Blood and Roses Read Online Free Page A

there weren’t many cops who ran across top-shelf grifters like her parents, and both she and Frankie had learned their lessons well.
    He took a drink of his wine and asked, “So you’re passing through on a job? You still doing investigative work for insurance companies?”
    “Most of the time, yes.”
    “What’s the job you’re on now?”
    “Chasing down jewels taken during a heist, including a valuable tiara set with pink diamonds.”
    “Oh?” His blue eyes flared with interest. “Big take?”
    “Approximately forty million.”
    He whistled. “How much do you get for the recovery?”
    “Five percent.” She watched him do the math.
    “Jesus, Ana. Up to two million?” He stared at her. “And you’ve been doing this a while.”
    “Long enough. I guess it pays to think like a criminal.”
    Jake looked down at his plate. They ate quietly for a while, each of them lost in private thoughts. Then he said, “You’re a good cook, sweetheart.”
    “Thank you.” She smiled. “I took lessons after I got sick of eating take-out all the time.”
    “Not having someone to share home-cooked meals with is a lonely life.” He took a bite and chewed, watching her thoughtfully. “Is the money why you never came back?”
    She focused on cutting her meat. “Not the money, no.”
    “Were you that unhappy here?”
    “Jake.” Ana set her fork and knife down and met his gaze. “There are things you don’t know about me.”
    “Bullshit. There’s nothing I don’t know about you, Anastasia. And nothing you don’t know about me.”
    “Do you think someone’s a criminal whether they get caught or not?” She knew what his answer would be already. Jake had fully supported the local authorities when Eric had been caught committing a crime. Eric suffered the same punishments as anyone else in town would.
    “Of course.”
    “Well, then I’m a criminal, Jake. And a good, honest cop like you can’t spend his life with a woman who skates the line and occasionally falls over it.”
    He picked up his wine and sat back then, studying her with those cool cop’s eyes. “I have no idea what you’re talking about, but let me ask you this: What the hell do you expect me to do if you’re the only woman I’ll ever want? Be alone? You can’t be that cruel, Ana.”
    “And you can’t compromise your principles for me. Eventually, it’ll ruin what we have.”
    “What do we have? Two lonely, miserable lives? I’d love to fuckin’ ruin that.” He took a drink and held her gaze over the rim of his glass.
    Her breath caught at the fiery look in his eyes.
    “And by the way,” he went on, “not a news flash that PI’s don’t toe the line. Cops switch to private investigative work because they find the line confining. I know that. At the end of the day, you’re still doing the right thing.”
    “What if I told you that I don’t care if the perps get caught? I just want the take. In fact, there are times when I’ve deliberately not pulled on a thread because I almost admire them for the guts it took to make the attempt and the brains to get away with it, if they do.” She sat back. “I may let these jewel thieves I’m chasing right now slip away, Jake, after I get the gems. What do you think about that? Think you can slide into bed at night with a woman who might be an accessory after the fact?”
    His gaze narrowed. “Ana—”
    “It doesn’t matter, Jake.” She hopped off the barstool and grabbed their plates. “I decided years ago that it’s a question you’re never going to have to answer.”

 
     
     
     
     
     
    A na took the dishes to the sink and willed herself to relax. There was no need for them to fight and she was determined that they wouldn’t, not when they had so little time together.
    “You don’t get to make that decision by yourself, Anastasia,” Jake drawled dangerously, coming up behind her.
    She gripped the edge of the counter, knowing where the warning note in his voice would lead.