Deadly Pursuit (SCVC Taskforce) Read Online Free Page A

murmured. “I don’t know what came over me.”
    It hurt to watch her lose that carefree joy and Cooper averted his eyes to the water, regaining his own balance. Best to pretend that hadn’t happened. “Go change your clothes, Switchfoot, and meet me at headquarters. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee and you can tell me all about your experience with Londano.”
    “I don’t drink plain coffee.” Celina scanned his face, trying to read him. Read what he was thinking. “At least I don’t mainline it like you do. But Starbucks opens in an hour.” She smiled, hope in her eyes now. “You can take me to my apartment, I’ll shower and change my clothes, and we’ll be their first customers.”
    Her recovery was quick. And she was ignoring Quarters as effectively as he was.
    Score one for The Beast.
    She was so bold, Cooper almost chuckled. She’d invited him six times—now seven, not that he was counting—up to her apartment. Wish I could shove that in Quarters’ face.
    If the situation were different, he would take her up on her offer. The real one she was hiding between shower and clothes . He’d peel that dress off her beautiful body and mainline her instead of his favorite dark roast.
    The thought made him dizzy, especially after that kiss, and he shook his head, more to clear it than to tell her no. “I have to follow the uniforms. Make sure they don’t inadvertently screw up Londano’s booking. Can’t have him getting off on a technicality after all your hard work.” He put his thumb and his pinky between his lips and whistled, signaled to Thomas up on the boardwalk, and waved him down. “T-man’ll run you home so you can change.”
    Celina piqued one eyebrow at him as Thomas ran down the boardwalk steps toward them, nearly tripping over his feet. “Gee, thanks,” she said, so totally not thankful Cooper again had to stifle a chuckle.
    He picked up her high heels from the sand and handed them to her. Damn things had heels long enough to skewer a steak. “As soon as you’re cleaned up, meet me at headquarters. I want to debrief you before the upper echelon chiefs get their hooks into you.”
    Quarters cleared his throat in that demanding way he had. “I will be in charge of debriefing Celina.” He held out a hand to her. “Congratulations, SA Davenport. I’ll be happy to escort you home so you can change.”
    Ignoring the man and his outstretched hand, Celina put her hands on her curvy hips. “What about Starbucks?”
    Cooper’s last moral hovered an inch above his mental trash can. Coffee at the local and very public coffee house wouldn’t be that bad. Screwing over Quarters would be a bonus.
    But looking at Celina wrapped in his sweatshirt, and remembering the soft touch of her lips against his, sent his libido into overdrive. Which sent a clear message to his brain.
    You cannot lead her on in any way, shape or form.
    Could not, would not, lead himself on. She was too young and she was in his care as a new agent. He’d already risked her life by letting her go undercover to trick Londano. He would not risk her career or his because of a silly, school-girl crush. “I don’t do Starbucks, Celina, and even if I did, there’s no Starbucks in our future.”
    Message sent.
    Celina’s mouth curved down and she started to say something, but Thomas arrived, accidentally kicking sand on her. She sent Cooper a please, don’t leave me with him look as Cooper took her elbow and handed her off to his buddy. “Take her home, T.”
    “Yes, sir,” he said, all smiles at Celina. She didn’t smile back, didn’t even glance at Thomas. Instead she shot daggers at Cooper. “Where’s Bobby? Why can’t he take me home?”
    Quarters sighed over the noisy crashing waves. Cooper almost sighed with him. Celina constantly used Bobby Dyer to worm her way around Cooper’s resistance. Dyer was Cooper’s best friend and second in charge of the SCVC taskforce. “Dyer’s in L.A., covering a few things there.