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drawing his gaze to a delicate platinum necklace that hung there. A circular pendant with some sort of bird etched onto its surface dangled from the chain. She saw him looking and tucked it into the collar of her uniform.
    Cacy sat down on the side bench and slid toward the cab of the vehicle. She looked down at the bench and made a face. “Could you grab some Powderkleen and wipe this? I don’t know what day shift got up to in here, but I sure as hell don’t want to sit in what they left behind.”
    Eli did as she asked, grateful to have something useful to do. He sneaked glances at her as he worked, admiring the absolute comfort with which she maneuvered around the rig. It was clear she had little tolerance for things being out of place. He was the same way, so it was a relief to have a partner who cared about those details as much as he did. Details saved patients’ lives.
    She opened the front left cabinet and counted the rounds in the tranq guns. Dec had gone over the rules of engagement with him earlier. Eli had never wielded a tranq gun before, but he figured he could get the hang of it quickly should the need arise. He had plenty of experience with street violence, but in this city, he planned to focus on defending himself against it . . . instead of causing it.
    Cacy leaned into the front seat. He wondered if she was aware of the amazing view she offered as she bent over to tap the nav screen by the steering wheel. He gritted his teeth and looked down at the bench, where he’d been scrubbing hard . . . about six inches away from the sticky spot that needed it.
    He paused in his work, deciding this might be a good time to clear the air between them. “You don’t seem thrilled to have a new partner, Lieutenant. Seems too soon to be personal, but in case it is, I apologize again if I offended you earlier.”
    “By eye-fucking me in the locker room, you mean?” she asked casually, not bothering to turn around.
    He stared at the dangerous curves of her backside. Her tone hinted a challenge, which drew a smile to his lips. “Was it good for you, too?”
    Her shoulders shook, and he wondered if she was laughing. But then she made a disgusted sound and grabbed something from the front passenger seat. She turned around and held out a small colorful box. “Want some mockolate? It’s the high-end stuff. My father once got us the real thing, and I swear this tastes just like it. You have this kind of thing in the desert?”
    Eli peered at the box. “No, can’t say I’ve ever seen that.”
    “Seriously?” She ripped off the lid of the box and plopped down on the bench. There was a raw, spicy-sweet scent to her that he couldn’t quite place, but it made his heart race. He scooted back a few inches and sat on the floor of the rig.
    He raised an eyebrow. “You’re offering me candy? Does that mean I’m forgiven?”
    She gave him a thoroughly seductive smile and plucked a creamy-dark square of mockolate from its crinkled paper nest. “Nope. It means I’m willing to share Len’s please-screw-me gift with you.”
    His mouth dropped open. She took advantage of his surprise and popped the piece of candy between his lips. His mouth snapped shut as deep, earthy sweetness melted on his tongue. His eyes rolled back and he moaned. “Wow.”
    When he recovered enough to open his eyes, Cacy was staring at him with a slightly glazed look. But then she brusquely crammed the lid back on the box and jumped out of the ambulance. “Don’t get used to it,” she called over her shoulder.
    This woman was giving him a serious case of whiplash. He leaned out the rear of the rig to watch her.
    Len stalked into the garage, carrying his med kit. He scowled and raked a hand over his buzz cut when he saw Cacy about to dump the candy into the trash bin.
    “ Really , Cace? That cost a fortune!”
    She shoved the box against his broad chest. “Don’t spend a cent of your hard-earned paycheck on this stuff, Len. It’s not going