Free Blue Jeans and a Badge by Nina Bruhns Page B

Philip, who looked sexy as ever in his short-sleeved black cop shirt and snug jeans. Today he’d holstered his Beretta on his hip, though he’d made her put her Walther in the strong box under the back bench. He probably thought she’d been serious about that bear remark.
    At her grin he said, “What’s funny?”
    â€œJust enjoying myself,” she said, and realized with a start that she actually meant it. “I’m not used to having company on a job. It’s kinda nice.”
    â€œNot worried about me stealing your collar?”
    â€œHa.” She snorted. “You and what army?”
    He grinned back. “Pretty spunky for a city slicker. We’ll see how spunky you are when you meet up with your first wild animal.”
    She slanted him a look. “Thought I did that last night,” she teased.
    Ohh, big mistake. His grin turned wicked. “You were pretty wild yourself, doll.”
    She felt the tips of her breasts tighten in response to his slow regard. Why, oh, why had she said that? One look at the man and her brain just vaporized, like some teenager with her first crush. She caught herself swerving off the road and steered the Jeep back to the center of the lane.
    â€œIt’s this state,” she lamented. “I haven’t been myself since setting foot in it.” Actually since meeting the man sitting next to her, but she’d bite her tongue off before admitting that.
    â€œWell, if it is New Mexico, I like what it’s done to you. That was one hell of a kiss last night.”
    She took a deep breath to shake off the swirly feeling of desire that suddenly spun through her body. “Yeah.” Damn. “Do we have to talk about this?”
    â€œHey, you brought it up.”
    So she had. What else could she talk about instead? She plucked at her T-shirt. “Are you hot?”
    â€œSome women think so,” he said mildly.
    She rolled her eyes heavenward, and caught sight of the canvas roof. “Say, can you take the top off?” she asked, brightening. When he didn’t respond, she looked over at him.
    He blinked and opened his mouth to answer, but the lascivious expression gave his thoughts away.
    She held up one hand and shook her head. “Don’t say it, O’Donnaugh,” she groaned. “I can’t believe I walked right into that one.”
    â€œThat you did,” he agreed. With a wink, he reached up, unhooked the soft part of the roof and lowered it without making a single comment or offer to do the same service for her.
    He didn’t have to. Her breasts were already tingling at the memory of his hands on them. She could only imagine what it would feel like with her top off.
    No, no, no.
    â€œWe really have to stop this, you know,” she said firmly. Well, she’d meant to say it firmly, but for some reason her voice came out breathy and tentative. “It’s going to drive us crazy if we don’t.”
    â€œOr…” he said over the sough of the wind through the open Jeep, “we could do something about it.”
    â€œNot a good idea,” she repeated for the third time aloud and about the millionth to herself.
    He reached over and took her hand from the steering wheel, putting it to his lips. He kissed the top of it, then placed it back where it had been. “So you keep saying,” he said.
    â€œAnd you disagree?”
    His lip quirked and he relaxed back in his seat, giving her a long look. “I say it doesn’t really matter whether it’s a good idea or not. We’re going to end up in bed together, anyway, naked—with you under me.”
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    It was a damn good thing she had a solid grip on the steering wheel and it was an arrow-straight section of highway, because for a moment Luce was so stunned she couldn’t move or even think.
    The impact of Philip’s low-spoken words hit her like a sucker punch. It’s not like she hadn’t