The Do-Over (The Rooftop Crew #5) - Piper Rayne Page 0,52
detective position now then.”
I blow out a breath at her pouty behavior. Then I think maybe her advice on this whole Leilani and Kamea thing would be good. “Okay, I slept with her.”
Her eyes light up and she claps, bouncing in her chair. “I knew it.”
“We’re together.”
“Together?” She claps again like that annoying monkey with the red vest and hat, holding cymbals. “That’s great. I really like her. She’s so nice, and I can tell she really likes and respects you.”
I nod, hoping what she says is the truth. I look around to make sure no one is eavesdropping. “Then I got a call from a buddy of mine in the city. He saw Leilani last night. I mentioned it to Kamea, and she got kind of…”
“Jealous.”
I scrunch my eyes. She wasn’t fully jealous, just worried.
“And you’re surprised?” Patrice asks.
I lean back in my chair. “Well yeah, because we slept together.”
A long, annoyed breath falls out of her mouth. “I honestly don’t understand how men are so stupid. I mean, what don’t you get?”
“What?”
She leans closer. “You picked Leilani over her all those years ago.”
“And I explained myself to her. That I was a dick. And I apologized.”
“Doesn’t take back that you did it. And then Leilani breaks your heart and you go through a list of women to stick your dick in. Then you save Kamea and move her into your place, only to hold her at arm’s length until she twists your arm. Of course the girl is a little worried about bringing Leilani back into your life.”
“But I told Kamea it’s not like that. That I’m with her and happily so.”
She rolls her eyes. “Your words don’t mean much. It’s your actions.”
“Well, we haven’t even seen Leilani for me to prove it with my actions.”
“And when you do, you better be standoffish to her. Don’t get that look you usually do. The one when you arrested her.”
She’s kidding me. “What look is that?”
“The one that shows you still care for the woman.”
“I don’t care for her.” I’m practically grinding my teeth together.
“You scolded me for putting the lights on.”
“You forget that I then put on the siren.” Patrice is infuriating. Maybe I do want detective, so I don’t have to be partners with someone so bossy and opinionated. “I don’t want Leilani. I want Kamea.”
She smiles and opens her drawer, taking out a Snickers bar. “Good. I wanted to hear you say the words.” She bites off the end.
“You’re unbelievable.”
“I’m just preparing you,” she mumbles then swallows. “Because she’s going to see things that you don’t think are signs. And Leilani is going to use her go-to tactic with you.”
“What?”
“Sex. Her body. The fact that you two fucked like rabbits.”
She’s right, we did, but we never did what I did with Kamea this afternoon. I’m not sure I remember one time Leilani ran her fingers through my hair or looked at me with so much passion. The way my eyes locked with Kamea’s when I was inside her. Her lips up my neck and my hands on her ass. The way she opened herself up and let me see who she is inside. It’s exactly what I’ve always wanted and never got with Leilani.
“Let’s turn the conversation to you,” I say.
But Captain comes by and stands over us, a coffee in his hand. “I hope you two are enjoying this partnership for now because it could be over soon. Interviews are next week and I’m hearing good things about you, Whelan. Don’t fuck it up.” He sips his coffee and walks away.
Patrice’s eyes widen and she smiles. “I guess you’ll be done with our bickering in no time, but get that love life of yours solid and situated before you get promoted. Otherwise, I guarantee you, you’re bound to fuck it up.” She stands and grins at me before heading to the printer.
Detective Whelan. It does have a great ring to it, I must admit.
“You can thank Kamea for giving you an edge.” She sits back down and straightens the papers.
“Yeah?”
“She won over a lot of people at Louie’s retirement party. Other than DuPont and Milliken thinking she was Leilani, everyone loved her. Felt you two were a great couple.”
I tap my pen on my desk. I agree. There’s just something about Kamea that feels right. And Patrice is right—I need to make sure Kamea doesn’t go anywhere and that I don’t scare her off like I did Leilani.