Free Collision Force by C.A. Szarek Page B

giving her a wink.
    Damn, was Bella about to swoon?
    “Nice…nice…to…meet you.”
    Stuttering? That was new.
    “Cole, Cole, I have to show you!” Ethan jumped up and down, tugging on Cole’s jeans.
    Andi was about to admonish him to mind his manners, but Cole squatted down in front of her son. “What is it, buddy?” he asked, his tone amused.
    “See what I made!” Ethan announced. “In there.” The little boy pointed to the living room.
    Cole smiled and took his hand. “Show me what you made.” He let Ethan lead him into the other room.
    “Oh my God, Andi, he is so hot,” Bella gushed.
    Andi laughed, but shook her head. She wasn’t going there with Bella. At. All.
    “Who is he?” The girl’s tone was distracted as she peered into the living room.
    “He’s working with me on a case.”
    “He’s not a… criminal …is he? Please say he’s not,” Bella said, locking her wide-eyed gaze with Andi’s.
    Andi smiled. “No, he’s not a criminal, Bells. But I am sure he’s too old for you.”
    “Duh. He’s not too old for you, ” Bella said, flashing a huge grin, her dark eyes twinkling.
    What the hell was she supposed to say to that? God, please don’t let me blush in front of my babysitter. Bella was too sharp for her own good. Andi would never live it down, either. The girl was as bad as Pete.
    “Besides, I can always look. Brad Pitt’s still hot, and he’s over forty,” Bella said. Andi laughed. How could she argue with that logic? “I mean Pete’s hot, too, after all.”
    Did Bella know how old Pete was? Her partner would be upset at being compared to a man over forty—almost fifty, actually. Pete was only thirty-four, but didn’t even look that. She chuckled.
    “I’ll be sure to tell him you said that,” Andi teased.
    Bella’s expression became horrified. “Oh, please don’t.”
    “I was teasing, silly. I wouldn’t rat you out. I’ll tell you a secret.” Andi let her voice drop to a whisper. “I think Pete’s pretty good-looking myself.”
    “Hmmm…” Bella cocked her head to the side. “Not as hot as Cole.” The girl winked, and Andi laughed again, grateful for Bella. She hadn’t been so lighthearted in days.
    “How was school today?” Andi asked. Steering the conversation away from Cole was prudent. No telling what would pop out of Bella’s mouth. Plausible deniability, Andi chanted. Coward , a voice whispered, but she ignored it.
    The girl made a face, obviously not approving of the subject matter. “Fine, I guess. You know, just school.”
    “Ah,” Andi said. “Anything interesting going on?”
    “Not really. Doing good, all around. AP English is killing me, though.”
    “I loved English when I was in school.”
    “Oh, me too, but it’s more of a struggle than I thought it was gonna be. Listen, I should run. I do have a paper to write. Ethan’s bathed and fed, like always.” She looked down for a moment, shifting her feet. “Not complaining since you’re paying extra, but any idea if you’re going to be late on Friday? I kinda have…a date…”
    “Sure. I’ll make sure we’re not in late… A date , Bells? Who’s the boy? I need to do a background check.”
    “Andi!” Bella grinned. Beamed was more like it. “Hey, you said we …”
    “Yeah… Cole is staying here while we work on this case.”
    “Ohhhhh…and you’re worried about me ?” Bella said, her tone sly. She winked.
    Andi laughed. “Don’t get any ideas, kiddo, it’s not like that.”
    “It should be.”
    “Isabella Marie,” Andi exclaimed. Heat crept up her neck and she bit back a groan. Cole’s mouth moving over hers popped into her mind, but she pushed it away, ignoring the warming of her traitorous body. Bella giggled and shrugged. Andi fought for control. Damn Cole and his effect on her. “Anyway, no subject changes. Tell me about this boy,” she managed, trying to focus on her young friend.
    “His name is Matt. He’s a senior, and this’ll be the second time