’s dark eyes. Humour danced there.

“She’s my witness,” he said automatically. “I need to make sure she’s safe.”

“Okay, now you’re insulting me and the two boys in blue in that room. We all got guns. We all got her back—and yours.”

Sighing, Pete shoved his hand through his hair and screamed at himself to calm down. Lee was right. He was just revved from the argument with Nikki.

What a hell of a turn-on when she’d got up in his face, seething, fire in her brown eyes. The demand in her expression. The hard set of her luscious mouth. Was that wrong?

He’d wanted to kiss her until neither of them could breathe. Clinging to his anger at her insult had been the only thing that’d kept his hands to himself. Pete was a lot of things, but he wasn’t a liar.

“Why don’t we go get a bite? I thought I saw an Italian place across the street,” Lee said.

“Hell no. I’m not leaving her here.”

“Earth to Pete. You need a breather.” Lee gripped his wrist and tugged, forcing his gaze down into her face.

“I’m fine.”

“Bullshit. I’ve never seen you lose it like that. Thought I was gonna hafta whoop your ass.” Lee quirked a half-smile, but she was as serious as a heart attack.

“I wouldn’t hurt her. Or any woman for that matter.”

The FBI agent nodded, despite the solemn look in her eyes. “I thought she was going to take a swing at you.”

“Nah.”

“Let’s get out of here. In the time it takes to have a meal, you can calm down and she can have some privacy with her grandmother. Threaten the cops in here, chew on them, do what you need to do, but you’re coming with me to that restaurant.”

Pete was about to growl a no, but her shrewd gaze narrowed. Lee dared him. He didn’t want to argue with his temporary partner. And he
was
hungry. A voice whispered that space from Nikki would cool his ardour. He ignored it. He’d still grab her up and kiss her if given the chance. Even if the choice should be hands-off. “I could eat,” he admitted.

Lee smiled slowly. Patted his forearm. “Good boy.”

He chuckled in spite of himself, pushing the door open just enough to enter. He left the FBI agent posted outside.

Nikki looked up and glared his way, but her grandmother gave a wide friendly smile. Officer Mark Rodriguez threw a nod that Pete returned. The other officer, the newest of Sergeant Chloe Stein’s guys, Officer Joe Benton, smiled. The guy wasn’t a rookie, but close.

Pete didn’t like it. Wanted another of the experienced guys instead. Even if that wasn’t fair to Benton. He swallowed back his frown and took Mrs Jenkins’ outstretched hand as soon as he reached her bedside.

“Evening, Detective,” Nikki’s gram said.

He pressed a kiss into the soft, nearly transparent skin of her knuckles. “Evening, Mrs Jenkins.”

“Oh, you charmer, you.” The elderly woman grinned while her granddaughter glowered.

Nikki made a disparaging sound and crossed her arms over her breasts. Pete forced his eyes away, though he didn’t miss the scowl that seemed to have taken up permanent residence on her gorgeous face.

If Gram noticed, she ignored Nikki and met Pete’s eyes. “Are you taking care of my granddaughter?”

“Yes, ma’am.” He expected a snarky remark from Nikki. She said nothing, and she wouldn’t look at him.

Mrs Jenkins squeezed Pete’s hand in a grip that belied the appearance of her fragile-looking fingers. “Good. I know she’s in good hands.”

“Thank you. How’re you feeling, ma’am?”

“Stop this
ma’am
stuff. It makes me feel old.” Gram mock-glared and Pete couldn’t help but smile.

Mrs Molly Jenkins might be diminutive and elderly, but the word
weak
didn’t apply, despite a stroke and heart problems. It was no secret where Nikki had got her strength.

“I would never want to make a beautiful woman feel old. I apologise.”

Gram laughed, her pale blue eyes twinkling. “Nikki-baby, I like this one.”

Nikki closed her eyes for a split second and cleared her throat. “I like him, too.” Her voice was breathy and made his stomach jump. She leaned closer to the bed and grabbed her grandmother’s free hand. Still wouldn’t look his way.

Pete felt like a heel.
Pissed
he could handle. Hurt was another matter entirely. And Nikki exuded hurt. His fault. Just one more way he’d failed her.

“Uh.” He cleared his throat and tried again. “I’m going to step out with Agent Dawson. Spend some time with your gram.”

She finally met his eyes. Nikki nodded, remaining silent.

“I won’t be gone long. Rodriguez and Benton will be here with you. They won’t let anyone come into this room.” He raised his voice and glanced at the two cops. They both nodded. “You call my cell every ten minutes. I’ll be back for you in a bit.”

Pete made himself turn and leave even though there was a weight on his chest he didn’t want to acknowledge.

She’d be fine for an hour. They’d order her some food to go, too.

Rodriguez and Benton would protect her. Everything would be fine.

He met Lee in the hallway. “Let’s go.”

* * * *

Pete cleared his throat and tried not to shift under the weight of Lee’s gaze. This suddenly felt like a date.

The place was dark and they were surrounded by couples. Masculine arms around feminine shoulders in booths and heads bent close together all around. People sitting against each other like the lovers they probably were.

He felt keenly out of place. As if he and Lee had a spotlight over their table.

Rizzoli’s buzzed with life around them. Wait staff worked the room, plates and silverware clinked from all angles. Old Blue Eyes crooned from the speakers. Garlic permeated the place, but the mix with other Italian spices was pleasant. Mouth-watering. Made a guy crave lasagne from the moment he walked in the door.

Something was missing. Or more like
someone.
He half expected to look up and see her striding in the entrance to join them at the table. She’d been at his side for almost a week now. His new constant.

You should have never left her. Alone.
But Nikki wasn’t alone. He’d just have to keep reminding himself of that.

It didn’t help. No matter how many times he repeated it in his head.

The whoosh of the kitchen doors swinging past each other offered a distraction. Conversation with Lee had never been difficult. He wasn’t about to let it start. “Thanks for going over the database with me. If we could just tie Marchetti or Donati to the blood on the windowsill at Health Solutions through DNA, we’d solidify things all around.”

“No problem.” Lee nodded, a smile playing at her lips. As if she could see right through him. As if she
knew
how awkward he was feeling. “But science shit or not, we’ll get him, I’ve no doubt.”

“Yeah. We will.”

Silence descended and she reached for her water glass. Pete watched her slender hands. Manicured nails, but plain and neat, no polish or colour. She wore no rings, but had a small gold bracelet on her right wrist. Her tanned skin spoke of her heritage, and his eyes followed her wrist up to her elbow.

Lee wore a short-sleeved dark top that displayed her full breasts and was tapered and form-fitting at the waist. Somehow dressy and casual all rolled into one. Her jeans were tight like always, and navy denim. She was dressed as normal at work—still gorgeous, even with her black hair in a ponytail.

He liked her. Had liked her from the moment she’d walked into the briefing room last year when he, Andi and Cole had been after Carlo Maldonado. She had balls. Lee was easy on the eyes, too.

She isn’t Nikki
.

“What’s going on with you, Pete?” She shelved her chin on her hands, both elbows on the table. She appraised him, her gaze keen.

“What?”

“You’re wound so tightly I’m afraid you’re going to blow at any second. Granted, we haven’t been working together too long, but I read people pretty well. And I haven’t seen you like this before. Not like you were before we left the house tonight. It’s not the case. That’s not what’s getting to you.”

“I don’t know what you mean,” Pete said.

“Bullshit.” Amusement flickered across her face.

Damn.
She was as shrewd as he was. Now he understood why Andi hated when he put her in the position Lee was currently slamming down on him. He sighed and averted his gaze.

“If you don’t want to open up to me, so be it. Call your partner. I know you’re close to her. Run ten miles. Do
something.
’Cause you need a release, dude. Or we’re not gonna get anywhere else on the case. You’re gonna pull a Mount St Helens.”

Shaking his head, he bit back a snort. He needed a release, all right. A ten-mile run—or all the cold showers in the world—wouldn’t fix it. Not since he’d tasted her. Craved her.

Nikki. She was what he needed.

Nikki not angry at him. Nikki in his arms and in his bed, but
with
him instead of alone like the last two nights. Shifting in the chair, he cursed himself as his cock stirred.

Desire warred with conscience. It was hard for any of it to matter—how his boss had said hell no, how he was too old for her, how he couldn’t love her like she deserved, it all went unnoticed in the back of his mind.

“Pete?” Lee’s voice dragged him back to reality.

He cleared his throat. “Thanks for your concern, but I’m fine, darlin’.” Pete flashed his best smile.

She reclined in her chair and cocked her head to one side, a smile playing at her full lips. “Since you’re so charming, I don’t think I should call you a liar.”

“You kinda just did.” He laughed.

Lee’s grin was impish. “Now that’s better. Pete back in the home team’s dugout.”

“What a relief.” He gave an overdramatic sigh that had his new partner laughing again.

Their waitress appeared to check on them, so Lee didn’t answer him.

He watched her. She was direct in everything she did, even eating. With Lee, you saw what you got a mile away. There was no subterfuge.

Pete admired that. Hell, he always tried to present the same front. Andi was probably the only one who could see right through him.

His observation of her didn’t go unnoticed by Lee—she was too keen for that—but she didn’t say anything. They fell into a nice rhythm. Laughing and talking. Natural. No spark…like when he was with Nikki.

Jesus, get her out of your head.
He couldn’t follow his own damn orders, though. If he closed his eyes he’d see her mussed red locks, heavy-lidded brown gaze and pink cheeks, kiss-swollen lips. He wouldn’t let his memory go south—in any stretch of the word. His jeans were already a bit tight.

Cursing himself—again—Pete forced his eyes to Lee’s. “Your partner missing you?”

Lee laughed. “Not that he’d ever say. He’s not really the touchy-feely type, but I’d consider him a friend. Today they busted up another buy. Arrested a few guys. Caselli’s dealing with Mexicans heavily now. They got three girls out.”