Page 102 of Wicked Sin

Taylor’s gaze follows my hand.

“Just in case,” I say, as casually as I can. “But he’s not going to try anything in a building full of cops.”

“I hope you’re right.” She wrings her hands together.

I take two chairs from the back wall and put them at right angles to each other, hers close to the wall, out of line of sight from the door should it get busted open. Mine is looking at the door. “Sit. Let’s find something interesting to talk about.”

She gives me a faint smile. “Like kink?”

“Or just dating stuff in general.”

“Dating?” Her eyebrow raises. “Detective, do you have something you want to ask me?”

I grin, ignoring my own angsty worry. It serves me no good right now. “Sit and you’ll find out.”

She folds herself into the chair, and I sit beside her, relaxed and open, but ready to grab my weapon from my holster if I need it.

“So I was thinking,” I tell her. “I’d like to take you dancing.”

“Oh?”

“How about when this is all over, we go out on a date. I’ll pick you up at your place, take you out for dinner, show you a good time.”

Her eyes twinkle. “A good time, huh?”

“That’s how I was supposed to spend my vacation time. Sleeping in, dancing all night.”

“Sounds fun.” But she sounds wistful. Or reluctant, it’s hard to tell.

Now’s not the best time for this conversation, but it works as a diversion tactic, so I press on. “I’ll wait until you’re free of me as your captor to ask you out officially.”

That gets a real smile. “I kind of like having you as my captor.”

Before I can reply to that, my phone rings. It’s the captain.

“This is Vasquez,” I say as I answer the call.

“We’ve reviewed the security footage. I believe the agent Ms. Reid saw was Newcomb. He was here, and he asked the sergeant on duty where Taylor was. He’s left the building now.”

“Are you sure?”

“There’s video footage outside of him getting in his car. You stay where you are. McBride is going to bring a photo array with his face in it for Ms. Reid to identify. We’re going to do this by the book. And if he’s our guy, we’ll nail him to the wall.”

I disconnect the call.

“News?” Taylor asks, searching my face.

“McBride is going to come back and show you some photos. Let’s keep talking about your fantasy for me to lock you in a birdcage while we wait.”

She bursts out laughing. “What?”

“It’s a thing.” I wink at her. “I bet you’d like it.”

“How big of a birdcage are we talking? Is there a lovely pillow for me to recline on while reading?”

“As big as you want. And of course there would be pillows. Only the world’s finest comforts for my captive princess.”

She shakes her head and laughs lightly. “Amazing.”

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