“May I have this dance?” Jacob gave a little bow, a warm smile on his face.
Nick reluctantly spun Ellie one last time and stepped out of the way.
Jacob cut in, surprisingly nimble for a man of his size. A little shorter than Nick, Jacob’s arms were thick with chiseled muscles, his chest wide and strong. He had the body of an MMA fighter and the patience of a saint—he’d lasted the longest of all of Ellie’s partners. For six months, they’d patrolled together five days a week. Then when Ellie made detective, Jacob had been promoted to the K9 unit.
Jacob was the only man who knew Ellie as well as Nick did, and he couldn’t help the twinge of jealousy that floated to the surface. He pushed it away, opting for a glass of sparkling water from a passing tray and skipping the wine. Now that he wasn’t moving, his arms felt heavy, and his body protested being upright so late in the evening after such a long day. Work had started at dawn, and he was running on empty, but seeing Ellie enjoy her party was worth it.
Happy to give his aching feet a rest, he wandered over to a seat near the dessert table. Long legs stretched out in front of him, his eyes followed Ellie as she and Jacob danced. Her thick, curly hair was loose, cascading down her shoulders in tight coils of fiery red. She glided across the floor like a vision, so different from the rough and tumble woman hidden just beneath the classy exterior. Ellie was a walking contradiction in the best way.
He was so lost in his thoughts, he almost missed their secret cue. Another spin around the dance floor later, and her emerald green eyes caught his pointedly as she touched her finger to her earlobe. Nodding, he waited until the two came around again, cutting in so smoothly, Ellie was back in his arms before the next beat.
“You called, my lady,” he murmured.
“I need to talk to you.”
“We’re talking now.” He dipped her low, and quickly spun her, cinching his arm tight around her waist.
“Not here. Join me on the balcony?”
“I’d say I like where this is going, but I never know what to expect from you.”
She grinned and winked. “I like keeping you on your toes.”
He was still laughing when she led him off the dance floor and grabbed her wrap. One of the security guards watched as they approached the heavy door, and he held up a hand, stopping them while he checked the balcony. “All clear.” The guard stepped to the side so they could pass through the doorway, but when he tried to follow, Ellie shook her head.
“We’ll just be a moment.” When he didn’t move, she gestured toward the door. “We’ll be fine.”
The guard scowled but gave a curt nod in Nick’s direction. “I’ll be just inside the door if you need me.”
Her demeanor had Nick’s heart racing, wondering what could be so important that she was willing to sidestep security and risk her mother’s fury to speak with him alone. She held her tongue until the guard moved to the side, crossing his arms over his chest and standing firm like a concrete sentry. Laughter floated through the open door as they stepped into the rectangle of light that flooded the dark balcony. The thud of the heavy oak door abruptly cut the noise of the party off, plunging the quiet hideaway into darkness.
Placing her hands flat on the cement railing, Ellie leaned forward, face tilted skyward, eyes closed. Her shoulders rose and fell with each breath, lips parted slightly. The pale light of the moon cast a silvery glow on everything it touched. When she turned to face him, her lips were set in a grim line, her fingers threaded tightly together in front of her.
“You’re making me nervous.” Nick’s chest tightened with worry, his elation forgotten. “Is something wrong?”
She shook her head and pulled her thin wrap tighter to ward off the chilly night air. Nick slipped his suit jacket off and wrapped it around her shoulders. Her expression softened, and she gazed into his eyes. “You always know exactly what I need.”
“You know me. If I can make life better, I’ll do what I can.”
“That’s why I needed to talk to you. There’s a lot going on with work, and I need you to help me with a few things.”
Relief flooded through him. He took her hands in his. “I’m glad you’re finally ready for a vacation. With everything you’ve been through, and getting shot twice in the past six months, I’m not surprised you’re rethinking things. Stepping away is good. It will give you time to really figure out if this is the right path for you—”
“What?” She pulled her hands from his, taking a step back. “What are you talking about? I can’t take a vacation right now.”
He pulled back, searching her face. “I thought you were on leave.”
“I start restricted duty tomorrow.”
Disappointment hit him like a fist. “So, you’re going back already? Are you sure that was enough time?”
“I’m fine. I could’ve gone back to work the same week, but Fortis is such a hard-ass, he wanted me to take more time to recuperate.”
“Okay, then I guess I don’t know what we’re talking about.”
Ellie frowned, letting out a quick, exasperated breath. “It’s funny. My mom finally starts to see things my way, and then you’re ready to whisk me away to some deserted island getaway at the first sign of trouble.” She laughed, but the sound held no humor. “It figures, the minute I have my mom in my corner that you would flip.”
Her words stung like a slap. “That’s not how I meant it.”
“Then what did you mean?”
“I just want you to be safe. That’s all. Everyone needs a break now and then, and you’ve been through so much in the past few months.” He took a step forward and put his hand
