by Lexi Ostrow
Bridget wasn’t mentally present and if they were going to have a test at the end of the unit, she knew she wasn’t going to be able to pass this one. She’d removed the eraser from her mouth when the captain had begun speaking, and now casually slipped it back in between her teeth.
The entirety of the unit slipped by her as her mind pinged questions back and forth. Some that had no answers and others that simply didn’t need to be asked. Bridget couldn’t seem to force the questions to stop, and thinking about stopping only added to her lack of focus on the task at hand. Something else Marcus would probably yell at her for later on down the road.
How can they all literally just file it away like nothing happened? Because they’ve probably never had someone in their lives shot.
She answered her own question and felt a little foolish for even wondering. It was driving her crazy though, that everyone else really could just move onto the lesson like it was nothing. Maybe she really did need to speak to someone. She needed to get things under control before they got out of hand.
“Take a ten minute break. Grab some water. Detectives Trellins and Juarez will meet you at the shooting range in ten minutes. Stay in uniform. You don’t ever shoot the gun without it on. While you may have been able to do so last week while we gaged where you were at, from here on out, until you pass the requirements, you’ll only be doing so in the constricting uniform. It will be the thing that saves your life if you ever need to pull your weapon on a perp.”
Bridget heard Chase, but she didn’t move from her seat. She knew Marcus or Ashley might have noticed that she hadn’t taken a single note. For that matter, she’d also bet that Lieutenant Chase had as well. The last thing she wanted was to be forced to go to Annalisse.
“Bathroom break?” Ashley’s voice sounded far too cheerful.
Bridget wasn’t interested in dealing with Ashley right now so she shook her head no.
She did however, get up and walk her friend out of the room.
“I decided I’m going to talk to Annalisse. If I can’t push this from my mind on my own. Marcus was right. For as long as we’re partnered during the courses, you deserve someone that won’t drag you down.”
Ashley laughed. “I don’t think Miss Perfect Scorer could drag me down, but thank you. I appreciate it. I know it couldn’t have been easy on you to come to that conclusion.”
They walked to the range, with Ashley peppering her with police codes. She barely noticed Jeremy when they pushed the gate open. Her eyes lingered on his form, but she didn’t hesitate or mention him to Ashley as they grabbed their weapons, put the noise-cancelling headphones and goggles on.
Too bad it didn’t last once Jeremy started to talk. His voice slid over every inch of her body. There was no sensual slide of his southern accent as he explained the score they would need to aim for today. However, she was so intently focused on the pout of his lips that everything he said didn’t match the words she was hearing.
In her mind, he was telling her that they were going to make it work. That they’d be secretive. Careful, even. She sighed as the fantasy Jeremy leaned down and placed his lips to hers, sending a jolt of need through her.
Ashley looked at her sideways. It was only then that Bridget realized Jeremy wasn’t in front of them anymore. A pop sounded next to her, indicating that they’d been given the all clear to start as well.
“Something tells me that look has absolutely nothing to do with the shooting.”
Ashley winked and stepped up to the line on the floor, aiming her gun at the black drawing of a man’s body.
“Just shoot your damned gun, Ashley.”
There was no anger in her voice, just a playfulness. It was nice having a friend she could talk to about anything. It was something she hadn’t had in ages because models had a nasty habit of spreading things they were told.
Ashley probably couldn’t hear her, but she fired her weapon anyway. The bullet slammed squarely into the target’s shoulder. She fired off six more rounds, not targeting the man’s chest, or the proper place of the head to obtain the needed points. Her shoulders were slumped a little as she turned and walked over, giving Bridget the space she needed to take her own shots.
“Don’t focus on it, Ashley. We can rent guns at shooting ranges anytime you want.”
Bridget had to shout to get over the sound of shots going off at different intervals, and she watched as several heads turned towards them. Ashley’s cheeks flamed red.
“Sorry,” she mouthed to her friend.
Bridget turned and let out a deep breath as she focused on the fresh target that one of the other cops in the room had switched out so she could do her own practice.
Letting out the breath she’d taken she depressed the trigger. The first bullet shot from the barrel and slammed into the center of the drawing’s forehead. A flicker of excitement went through her. She’d gone shooting more than once as a child with her dad, but using the skills she’d learned right now held a great deal of satisfaction for her.
I wonder if Jeremy has ever questioned how I’m able to do this.
The stray thought slipped into her mind as she took the second shot. It was a little high on the left shoulder, but close enough to the heart to get the point level she’d wanted.
Pausing just for a second she chastised herself for thinking about Jeremy. There was no room for thinking about a man anymore than there was room for thinking about the shooting from yesterday. She needed to clear her mind and do whatever it took to not think about the positively sexy dimples every time he smiled or the way she’d wanted to run her fingers over the fresh buzz cut he had.
She closed her eyes and fought off the mental picture even as desire bloomed within her. Her breathing slowed. Bridget forced breath after breath. It felt like an eternity passed before the images left her alone. Without flinching, she opened her eyes and fired off the seven allowed shots. Every one of them landed so close to the initial shoulder shot the holes touched. Except for the one she’d expertly shot through the center of the target’s right hand.
Bridget tried not to beam at anyone, especially Jeremy when her eyes caught his as she turned around. She quietly went to stand next to Ashley at the back of the shooting line to indicate they were done and ready to be scored on the practice shots. Over the next few minutes, the outpouring of gunshots grew quieter and her anticipation over learning the results grew stronger.
If she’d succeeded in accumulating enough points while stressed and indulging in a fantasy about the officer in charge, then she wouldn’t need Annalisse. She just needed a little time to decompress. Learning the material wasn’t a problem. She may have been a model and a college dropout, but she wasn’t a moron. She could learn and memorize with the best of them. Granted, her stature put her at a disadvantage for the physical tests. She’d struggled through the PT sessions enough to know she needed everything else to be perfect.
Her fingers tapped on the wall she was leaning against as the time ticked by. No one spoke as the targets were all removed. They could have left, could have gone out of the range and taken a breather before whatever was coming next. No one seemed inclined to do so, however. With the threat of police shootings hanging over their heads, she guessed every one of them wanted to prove accurate with a gun. Their lives all could depend on it one day.
She couldn’t help but watch the muscles in Jeremy’s back flex. He stood to the left of her, about a hundred yards away, tallying up the scores, while the man he’d introduced as his partner, Juarez, did the same with the other half. The muscles in his neck corded as he counted silently, moving his lips as he did so. She licked her lips as an image of their having sex flashed through her mind.
Bridget shifted her body weight and downcast her eyes.
The fantasies angered her, she had no control over them and she was putting her career in jeopardy every time her mind wandered. For all intents and purposes, Jeremy had seemed to be the one with some investment in taking things further.
His display of annoyance when she wouldn’t stay the whole night the night they’d slept together had seemed indication enough but maybe she was wrong.
No one would ever know that based on his behavior now. He was completely cut off from her. In fact, unless it was to bark an order at the unit as a whole, he hadn’t said a word to her since last Monday. His eyes met hers on many occasions, but there was no sign of anything akin to longing in them. In fact, he typically narrowed his eyes at her and pursed his lips before crossing his muscular arms over his chest and turning away. Nor was there a single indication he’d so much as cared that the attempt at a relationship they’d been interested in a week ago was extinguished.
“If you hear your name, you’ve qualified. There will be no stress in any upcoming sessions. However, you will be mandated to come often to the shooting range and practice. The next assessment will involve moving targets. Anyone that cannot complete the stationary one in the required time will be spoken to and possibly dismissed if deemed appropriate,” Juarez said.
She flinched a little, even knowing that she’d shot perfectly, nevermind perfectly enough to get the score she needed. It didn’t mean she wasn’t concerned about Ashley and Marcus though.
“Congratulations, Miss O’Casey–highest score. I see your father left you with something after all.” Juarez smiled at her and she flushed, hating the fact that her secret was now out. “Tolbert, Voll, Ramakers, Spano, Honeysett, and Finnin. Congratulations, and consider helping your fellow recruits with tips.”
Bridget smiled over at Marcus, pleased by the fact that he had passed, but did her best not to look over at Ashley. Being the daughter of a cop, she most likely wasn’t content with the knowledge she hadn’t passed her first try. Bridget knew she certainly wouldn’t be if they were in opposite positions.
It just meant she’d have to try and help her partner in any way she could. Besides, she needed a little girl talk. Maybe another night out to take her mind off the sexy detective who clearly wanted nothing to do with her.
It had only been one night. The fact that she saw him daily was the only reason her body kept craving him. At least she hoped that was all because she had a strong feeling she’d more than enjoyed their conversation before they’d wound up racing down the streets to his house that night.
Jeremy rubbed a hand over his eyes and gave Juarez the one finger salute. “Just don’t get cocky. I knew splitting the recruits in half would give you something to brag about.” He laughed as he pushed open the glass door leading to the garage.
“Look, pal, it’s not my fault your half have no natural talent.”
“It’s not natural talent. Your lead scorer was a cop’s kid.” he muttered, feeling bitter about that fact.
Bridget O’Casey had left a whole hell of a lot out of the “hi, how are you’s” they’d done that night. Starting with the fact that her father was one of the most respected beat cops ever to come out of the LAPD because of his dedication to the beat. The man had worked twenty-one years as a beat cop, with an occasional stint in Vice. He had wanted to remain close to quick crime and leave the long winded victories to the men and women with more patience.
Juarez chuckled and pulled open the door of his beat-up blue 1980’s Mercedes. “Like I said, not my fault. Maybe you’ll do better next assessment.” He dropped into the driver’s seat and grabbed the door handle, but didn’t pull it closed. “Ya know, I almost don’t mind that you’ve dragged me into your punishment.”
His partner smirked and pulled the door shut and Jeremy walked off.
He’d been out of sorts since learning Bridget was a recruit, and had gone to Juarez for help. The only explanation had been that he was mentally drained from the recent bust and needed help. The truth was, he didn’t trust himself with coming into such close contact with Bridget on a frequent basis.
For the past three nights in a row, he’d dreamt about her lithe body thrusting beneath his as they frantically reached a climax. Twice, he’d dreamed they were on simple dates, a day at the beach and a night at the movies. None of which had made his morning moods pleasant.
He knew how she felt about him by the way she looked at him. The way her eyes would widen and her mouth would part on a small gasp when he would look in her direction. Lust rode him hard every damned time. He had no clue as to where the strength to ignore her came from.
Bridget O’Casey wasn’t a woman any man could easily be able to ignore. Toss her long legs, perfectly sculpted face and perky breasts aside, and she was still a force to be reckoned with. Her father had taught her well. She was the best shot in the class. He knew it had nothing to do with impressing him.
Jeremy had watched her during the three days they’d been training. She kept her focus at all times. She suffered a little in physical training and it pained him. She held onto the standards, but she didn’t complete the tasks with the finesse or speed she used while completing the mental tasks and shooting. They hadn’t begun any self-defense training yet either. For that, he was grateful. The idea of watching her body beneath any man’s but his own wasn’t on his to-do list right now.
The idea of sparring with her, of pinning her to the mat and lowering his body weight on top of hers so she could squirm and force her way out made him groan as his hand wrapped around his car’s door handle. He could feel the rush of blood to his dick and if he didn’t find some other way to forget about Bridget, the remainder of training was going to be impossible on them both. He had a feeling they could only avoid each other for so long before things grew a little more cumbersome between them.
It wasn’t until he was pulling open the door that he looked up and around his own car. A frown marred his face and he sucked in a breath. Bridget and her partner, Ashley, were standing next to a yellow Jeep two cars down.
“Fuck.” He jerked the car door open, and tried to get in and get out of the way, but he heard his name before he had a the chance to do so.
“Hi, Detective Trellins. Wonderful afternoon!” Ashley waived at him as she got into her car as Bridget was walking towards him.
He stood up from the car seat, standing in between the seat and the door, waiting as she walked up. The sway of her hips in the blue leggings wasn’t covered enough by the dark burgundy tunic she wore. He felt that tiny spark of lust flare within him at the sight and he bit down on the inside of his cheek, trying to not make a sound.
“Detective Trellins, do you have a moment?” Bridget’s voice sounded sweet, and there was no indication of the ire that shown out of her eyes.
“Not here.”
He ground out the words through clenched teeth. Bridget didn’t move away. Instead, she took half a step closer to him. Jeremy felt his dick pulse within his pants.
“I’m not going to be loud or even say anything that can incriminate Mr. Perfect in a night of passion with his subordinate.”
True to her word, she lowered her voice. The problem was the sultry tone of it made his heart beat quicker.
“What I’m going to do is tell you that we’re both adults. That we slept together before we knew anything, and we broke off any possible shot at doing it again once we found out the problem.”
He was breathing heavily, trying to resist the urge to pull her face down to his. “So what’s the point of this quiet little tirade then?”
She stepped closer, leaving just enough space between them that it couldn’t be considered completely inappropriate. Bridget grazed her stomach across his pelvic area, and he growled low.
“The point is, you were not an adult when you approached me about it and I would like an apology.”
The glint in her eye told him there was so much more she wanted. He was losing any ability to resist her with every second they stood out there and sooner or later, someone else was going to walk out of the precinct. He could only hope she walked back to her friend before that happened.
“Get. In. The. Car.” He forced the words out and heard his own deep ragged breaths that followed his comm
and.
Her response was a slow and subtle grin that sent another pulse of heat to course through him. She didn’t waste any time as she walked around the car and pulled the door open.
He watched as Ashley started to get out of her Jeep, a look on worry plastered on her face. Not that he blamed her, she had no idea what Bridget and he had done. Getting into the car with your sort of teacher was stupid.
“We’re going to talk about the shooting range,” Bridget said as she gazed at Ashley. “I’ll find another way home.”
The statement sounded ludicrous. Jeremy had a feeling she knew that and it was intended to get an eyebrow raise from anyone that overheard. She wasn’t going to implicate him directly, but she was willing to play dangerous games. That shouldn’t have aroused him, but it did.
He slid into the driver’s seat and gripped the wheel so tightly that his knuckles turned white. His gaze dropped to her hands, watching as she clipped the seatbelt in place. It was the most non-sexual thing he had probably ever had turn him on.
When she turned to look at him as he was pulling out of the garage, he couldn’t resist the pull to look at her. The desire in her eyes matched what he was feeling, and the way she was chewing on her lower lip was driving him mad.
“Is this what you wanted, Bridget? An adult action like this one?” his lips captured hers almost before he finished speaking and the kiss was over as quickly as it had begun.
She slid her hand into his lap, just shy of where his cock pulsed with need, and let it rest on his knee. “I think this is what we both want. Getting it out of the way will make it so much easier on us both.”
“Don’t count on it, Darlin’.”
Jeremy pushed the words out and cranked up the music, it was afternoon but he was still a good thirty minutes from his house. If she kept playing him like this, they weren’t going to make it.
We’ve been here before.
The thought rolled through Jeremy’s mind, and he forced a deep breath out through his nose. This would make it the second time that lust and chemistry had sent the two of them barreling towards his house in his little car.