Page 39 of Innocent Intent

It was Saturday morning, one of the few rare days when he had nothing pending. There was investigating that needed to be done with Cassidy’s case, but nothing pressing that couldn’t wait until the start of the week. The goal was to relax and enjoy a minute to himself. However, considering his current location, that hadn’t worked out as planned.

Davis decided to give it a rest and made his way to the locker room to shower and dress. Like most days, the place was empty. A few bodies scattered about, none of whom gave much thought to anyone around them, or so he assumed . . . until he stepped out into the blazing sunlight. A woman’s voice caught his attention as he moved from the curb.

“That workout seemed pretty intense.” Davis glanced over his shoulder and followed the teasing smile as the woman moved into his view. She was pretty, of average height, with soft brown eyes and a body he found himself comparing to Cassidy’s. The yoga pants and fitted shirt showed off the woman’s slim physique of toned limbs, barely-there hips, and perky breasts.

Cassidy’s curves are a little more defined.

Davis preferred a natural body type, soft to the touch and something to hold onto while . . .

Let that shit go. It isn’t happening.

“Didn’t know anyone was paying attention.”

She smiled brightly, moving closer, tossing a nylon duffel over her shoulder.

“Hard to ignore with a body like yours.” Her eyes crawled from Davis’s face further south, unabashedly lingering below his waist before she met his eyes again. “I’m Lena, and you are?”

“Nathaniel. Nice to meet you, Lena.” He smirked, already knowing the direction she was attempting to take their exchange.

“So, boxer?”

“Detective.”

Her eyes flashed with curiosity and then narrowed. “Seriously? You don’t look like any detective I’ve ever seen. Well, aside from those on TV, and even then . . .” Her eyes swept him again. “They don’t look like you.”

“You share company with a lot of detectives, Lena?” His tone was teasing, which had her smile expanding.

“Not exactly. I’m no angel, but I’m also not that level of bad.”

“And what kind of bad would that be?”

“The kind that requires badges and handcuffs, unless . . .” she stepped closer, “my partner prefers role playing.”

Davis chuckled and nodded. “Good to know.”

“You busy, Detective? I was about to grab some breakfast.” She motioned to the café next to the gym. Davis’s eyes glanced in that direction before they were on Lena again.

“I could eat.”

“Great, my treat. Let me just throw this into my car, and we can walk over.”

“Not necessary. They pay me well enough. I can handle footing the bill for breakfast.” He winked, and she grinned, moving to her vehicle while he made his way to his own. After discarding their gym bags, the two crossed the parking lot and entered the café, finding a table in the corner.

Once they ordered, Lena dove right in with her flirtation. “So, Detective, you’re single, I assume.”

Davis chuckled. “Yes, the job makes it difficult to date.” That wasn’t full disclosure, considering he hadn’t been interested in dating recently, but he didn’t need her running with the idea of anything solid between them. At the moment, he needed a distraction from the woman who had been overcrowding his thoughts.

“Difficult, maybe, but not impossible, I bet.”

He lifted his coffee and smiled. “No, not impossible. Just takes some strategic planning and a little manipulation.”

“Manipulation, hmmm? I like the sound of that.” Her smile was devious, but she moved on, and Davis was grateful. “So, is your job like what they show on TV? Hunting down the bad guys, guns drawn, looking sexy while you threaten to lock them up and throw away the key?”

“Yes and no. Most of what I’ve seen loosely reflects my day to day. It is a little embellished at times. I must admit I admire TV detectives a little more than I should.”

She leaned forward, propping her chin atop loosely hanging fingers. The movement was subtle yet intentional. It offered a peek down her top if he elected to take it. “Oh yeah. Why’s that?”

“They mostly have the luxury of closing cases in their allotted forty-two-minute window. Mine tend to drag on for weeks. Sometimes months.”

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