The Intelligence Unit Series

Xander knew he should be focused on whatever Dade was telling him, and in his defense, he'd put his back into the effort. But-also in his defense, thank you very much-Tara was wearing another one of those slim skirts that made his composure want to spontaneously combust, and when she'd locked eyes with him from across the lobby and smiled, the rest of the room, the rest of the city; hell, the rest of the universe didn't matter. In that moment, she was the only person in the world.

Also, she was headed directly for him.

"Hey," Xander said, suddenly wishing he'd done better than the f**k it, good enough route with his hairbrush this morning. "I didn't expect to see you here today."

"I had a quick meeting with Isabella and the team. I figured you'd be out on patrol, otherwise I'd have mentioned it last night," Tara said, smiling at him before turning toward Dade. "It's nice to see you again, Officer Dade."

"Glad it's under better circumstances this time," Dade replied, her tone strangely devoid of its trademark sarcasm. "You going to throw the book at the son of a bitch who hurt that poor girl?"

"Yes, ma'am, I most certainly am," Tara promised. "Speaking of which"-she returned her attention to Xander, and yeah, he felt it everywhere-"Isabella and I are going to meet up later to go over some images on the tattoo database with Amour. Do you want to meet me there?"

Xander nodded. "Absolutely. I promised her I'd check in after my shift, anyway."

"I know she'll be happy to see you, and if you're there when she reviews the photo arrays, it saves me from having to get you up to speed later. I'll text you when I leave the office?" "Sure, that sounds great."

"Okay, it's a date. You two stay safe out there," she said, giving up one last smile before she turned toward the front door. She'd barely made it out of earshot before Dade pounced. "You'd better start talking, Matthews. And do not insult me by asking 'about what?""

Ah, hell. Xander should've known she wouldn't have missed the look he and Tara had traded, crowded lobby or no. But his defenses weren't about to let him get all gabby about it.

Not that Dade was going to let him out from under the microscope unless he played this just right. He tested the water with, "I'm not sure what you want me to say."

One black brow arched. "Well, let's start with you working this case. The Intelligence Unit doesn't usually ask patrol officers for a whole lot of assistance after a canvas is done."

Okaaaay, not the path he'd expected her to take, but... "It was blind luck that Amour trusted me that night in the hospital. She could've just as easily shut down, and then Sinclair would have sent me right back here, where I belong."

"You've been a cop for how long, and you're still over there believing in blind luck? Please." Dade snorted. "Do you know the last cop Sinclair plucked off patrol for help with 'just one case'?" "No," Xander said.

Of course, Dade did. "It was Hale."

Okay, whoa. Addison Hale was one of Intelligence's brightest and most badass. Not that there were any slackers up there, but still. "I'm not that good."

"Dear Lord in heaven, please give me patience with this one," Dade muttered, shaking her head as she looked up at the lobby ceiling. "Do you think Sinclair is a dumbass?"

Xander coughed out a laugh that was more surprise than anything else. "God, no." Around the Thirty-Third, even hinting at it was blasphemy.

"Then it's safe to say you don't think he suffers any fools, especially when it comes to the people who work his cases?"

Shit. He'd waltzed right into that one. "I'm telling you, this is a one-time thing."

"Alright, then," Dade said, seeming all too happy to switch gears. "What about that?"

Her gesture to the door that Tara had exited through a few minutes prior made feigning innocence impossible.

"That's kind of complicated," Xander hedged.

"But you like her," Dade pressed.

Xander used all of his energy not to squirm. "Maybe."

A less than polite noise crossed Dade's lips. "Do you know how long I've been a cop? Can we dispense with the bullshit for the sake of not insulting me, please?"

"Okay, yes, I like her," he said, and funny, the words felt better than they should coming out of his mouth. "She's brilliant and fierce and funny and beautiful...and totally out of my league." Dade's smile was strangely at odds with her sigh. "You know, for a smart man, you are awfully stupid."

"Okaaaay?" Xander stammered, but Dade just laughed.

"Did you miss the way she spoke to you about the case you're working on?"