Veiled Threat Read Online Free PDF Page B

nodded. “But then Poole-the-Asshole screwed up the report. Jimmy knows he’s lost a day on a time-
sensitive case. The responsibility is his; he’s in charge. He knows we won’t make a public stink about it, but your friends might.”
    “What would you do it if were your baby?”
    “Exactly. So we’re his early Christmas present. We want to help, we’re skilled, we’re his friends. Bam. We’re now officially assisting the police investigation and my excellent working relationship remains intact.” He flipped off a minivan as it ran the light. “I hope you skid into a telephone pole, asshole.”
    “Frank.”
    “Yeah, yeah, I should be more charitable. Tell the idiots who forget how to drive in this weather to stay off the road, and maybe that’ll happen.”
    “At least you have a choice. Dealing with drivers who text and eat while steering with their knees is better than another winter taking the bus.”
    Frank parked behind their building but didn’t shut off the ignition. “That’s the voice of someone who’s been reading Auto Trader magazine. You’re finally joining the ranks of the self-mobile?”
    “I should be, but my allergy to debt is paralyzing me. My savings account has a few hundred dollars more than I need for the down payment on a certain used Saturn. Six years old, tan inside, copper outside.”
    “You have car lust.” He laughed. “I wouldn’t have thought you had it in you.”
    She rubbed her gloved hands together. “When did you last ride the bus in winter? The closed windows give free rein to the body odor.”
    “Ouch.”
    “Deodorant is cheap. Certain items should never be cut out of one’s budget.” She pinched her nostrils to clear out the phantom odor. “Since we’re still in the car, you must want to talk about something that can’t be discussed around Sidney.”
    “Who said anything about talk?” He leaned across the seats and kissed her.
    She responded like it hadn’t been two weeks since he’d said anything to her that wasn’t work-related. Then her brain rebooted. She pulled her lips away from his.
    “It’s cold out here.”
    “That’s why I left the heater on.” He reached for her again.
    I’m going to regret this. “We’re supposed to be working.”
    He grinned. “I’m the boss. I can change work rules if I want.”
    No, I’m not going to regret this. “This is why office romances are a bad idea. We’re not on equal footing.” She unbuckled her seat belt to alleviate the trapped sensation. “Snogging belongs on dates, in private, not at eleven a.m. in a public parking lot.”
    She stifled a smile at his baffled expression. Did the man think his considerable charm offset everything else?
    “But … we’ve been busy. When else are we supposed to have some private time?”
    “People make time for what’s important.”
    He leaned away. “I see you finally learned how to play hard-to-get. Tell Cosmo they can bite me.”
    “I am not playing at anything. I’m tired of getting treated as your girlfriend when it’s convenient and your employee when it isn’t.” Her heart rate increased like she was at the end of a five-mile run. “Right now what’s important is getting Katie back.”
    Frank popped his seat belt. “Fine. Glad to see I can always count on you to earn your pay.”
    As they walked upstairs, Giulia imagined Frank taping a sign to her back: Ice Queen . For a moment she wanted to curse herself, until her Cosmo -studying kicked in. Instead, she patted herself on the back for not being a doormat to his erratic face-sucking moods. The convent had been hard. In a karmic-payback sense, dating should be easy. Thanks for nothing, Universe. She toed off her boots and opened the office door.
    “You piece of crap!” Sidney was pulling at the file-cabinet lock.
    “Sidney?” Giulia said.
    Sidney jumped. “Giulia. Mr. D. Um … I pushed in the lock and it won’t pull out and I can’t find the key.”
    Frank huffed. “There is no key.