Free Burning Intensity by Elizabeth Lapthorne

said formally.
    “Waldron has come close?” she guessed.
    “That’s correct. Yes. Hang on… Right, he was just walking past. Look, El, you’ve obviously, erm, kissed and made up. I don’t want to barge in. Waldron has me trying to source rumors about the Cezanne. If you come back here you’ll be snowed under with paperwork. I’m hoping to escape in an hour or so, but for now I think your time is better spent with James. Enjoy being with him. I like seeing you happy, and he’s obviously a big part of that. This might turn into one of those times where splitting us up and one partner covering for the other means we can close the case.”
    “Like the Renfield one?” she recalled.
    Sometimes—rarely—management found themselves with a sensitive, political, messy case. When such things weren’t neat and straightforward, even the normal amount of freedom and leeway became restricted as pressure came from all sides. In the past, El and Rob had dealt with it by one of them going out and doing the hard work while the other one shuffled papers and kissed up to Waldron, or whoever was pressuring them to wrap the case up in a specific way.
    Considering the amount of political fallout the attack on the Gallery and loss of the Cezanne must be generating, El wasn’t surprised that Waldron was riding Rob hard.
    “You’ll escape soon, though, right? I don’t want you carrying the weight here. We’re partners. James understands that. If you need a break, or for us to swap over and for me to come in, I’m trusting you to let me know, Rob.”
    “Of course. Besides, I’ve been thinking of doing some interviews—stuff Waldron will be okay with. I just need to wrap up our preliminary report here then I’ll be clear. If those interviews fall through, I’ll think of something, anything to get me out there trying to answer these questions. Don’t worry about me, follow your instincts. And warn James to rein you in if you get into any trouble.”
    “I never get into trouble,” she protested.
    James choked out a laugh and she shot him a heated, sensual look.
    Rob chuckled on the other end. “Right. You’re the hot-headed one around here, remember?”
    She laughed and had to give him that point, but she’d not bend over that easily.
    “If I recall, you’re the last one who threw a dozen case files to the floor in a fit of frustration.”
    “And it was you who almost got us both on archiving duties for life when you decked that idiot manager… What was his name? Thompson? Johnson?”
    “Thomasson,” El agreed. “But that bastard deserved it. Everyone agreed. Eventually.”
    They shared a laugh.
    “Okay,” El said. “James and I will go talk to Louise. You get out from under that paperwork as quickly as you can manage. I’ll fill you in later.”
    “Be safe,” he said.
    “You too.”
    She hung up then placed her phone back in her jacket pocket.
    “Rob’s kissing arse and covering for us. Let’s go squeeze Louise gently and see what we can find.”
    “I’ll drive us. Do you have the address?”
    El nodded. She watched while James walked around the small room mumbling about his keys, wallet and phone. In a few minutes they were at the door, locking it and heading for his small car.
    She felt the normal thrill of the hunt, pleased to be out and doing something and not stuck at her desk shuffling paper like poor Rob was. Better still, she felt lighthearted, pleased in a way she hadn’t been for months. It took her a minute, but she realized that the feeling stemmed from having James there with her.
    He unlocked her door and held it open. Instead of climbing in, she cupped his jaw, tugged him down and kissed him thoroughly. They were both breathing heavily when he pulled back, and her eyes had lost focus. She cleared her throat and collected herself, needing a moment to calm her racing heart and blink to bring herself back from the sensual haze he’d taken her into.
    “What was that for?” James