Free Remembered by Moonlight by Nancy Gideon

Was that what Max was thinking as his thumb caressed her knuckles? Or on some subconscious level was he reliving their brief escape to the ocean in California where Sex on the Beach became more than just a fruity drink?
    They were laughing over a work-related story Silas was telling, everyone relaxed and comfortable, including Max, when Jacques came to lean down to Cee Cee.
    “My ear on the dock heard something interesting.”
    She stood, drawing her partner’s attention. Mumbling a quick apology, she and Silas followed LaRoche to the quiet hallway by his office.
    “What have you heard,” Cee Cee coaxed.
    “There’s an unofficial underground event tonight you might find interesting. High stakes, posh crowd, hush hush.”
    “Related to our case?” MacCreedy shared an intrigued glance with Charlotte.
    “Possibly. Invitation only.” And with a flourish, Jacques provided a business card containing a square digital QR code. “Consider yourselves invited. Take your wallet. Cover charge is $200.00. Each.”
    “Looks like I’ll be stopping at the ATM,” Silas murmured as he read the card with his cell phone app. He shared the screen with Cee Cee. A map and a time, nothing else.
    They had less than an hour.
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
    Max didn’t need to hear the apology to know their night out was over. When his date and friend returned to the table, they fairly hummed with the edgy excitement that came with their job. That made it more difficult not to betray his frustration. He’d been enjoying himself, feeling safe in the surround of people he was beginning to trust.
    Cee Cee hung back and let Silas make the excuses. He bent down to press a quick kiss to his mate’s cheek.
    “Something came up. Gotta go. I need to take about a grand of flash money out of our account.”
    Nica caught him by the tie before he could straighten, holding him at eye-to-eye level. “Will we be getting a reimbursement from the department?”
    Since it was her money he’d be withdrawing, the our account just for dignity’s sake, he didn’t hold back on the explanation. “I don’t know. Depends on what we find. May not want to go mainstream with it.” If it turned out to be strictly Shifter business. She got that and let him go. But not far and not without conditions.
    “I didn’t get dressed up to work behind the bar for the rest of the evening. I was expecting a good time.”
    “I can promise you one later.”
    “Hmm. Tempting, lover, but that would depend on what shape you’re in when you come home. I think I’ll just go along with you to protect my investment in both the financial and pleasurable returns.” Her cool gaze moved to Cee Cee. “Problem with that?”
    Her husband’s partner shrugged, hiding a smile. “None. Would help with our cover and with our escape if we have to make a quick one.” Cee Cee jumped as Max caught her wrist.
    “Perhaps I could go along, too. I like a good time.”
    Max watched those clever cop eyes narrow as she processed the pros and cons, and closed him out. He wasn’t pleased with her decision.
    “You’d be too recognizable, Savoie. Sorry.”
    A liability. A risk she wasn’t willing to take. Unnecessary baggage when once he’d been a benefit. He got that, but knowing didn’t soften the cruel blow to an ego he was trying to reconstruct.
    He released her arm, making his reply carefully neutral. “I’m sorry, too. I guess this is goodnight then. Don’t worry. I can find my way home.”
    Jacques stepped in to ease the immediate worry tightening her features. “He can hitch a ride with me. I’m cutting out in just few. Susanna’s got a late shift, so I’m on daddy duty. He’s just a floor up, so I don’t think he’ll get lost.”
    Hard not to resent her hesitation, that of caregiver toward unreliable charge. Max smiled thinly. “I’ll be fine, Detective. I promise not to wander off or watch any of the adult channels.”
    Catching his annoyance, she paused, but instead of offering