Page 95 of Heat of Justice

“Eat?” her lover prompted, fiddling with the tie.

“Mm. Yes, I suppose…”

“What were you going to say?”

“If I tell you, you’ll accuse me of winding you up when we have no time to make good on it.”

“That’s okay,” Cody laughed. “I can take it.”

“It’s the tie that does it for me,” Kim mused as she stepped up to do it right for her. “I’m getting hot visions of you on your knees between my legs, being a good girl in nothing but the tie and that sexy smile of yours.”

She was rewarded to see this exact same grin, and a lovely flush across Cody’s cheeks.

“That could be arranged,” she said.

Cody had healed well and quickly from her injuries. Two weeks later, only a little scar remained on her forehead as a reminder of the event. She looked tough most of the time, not a cop to be messed with, and in her uniform, especially; but every smile she aimed at her betrayed her tender spirit and playful attitude. Kim liked it. A lot. She finished tying the knot and stepped back to check it.

“Perfect,” she approved.

“Come here.” Cody reached to pull her back and laced her arms around her waist. “You look so glam and sexy.”

Without a uniform of her own to wear for the occasion, Kim had opted for a combination of sober and chic. She wore a black Armani suit, a fuchsia silk shirt under the fitted jacket, and heels of the same color. Her hair was tied back.

“I was hoping for a kick-ass lawyer look, more like.”

“Yes, you achieved it. But I see the alluring woman under the clothes.”

“This one comes out only for you, you know?”

“I do.” Cody flashed a quick grin. “I’m lucky.”

Kim loved to catch a trace of heat across her eyes. She ran her fingers deeply and possessively through her hair, smoothing back the thick blond strands, and held there for a full-on, slow kiss.

“Hey, Cody—Oops!” Ellie, also looking dapper in uniform, came swinging through the door. “Sorry, ladies. The lieutenant sent me to tell you to move your butts. Her words. Everything’s in place, and the mayor’s about to start his address.”

“Wouldn’t want to miss that, would we?”

“Behave yourself, Detective.” Kim chuckled at her lover’s ironic tone and took her hand. “Come on. The sooner we finish this ceremony, the quicker we can do the tie thing.”

Wisely, Ellie did not ask.

???

Despite the fact that she did not like pomp and was against this commendation being awarded to her for just doing her job in the first place, Cody felt the emotion of the event when she stepped on stage with Kim. A firefighter who had risked his life to save a litter of puppies from a burning building was also up for commendation, as was Jim Olson, the construction worker from the train. Mayor Everleigh, trailing in re-election polls by a significant margin, obviously tried to use the event to boost his campaign. Cody tuned him out as he droned on about the importance of keeping the good people of Lewiston safe and how much he valued the guys (and girls, he added almost as an afterthought) in uniform who made sure that this happened. After how he had recently treated Quinn, Cody did not believe a word of what he said was sincere. But she did feel a spike of emotion when she saw her colleagues assembled there, looking proud. Her lieutenant, her partner, the rest of her team… Janet, Demi, Carole. Even Anna and her mom were there. Cody winked at the girl and made her grin. It was good to see her surrounded by her dad’s friends. Armed with a professional camera, Lia Kennedy took photographs of the event for the Lewiston P.D. website and social media page.

“As cops, we take an oath to protect and to serve,” Quinn said in a brief but loaded speech of her own. “But it does take a special breed of courage, when put on the spot, to look death in the face and still do the right thing.”

For sure, she would know, Cody reflected.

“Detective Miller, today we honor you for putting the safety of others above your own and living up to the highest standards of our institution.”

Cody nodded in acknowledgment as Quinn met her eyes and held intensely for a second.

“Some do it even without the oath,” the lieutenant went on, “just because they are an outstanding human being. Mr. Olson, this goes to you.” Last but not least, she smiled at Kim. “And yet others surrender to a higher power in order for lives to be saved, a total sacrifice which I know comes at great personal cost. So, we thank you all for your selfless contributions. You are a credit to this community.”

She could not have said it better, and Cody felt her partner relax imperceptibly as she stood by her side. Kim had been even more reluctant to accept the commendation than she was, but Cody could tell that Quinn’s inspired words also hit the spot with her.Great.They received a standing ovation, and then the official part was over and done with, thankfully. Demi leaped on stage to grab the mike.

“Those of you not on duty, we are going to the beach for drinks and burgers,” she reminded. “Lose the uniforms, people; now’s time to celebrate!”

---