But the usual didn't cut it anymore. Not since Alice, not since realizing that death meant never seeing her again.

He didn't even know how to function with caring that much for a woman.

Running a hand over his face, Reese rested back in the chair and tried to come to grips with her effect on him.

"Your lieutenant surprised me."

At Rowdy's lighthearted tone, Reese opened one eye and stared at him.

While still stroking the dog, Rowdy smiled.

Insane. After the violent chaos of the day, Rowdy didn't look ruffled. He showed no aftermath of a near-death experience. He didn't even look all that worried.

He smiled as if...amused.

Great. Rowdy must have a damned death wish or, at the very least, a severe lack of concern for his own life. Shortly, Rowdy planned to head to the bar for his meeting with DeeDee. But now, after what had happened, no way could Reese let him go through with it.

"You're talking about Margo?" At the other end of the couch, Dash showed blatant interest.

Who the hell was Margo? "Her name is Margaret." And to clarify further, Reese said, "Lieutenant Margaret Peterson."

Dash shrugged. "Yeah, but she goes by Margo."

Brows raised, Logan and Reese shared a look that asked, Since when?

"So," Dash pushed. "What did she do?"

"Not what she did, so much," Rowdy said. "But how she looked doing it."

That particular, male-inspired tone said it all, but still Rowdy added, "Reese knows what I mean. I thought his eyes would fall out when he saw her."

So, Rowdy had somehow witnessed his surprise?

Both Dash and Logan turned to Reese for enlightenment.

In his defense, Reese blurted, "She has a set of breasts on her." That sounded so absurd, he rolled his shoulders, trying to loosen the growing tension.

"Who?" Logan asked, mired in confusion.

Again Rowdy helped out. "Lieutenant Peterson."

Logan pulled back. "You saw her..."

And then in a choked whisper, "Breasts?"

"Couldn't help it," Rowdy supplied.

"She showed up in this boner-inspiring outfit, and that was enough to drop Reese's eyeballs right there. But then after one of the men grabbed for her, she lost her blouse."

"Stop grinning, damn it." Reese squeezed his eyes shut. "Jesus, never in a million years did I expect...that."

Dash snorted. "What did you think?

That she'd have chest hair?"

Not really, but he hadn't expected her to be so lush. "Chest hair, and possibly brass balls to go with it."

"Exactly," Logan agreed.

"Don't be dumb,"

Dash said, entertained at Reese's expense. "She is a woman after all."

Rowdy lifted a hand. "Noticed."

Stunned silent, Logan gaped at his soon-to-be brother-in-law.

Rowdy said, "What? She's sexy, whether you two clowns want to see it or not. But," he added, cutting off verbal reactions, "she's also a lieutenant. Sort of takes the fun out of it."

"Maybe for detectives working under her command." Dash sent a crooked grin to Rowdy. "Or someone determined to butt heads with the law." Then he held out his arms. "As it happens, I'm neither."

Well, hell, Reese thought. Alice had nailed that one.

Logan looked equal parts ill, alarmed and outraged, so Reese filled in the deafening silence. "It's got nothing to do with her rank in the force or any of that.

It's that Peterson always dresses so...hell, I don't know. So 'official' that it's hard to see anything feminine."

In a low, appreciative murmur, Rowdy said, "Saw all kinds of feminine things today."

No kidding. "But she's actually very..." With Logan, Dash and Rowdy all waiting for his description, Reese floundered. Hot wasn't the right word, not for his lieutenant, not to say to his partner, not in front of Dash and Rowdy.

"I don't want to know." Logan pushed away from his seat. "I'd as soon block all that from my brain right now."

Yeah, Reese, too. But the sight of the lieutenant's breasts would always be there now, between them.

No! God, no. Not between them.

Just... there.

Peterson wasn't Alice; she didn't fire his blood and make him stupid with carnal hunger. She didn't occupy his thoughts morning, noon and night, or get him hard by her presence alone. He didn't want her sexually, therefore seeing her half-naked was more of a discomfort than anything else.

And with Logan pacing, it was time for a change of subject, and fast.

"This wasn't a random robbery or spontaneous crime. We were targeted because of the tattoo murder investigation. Someone overheard us, or knows we're on to them, and now we're a liability. Someone called the goons to get rid of us. And that same someone has the entire area locked down. No one is going to talk. That makes this whole operation bigger than we suspected."

Logan did some more pacing.

"Murdering a lieutenant and a detective draws an awful lot of notice if their goal was only to protect their enterprise."

"But if they've murdered before..."

Rowdy shrugged. "What do they have to lose?"

"Nothing," Reese agreed. "And that's why I want you to skip the meeting with DeeDee."

"Nope." Casual as you please, Rowdy refused him.

Stubborn, careless, macho...Reese worked his jaw. "Then Logan and I will go along to ensure you have some backup."

"They know you," Rowdy said about Reese. "If they're onto us, then we have to assume they also know you're a cop.

You're out." He tipped his head toward Logan. "And he's lame."

Logan stiffened. "Lame?"

"You know what I mean." Rowdy indicated his arm. "Still handicapped."

Logan's quiet tone sounded more menacing than a shout. "The hell I am."

Undisturbed by his temper, Rowdy glanced at his watch. "I should be taking off right now. I want to go home and shower first."

Reese blocked his way. "It's too dangerous. You just said it yourself, they're onto you."

"Yeah, but that's the thing, right? I already know it." Rowdy showed little care. "They won't be taking me by surprise, no matter what they pull."

Losing his patience, Reese barked, "You could damn well be shot walking into the bar."

And suddenly, Pepper was there, her face a study in alarm. Alice fretted behind her.

Pepper looked at Logan. "Who's going to shoot at Rowdy?"

CHAPTER TWENTY-.

SIX.

ROWDY GAVE REESE a thanks a lot glare.

"The boys in blue are just being dramatic."

"Actually," Reese said, "Rowdy is being pigheaded."

Pepper looked ready to assault him for the insult, but Logan saved him by pulling her to his side.

"Reese is right." He kept her close as he explained the plans for the night, and the risk involved. "DeeDee-if that's her real name-is just a lure to get Rowdy to the designated spot."

"He can't do it," Pepper agreed, her voice firm. And then, directly to Rowdy, "You can't do it."

"You don't have to worry, kiddo."

Rowdy moved Cash aside and pushed to his feet. "I'll be fine. You know I can take care of myself."

Pepper back-stepped away before Rowdy could touch her. "No."

"And," Rowdy added with emphasis, "it might be our best bet for finding the bastards who are tattooing girls, and maybe even murdering them."

"No."

He frowned. "I'm doing it." And then to Logan, "Take care of her, will you?"

Logan held up both hands. "If you're asking me to reassure her that you won't be hurt, then sorry, no can do."

Biting her bottom lip, Alice stepped into the fray before brother and sister started in on real bickering. "I'm sorry.

This is my fault."

"Not even close," Rowdy said.

But Alice wasn't listening. "If I hadn't gotten involved-"

"Then no one would yet realize that those women need help." Reese held out a hand, and Alice took it. And even that, such a simple connection, meant so much. He pulled her closer and addressed Rowdy. "Logan and I will go with you. No argument. Even if he's not one-hundred percent yet, Logan is one hell of an asset."

"Thanks," Logan said, deadpan.

"And he knows how to blend in."

Pepper scowled. "Yeah, he does."

Reese continued, thinking out loud. "I can probably find a corner of the bar dark enough to hide me."

"Right," Rowdy scoffed. "Paint you green and you could be the freakin'

Hulk. Hiding a guy your size isn't possible."

"Okay, fine. So maybe there's a back room, or someplace in the kitchen where I could keep watch."

In tacit agreement, Rowdy mulled over the particulars. "The kitchen is out," he said. "That'd leave you exposed, and the bar is overrun with corruption, so it's anyone's guess who's involved."