In Hot Pursuit Read Online Free PDF Page B

behavior.” She unlocked the cell door and stood back to allow him out. “I haven’t seen you snarl in at least an hour.”
    He didn’t step past her, however. He stopped right in front of her and startled her with his direct gaze. “I can be well behaved if the situation calls for it.”
    She felt the blush starting, and resisted the urge to fan herself. The man wreaked havoc on her internal cooling system.
    And amazingly, rendered her speechless.
    She wasn’t sure if she wanted Josh to be well behaved or not, but the idea that he would be “good”if she wanted him to, left her mute for an agonizing moment.
    He reached for her. But instead of pulling him toward her for the kiss she sorely wanted, he gently tugged one of the fallen tendrils from her upswept hair. Slowly, he wound the long strand around his finger.
    He studied her with restless gray eyes. “How are you getting home?”
    The question jarred her out of her reverie. She didn’t know how to respond to his blunt question, especially since she’d rather hoped to go home with him. Still, she didn’t want to look too eager.
    â€œI can walk from here.”
    She lived just around the corner, but her place was off-limits. The two times she had worked up the courage to proposition a man—the only one-nighters she’d ever had—she’d made sure they went to his place.
    Josh frowned. “You can’t walk.”
    Lexi bristled. Josh might be gorgeous, but he was not in charge here. “Of course I can walk. I live nearby.”
    He steered her forward with a gentle hand at her waist and looked as if he hadn’t heard her. “Where’s your coat? I’ll take you home.”
    She stopped in her tracks. “I don’t think so.”
    â€œI’d try to talk you into coming home with me, but my apartment is in the middle of being repainted. We can’t go there.”
    Heat bothered her cheeks. “Of course not. I didn’tmean to suggest we would. I’ll be fine heading home on my own.”
    His mouth set in a straight, hard line. For the first time, Lexi noticed a scar on his cheekbone, a thin white line that seemed more prominent when he scowled.
    â€œLexi, I’m a cop. You’re a half-dressed woman ready to roam the streets of New York at two in the morning. Sorry, but I’m pulling rank here.”
    She felt her jaw slacken and promptly snapped it shut. “You, sir, are obviously blind. Don’t you dare suggest that wearing a Bill Blass original is anything less than being completely and flawlessly dressed.” She’d sooner crawl home than allow anyone to cast one more aspersion on her character today. She’d deflected jibes and gossip this evening like a damn mud flap.
    Josh scrubbed a hand over his chest before sliding his palm down the length of his silk tie. “You took a lot of crap here tonight?”
    She stilled. “What would you know about that?”
    â€œAlec told me about the magazine piece.”
    Great. Now the stud of her dreams felt sorry for her. “A letter to the editor by some disgruntled designer is not the end of the world.” Or so she told herself. Repeatedly.
    He shrugged. “I don’t keep up with the fashion magazines, I guess. But I don’t like the idea of you taking off by yourself after being the target of so much slander here tonight.”
    Slander. Yes, she rather liked the ring of that. Shesniffed. “I guess it wouldn’t hurt if you walked me home.”
    â€œGreat.” He headed toward the cloakroom. “What does your coat look like?”
    â€œBlack pashmina.”
    His brow furrowed, but he ducked into the room and out of sight.
    Damn. Now she wouldn’t be able to seduce him. There would be no night in Josh’s arms to chase away the cold loneliness she’d felt all day because she would not let him in her apartment…would she?
    Of course not.