Hell, I had worked with Vivi for years before I even met Clementine!
She was one of several women who I saw off and on because I had no time or desire for a serious relationship. My work was everything to me. It was the most important thing in my life. Taking down those who had defrauded the government and, hopefully, one day becoming the Head of Department.
So why did this one hurt so much?
I had never had a problem letting go of a case before.
Maybe I needed to switch departments. Because the thrill of work just hadn’t been there in the last few years.
And, a little voice in my head reminded me, your mission failed.
You didn’t catch the kingpin.
You caught a cog in the organization.
Despite all the rewards, the adulation, the excessive praise, the medals, the plaques, we hadn’t even done what we were supposed to.
Which meant I had screwed over Clementine and failed in my mission.
This was something one meal and an apology wasn’t going to fix.
And it was about more than sex, I reminded myself sternly, glancing out the window at where Clementine was finishing up her yoga session. I was glad I had something to do with my hands to distract myself, or I would have found it difficult to tear my eyes away from how her body looked, lit up by the summer sun. She bent down, the perky little curves of her ass making my cock twitch.
This was about doing the honorable thing.
It wasn’t about desiring Clementine. I had always wanted Clementine. Ever since the first moment I saw her.
I wasn’t sure if it was her at first. I only had a bad quality cellphone picture of the subject to go on.
And for a moment I thought,
Not her.
Not this one.
Not this one with the big hazel eyes, the soft lips, the sweet expression on her face, the big bulky gray sweatshirt that swamped her, making her look like a little adorable pointy-eared elf.
Because for a moment I wanted her for myself. Not for the job.
But in another moment I had driven down my feelings and done what I did best. Set my emotions aside and looked at a situation analytically.
And now she was my job again.
But what happens when this job is over?
CHAPTER 9
Clementine
Breathe in
Breathe out
I am one with the universe
I am at peace