Page 41 of Playing with Fire

“Just before seven.”

“At night?” Somehow, I avoided squealing the word.

“Unfortunately.” Quinn opened the door and peeked inside. “Please tell me you’re not a vegetarian. For some odd reason, my fridge is loaded with meat.”

“Cook it up, bring it in, and serve me while at least half-naked. I seem to recall winning a certain bet. And don’t you forget my grapes, Mr. Samuel Quinn.”

I really liked his wicked smile, which made him look like he would pounce and have his way with me given half a chance. “Your wish is my command.”

It no longer mattered if I was suffering from drug-induced hallucinations, had discovered heaven in the afterlife, or even if reality had turned in my favor for a change. For the moment, everything was perfect, and that was good enough for me.

I went from better than fine to sniffling and sneezing before we left for the station. After a short but fierce argument, which ended with me against the wall, trapped by Quinn’s warm body, he won the battle by shutting me up with his mouth on mine, but I won the war. Convincing him I’d die of shame if I went back to the hospital again classified as underhanded, but so was him using his weapon-grade lips against me.

“I really should be taking you to the doctor,” he murmured in my ear.

“I should be taking you back to bed, but no, I have to go to work with you. When I’m so sick I can’t fight with you over it, then you can take me to the hospital. Until then, I’m fine.” While I thought I’d be better than fine curled up on his bed, wrapped up in his blanket, using his pillow, he refused to leave me in his home unattended.

Since Quinn had ripped the sundress in his hurry to get it off me, I wore pajamas. Leaving for the station at nine at night justified my choice. Since he wasn’t letting me stay in his house alone, I’d stolen his blanket off his bed and stuffed it in a bag along with a pair of jeans, white t-shirt, and a black leather coat so I’d have something to wear when I went shopping for a new wardrobe.

“We don’t have time to go back to bed again.”

“I can dream, can’t I? It’s not my fault they hosed me down. It’s their fault I caught a cold.”

“Bailey.”

“What?”

“Just shut up and get your ass in the convertible.”

“But I can’t. I’m trapped.”

He chuckled, dropped another kiss on my lips, and pulled away. “Don’t touch any buttons, you. You’re a disaster waiting to happen, and I like that car. If you start pressing buttons, I’m certain you’ll find a way to break it.”

“That’s me. Bailey, the walking catastrophe.” I sighed, snatched the bag of clothes and pilfered blanket, and dragged it to his car. While I could have put my ill-gotten gains in the two seater’s trunk, I crammed it between my feet to prove I could make everything fit despite his doubts. “Hah. I told you I’d fit. Hey, wait a minute. I’m the one who’s supposed to be bossing you around.”

“We’re not in the house anymore, so deal with it, Gardener.”

True, the garage technically wasn’t in the house. “So I guess I can’t get you to start stripping out of your uniform in the car?”

“Not a chance.”

“Damn, Quinn. You’re mean.”

“No. If I were mean, I’d be taking you to the hospital instead of to the station, where I’m sure you’ll give every on-duty officer your cold. I really should take you to see your doctor. It’s right on the way.”

“Please don’t.”

“Then you better buckle up, shut up, and sleep quietly on my couch while I keep a close eye on you.”

I snorted. “You’re not going to be watching me. You’re going to be sleeping on your desk while drooling on your paperwork, Chief.”

“You’re worth it.”

I blushed. His statement, spoken with a smug smile, made me wonder just how long he’d been interested in me. Why? Why couldn’t I work up the nerve to ask him how he could possibly like me enough to want to sleep with me, especially after I had photographed his wife with another man? Guilt gnawed away at me, and I shifted on the leather seat.

“Put your seatbelt on, Bailey. Cop, remember? There’s no way I’m leaving my driveway if you aren’t buckled in.”

Ah, right. Wearing my seatbelt would help, wouldn’t it? I buckled in and sighed. “Even after…?”