Convincing Alex Read Online Free Page B

eyes subtly smudged with color. Her hair was artfully tousled, a rich, deep red that made him think of a mahogany statue his brother had carved for him.
    â€œSo I told the mayor we’d try to work it in, and we’d love for him to come on the show and do a cameo.” She shifted on the desk and spotted Alex. He was frowning at her, his thumbs tucked into the pockets of a leather bomber jacket. “Officer Stanislaski.”
    â€œMcNee.” He inclined his head, then swept his gaze over his fellow officers. “The boss comes in and finds you here, I might have to tell him how you didn’t have enough work and volunteered to take some of mine.”
    â€œJust entertaining your guest, Stanislaski.” But the use of the squad room’s nickname for their captain had the men drifting reluctantly away.
    â€œWhat can I do for you?”
    â€œWell, I—”
    â€œYou’re sitting on a homicide,” he told her.
    â€œOh.” She scooted off the desk. Without the stilettos, she was half a head shorter than he. Alex discovered he preferred it that way. “Sorry. I came by to thank you for straightening things out for me.”
    â€œThat’s what they pay me for. Straightening things out.” He’d been certain she would rave a bit about being tossed into a cell, but she was smiling, friendly as a kindergarten teacher. Though he couldn’t recall ever having a teacher who looked like her. Or smelled like her.
    â€œRegardless, I appreciate it. My producer’s very tolerant, but if it had gone much further, she would have been annoyed.”
    â€œAnnoyed?” Alex repeated. He stripped off his jacket and tossed it onto his chair. “She’d have been annoyed to find out that one of her writers was out soliciting johns down at Twenty-third and Eleventh Avenue.”
    â€œResearching,” Bess corrected, unoffended. “Darla—that’s my producer—she gets these headaches. I gave her a whopper when I went on a job with a cat burglar.”
    â€œWith a…” He let his words trail off and eased down on the spot on the desk she’d just vacated. “I don’t think you want to tell me about that.”
    â€œActually, he was a former cat burglar. Fascinating guy. I just had him show me how he’d break into my apartment.” She frowned a little, remembering. “I guess he was a little rusty. The alarm—”
    â€œDon’t.” Alex held up a hand. He was beginning to feel a headache coming on himself.
    â€œThat’s old news, anyway.” She waved it away with a cheerful gesture of her hands. “Do you have a first name, or do I just call you Officer?”
    â€œIt’s Detective.”
    â€œYour first name is Detective?”
    â€œNo, my rank.” He let out a sigh. “Alex.”
    â€œAlex. That’s nice.” She ran a fingertip over the strap of his harness. She wasn’t being provocative; she wanted to know what it felt like. Once she knew him better, she was sure, she’d talk him into letting her try it on. “Well, Alex, I was wondering if you’d let me use you.”
    He’d been a cop for more than five years, and until this moment he hadn’t thought anything could surprise him. But it took him three seconds to close his mouth. “I beg your pardon?”
    â€œIt’s just that you’re so perfect.” She stepped closer. She really wanted to get a better look at his weapon—without being obvious about it.
    She smelled like sunshine and sex. As he drew it in, Alex thought that combination would baffle any man. “I’m perfect?”
    â€œAbsolutely.” She looked straight into his eyes and smiled. Her gaze was frank and assessing. She was studying him, the way a woman might study a dress in a showroom window. “You’re exactly what I’ve been looking for.”
    Her eyes were pure green. No hint of gray or blue, no