Collision Force

by C. A. Szarek

  “Cole!” Ethan’s shout made her jump. She dropped the spatula and bit back a curse.

  Andi ignored Cole’s greeting to her three-year-old and released a breath she’d not realised she’d been holding.

  “Morning,” Cole said, beating her to the spatula as she bent to retrieve it. He headed to the sink and washed it before handing it over.

  “Thanks,” Andi said. His steel eyes were heated as she met his gaze. She ignored how her body warmed, turning away from him. He didn’t move. His body heat radiated, caressing her back as if they were touching. “Hope you like pancakes.” Rushing her words, she was glad she couldn’t read his face.

  “I do.”

  “I’m hungry,” Ethan said.

  “Almost ready, baby,” Andi said, glancing over her shoulder.

  “I’ll get him a plate,” Cole said, grabbing Ethan’s favourite plastic dish with Mater, from Disney’s Cars, on it.

  Before she could protest, Cole forked two pancakes from her done pile onto her son’s plate. He cut them up and poured just enough syrup before heading to the table. A wave of emotion took her by surprise and she swallowed back a lump in her throat.

  She blinked away tears and concentrated on the contents of her griddle. Cole and Ethan were talking as Ethan ate. The mix of Cole’s deep voice with her little boy’s much higher one was almost too much to take. Cole laughed at something Ethan said and Andi let her eyes close. Iain would never have the chance to sit and chat with their son at breakfast—or any meal. But Cole was here right now. What was the bigger crime? Her chest ached.

  Guilt over the encounter with Cole settled over her. She clutched the spatula until her knuckles whitened. She’d enjoyed herself. She wanted him, wanted more. He’d made her blood sing, her body throb. Never had she reacted to a man like that. What the hell was she going to do?

  “Andi?”

  She jumped. She couldn’t look at him. “What?” Her voice cracked and she cleared her throat.

  “Do you need some help?”

  Not with breakfast. “No.” Forcing a deep breath, she slapped the warmest pancakes onto the nearest plate in a neat pile before fixing her own plate.

  Andi didn’t turn around until she’d got herself together and plastered on a smile. From the expression on Cole’s face, he didn’t buy it. Ignoring him, she dropped a kiss on Ethan’s cheek and took her seat.

  “Looks great,” Cole said, his tone friendly. His smile didn’t reach his eyes, his dimples nowhere in sight.

  “Thanks,” Andi said.

  “More, Mama, please.”

  Once again, before Andi could act, Cole cut one of his own pancakes in half and put it on Ethan’s plate. “Here, buddy. Are you sure you can eat all that?”

  Ethan nodded and shoved a big morsel into his mouth, holding his small fork backwards. Cole chuckled and admonished him to slow down. Something else that was her job. Andi gulped. She stared at the contents of her plate, her stomach in knots.

  “You should eat, we have a long day,” Cole said.

  Andi made the mistake of looking into his eyes. Tenderness and heat…and promises she wouldn’t acknowledge. She told herself she wanted none of it. A scathing retort died on her tongue and she nodded. Cole gave her a long look but said nothing, just took a bite of his own breakfast.

  * * * *

  The ride to the station sans Ethan was awkward. Andi’s stomach would never be normal again. It was currently rebelling against the three pancakes she’d stuffed down and the thought of coffee—usually the delight of her morning—was a definite ticket to vomiting.

  Cole put the Challenger in park and paused, his hand on the door. “I won’t apologise.”

  Her face warmed and she looked away.

  “And I won’t lie to you, either. It will happen again.” The promise in his words brought her gaze around.

  “No, it won’t. It can’t.”

  He said nothing, just stared into her eyes before settling his gaze on her lips. Cole leaned towards her and brushed his mouth against hers. It was a tease, and not nearly enough. Andi gasped and her body flushed.

  Cole was up and out of the car before she had a chance to react. She was at work. How dare he? But the protest died. Bringing it to his attention would solve nothing. She swallowed hard, chiding herself.

  “C’mon, Andi. We have a case to solve.” Cole beckoned with his arm and Andi flexed her fingers, anger boiling up. But she clutched at the feeling, needing it.

  With a breath, she rushed past him with jerky movements and ignored his chuckle.

  He should not have kissed her in the car—or at all—but he couldn’t help himself. She’d been stuck with him and Cole couldn’t stand it. He needed another look on her face, something other than the doe ready to bolt at any second. He didn’t regret the slight touch of their mouths, but it had left him wanting more.

  Work was a necessity that would help Andi ignore him, no doubt, and he’d do his best to keep his hands to himself—be professional. They did have a case to solve, after all. Later…tonight…he would focus on her and what was between them—whether she wanted to or not.

  Andi beat him to her desk. She turned the dial of her handheld radio on, pulling it from the charger, then pushed the start button to boot up her computer. She was striving for normal, ignoring him. Cole watched her, saying nothing. He took up residence at his normal spot, leaning on the corner of her desk as she slid into her chair. His lips twitched as he fought a smile.

  Cole raised an eyebrow as she shot to her feet after sitting for only a moment.

  “I’m getting coffee,” she said, her words rushed.

  “I’ll go with you. I could use some, too.” Something flickered across her eyes and her cheeks reddened. Wow, she was frazzled. “Is that a problem?”

  “No.” Andi shook her head and turned on her heel.

  He let her make it all the way to the door before pushing off her desk and following. Cole gave a heavy sigh. It was going to be a long day.

  Their hands brushed as she handed him a Styrofoam cup and she yanked away as if he’d burnt her. Cole winced. He grabbed her wrist and tugged gently until she met his gaze. “Relax. I’m sorry I upset you.”

  “You didn’t upset me.” Her denial was fast and she averted her eyes.

  “Bullshit, Andi,” Cole whispered. “I’m not going to jump on you.”

  She looked around the break room frantically, but there was no one in sight. “I’m not talking about this here.” Her chest heaved and Cole released her with a sigh.

  “Fine. But we have to get through the day. You pick how we do that.”

  The hum of two male voices drifted down the hallway and Andi jumped away from him, reaching for the coffee pot. Her hand shook as she lifted it. She blew out a breath and Cole grabbed for the sugar, shaking his head. Pushing her got him nowhere.

  “Sonoma Street, yeah, I know,” a uniformed cop said as he headed into the room.

  “That’s a good neighbourhood,” the other officer answered.

  They were both young and dark-haired. The guy on the right looked Hispanic. Cole nodded to them as one took a seat and the other waited not far from him, in line for coffee.

  “Morning, MacLaren,” the seated guy called.

  Andi smiled over her shoulder and stirred her coffee as she scooted out of Cole’s way. “Morning, Shannon, how’s it going?”

  “Pretty good.”

  “How’re ya, Rodriguez?” Andi asked the guy now pouring himself a steaming cup.

  “Good, good. We were in your neighbourhood this morning, though. Manning made his way over there before we left.”

  “My neighbourhood?”

  “Yeah, seventy-six fifty-one Sonoma. Family was on vacation. Got back this morning. Someone broke the window in the back door and made themselves at home. Nothing but medical supplies and a bottle of Jack Daniel’s missing. Blood all over the place.”

  Cole straightened and Andi shot him a look. She quickly introduced him to
the two cops, Shannon Crowley and Mark Rodriguez.

  “Any prints?” Cole asked.

  “Well, there were blood smears on the counter, so probably. Even a partial handprint. Like I said, Detective Manning met us over there. Dunno if he’ll call in Crime Scene or gather the stuff himself,” Rodriguez said. “Car was missing, too, a black 2010 BMW 320. We haven’t found it yet.”

  “Andi?” Cole asked.

  “Yeah, let’s go,” she said. The two cops exchanged a confused look, and Andi flashed a smile. “Thanks, guys, see ya later.”

  “So much for coffee, huh?” Cole asked, falling into step with her as they headed back out.

  “I guess so. Let me grab my radio. Meet you by the car.”

  “Sure.” Cole shoved his hands into his pockets and headed out of the building.

  “You think it’s Maldonado?” Andi asked as she got into the Challenger.

  “It’s gotta be.”

  She swallowed hard and gripped her radio until her knuckles whitened. “It makes too much sense to end up being someone else.”

  “That’s what I was thinking, too,” Cole said. Her expression looked even graver, her eyebrows drawn tight. “What is it?”

  “Sonoma is only two streets over from mine. Maldonado was in my neighbourhood, not far from my house…my kid…Bella.”

  Cole grabbed her hand and squeezed. “We’ll get the bastard.”

  “We have to,” she agreed.

  He looked at their joined hands and his heart missed a beat. Holding her, comforting her was right. “Besides”—Cole met her eyes—“I’m at your house now. I will keep you and Ethan safe.”

  Andi stared at him, saying nothing, and it took all he was made of not to lean in and kiss her again.

  Work. They had work to do.

  Cole broke away, starting the car and shoving the shifter into gear.

  Chapter Eleven

  Andi looked out of the window as the Challenger sped down the road. She couldn’t spare Cole a glance. I’m at your house now. I will keep you and Ethan safe reverberated between her ears over and over.

  She didn’t need someone to keep her and her son safe. She was a cop. Had an alarm system, training, guns. Everything was covered. So why did those words tear through her like a vow? And why was it so appealing? She didn’t need Cole Lucas and all the feelings he dredged up.

  Get it together, Andi. Cole was here for this case. As soon as they got his guy, he’d move on and her life would return to normal. Pete would come back to work, and everything would be as it always had been. She needed to believe that.

  Cole sighed and Andi straightened in her seat. She peered out of the corner of her eye. Her tongue was frozen, but what could she say anyway? He reached down to shift the car, his biceps contracting against the sleeve of his T-shirt as he moved. She followed the defined line of his forearm down to his wrist, her gaze settling on the steering wheel where he’d returned his grip.

  Every glance at his hands flamed her cheeks. She didn’t want to remember what they felt like on her bare flesh. Especially down there. Andi averted her eyes again and swallowed hard, ignoring the tremble that slid down her spine. Damn him.

  They turned into her neighbourhood, and she clung to the distraction as Cole navigated onto Sonoma Street, heading to seventy-six fifty-one. Her skin crawled. Carlo Maldonado had been close to her home.

  “We’ll get him, Andi,” Cole said, as if he could read her mind.

  She nodded, not trusting her voice.

  Pulling into the driveway, Cole parked behind a white, unmarked Ford Crown Victoria. Jared Manning’s car.

  Andi hadn’t seen her fellow detective since he’d left for vacation the week before. She was glad he was back, but he wouldn’t like them bumping him from a case. And this was their case. She had no doubt whose blood they would find in the house.

  She followed Cole up the sidewalk and onto the porch of the house. The whole subdivision had been built in the late eighties by the same builder. Floor plans and square footage varied, but other than that, the houses were cookie cutter.

  An older woman with worry heavy in her hazel eyes met them at the door after Cole’s knock.

  Andi scooted forward and put her hand out. The woman looked at it, but didn’t take it.

  “I’m Detective MacLaren, this is Agent Lucas. May we come in?”

  “There’s already a detective here,” she said, her short silver hair shifting as she glanced over her shoulder.

  “Yes, ma’am, we’re here to help,” Cole said, smiling.

  The woman’s expression softened and she offered a slight smile in return, her cheeks tinged pink.

  Jesus, it figures. The man could melt a nun. Andi shook her head and Cole shot her a look that said ‘What?’

  She followed the woman before he could go in front of her. He said nothing, but she could sense him close behind. She suppressed a shiver. Focus. On. Work.

  Jared towered over the tiny balding man he was listening to, his dark head bent. The youngest detective at the PD, he was a nice guy in Andi’s experience, but he went through partners like water—he was in need of one now. He had a stubborn streak with a side of cocky. She bit back a snort. Not unlike someone else she knew.

  Andi glanced at Cole, but he was charming the woman who’d introduced herself as Sarah Reynolds. She was telling him that her husband, Tom, was a former banker, and she used to be an elementary school principal. They were retired and had just got back from a cruise where they’d celebrated their thirtieth wedding anniversary.

  She took a moment to make a mental catalogue of the room, drowning out their voices. As Rodriguez had mentioned, there were spots of dried blood on the floor and a bloody handprint smeared on the counter. Why would someone on the run be so sloppy? Maldonado had been in the game long enough to know better than to leave so much behind. He must be in bad shape—no wonder he’d sought out Berto for help.

  “If you’ll excuse me,” Jared Manning told Mr Reynolds, making a beeline for Andi. “MacLaren, what’s up?”

  He looked her up and down—wanted to know why she’d impeded his territory. Cole appeared at her side before she could answer her colleague, standing much too close. Jared raised an eyebrow.

  Andi took a step away from Cole, noticing his clenched jaw.

  “Jared, this is Cole Lucas, he’s with the FBI. We’re working a case together.”

  “FBI?” Jared asked, but he thrust his hand out to shake Cole’s. “Jared Manning.”

  Cole hesitated and Andi glared at him until he shoved his hand into the other detective’s. What the hell was wrong with her partner?

  “Yeah, looks like this is tied in,” Cole said, giving Jared a shake that jarred his shoulder.

  Jared pulled away, shooting Andi a puzzled look. She shrugged. Even at his gruffest, Cole hadn’t acted like this before. It was as if he was jealous. Wait—no way.

  She cocked her head to the side and studied him for a minute, but he wasn’t looking at her. Her belly fluttered.

  “Well, then I’ll tell you what I got,” her fellow detective said.

  The two men talked and Andi listened, watching as Cole’s shoulders finally loosened and his chest heaved as if he’d released a breath.

  She glanced at Jared. He was handsome, but he’d never tempted her. He’d been with the department about six years, a detective just over three, and was a few years younger than she. Nope—not her type. Jared was a flavour-of-the-week kind of guy when it came to women, and not shy about it.

  Andi harrumphed. And Cole wasn’t? A laugh bubbled up, but she swallowed it back. They were two peas in a pod, these guys. Jared, almost as tall as Cole and just as muscular, but with dark brown eyes, instead of grey ones. Attitude the same.

  “What happens next?” Mr Reynolds broke into their conversation.

  “We’ll dust for prints and take samples of what appears to be blood so we can catch the person who broke in, Mr Reynolds,” Jared answered.

  “And t
hen I can clean up this mess?” Mrs Reynolds wanted to know. “Our restroom is in horrible condition, too.”

  “We’ll send someone to handle that, Mrs Reynolds,” Andi said.

  “Oh, no. I don’t want to wait. It’s my house, I want to do it myself,” the older woman insisted.

  “Then go right ahead, ma’am,” Cole answered, flashing dimples at her.

  Andi wanted to roll her eyes when the woman, who had to be in her sixties, practically swooned.

  “I have an evidence kit,” Jared said.

  “Good, then we can get to the lab,” Cole said.

  Jared processed the scene while Cole continued to speak to the wife. Mr Reynolds asked Andi a few more questions.

  “What about my car?” Mr Reynolds rubbed his face, then skimmed the top of his balding head with his palm.

  “As soon as we find it, we’ll let you know, Mr Reynolds. I’m sorry about all this,” Andi said, offering a smile. His wife took a step closer to him, and the older man pulled her to his side with an arm around her thin shoulders, dropping a kiss on her cheek.

  She tried not to stare, and tried not to dwell on what Mrs Reynolds had told Cole. Married thirty years and still adoring each other? It was a miracle. Andi ignored the beat her heart missed and refused to look at Cole. Jealous or not, the FBI agent wasn’t for her. She’d better get that straight.

  Jared presented the homeowners with his business card as soon as he’d sealed up his kit. “We’ll keep you informed as best we can about your case. Call me if you have any questions, or can think of anything else,” the detective told them.

  Mr Reynolds nodded and rubbed up and down his wife’s arm.