Page 6 of Up in Smoke
Derek’s jaw ticked as he eyed Erin’s boots, but he didn’t comment. “Last but not least, we have Austin Shaw. Simply put, Austin is a con. He can weave himself into any situation and immediately belong there. He speaks several languages fluently and the ones he does not, he can pull off an authentic accent for. He’s everything and nothing. A lifeguard, a bartender, a millionaire. He’s exactly what he needs others to see.”
The five of them exchanged baffled looks, but only Bowen spoke up. “You’re talking in the past tense, right?” He scrutinized the hunched-over old man. “No offense, Pops, but unless we’re working a missing dentures case at a retirement home, I don’t see you going undercover.”
Austin took off his hat and tossed it on the table. At the same time, he straightened, his spine shedding all signs of age within a split second. He shrugged off the coat and ran a hand through his tousled brown hair. Erin’s mouth fell open. Austin wasn’t an old man by any stretch. He was a young man…agorgeousone at that. She caught Connor’s dark frown and shrugged.
Looking like he’d just stepped off the pages ofGQmagazine, Austin stacked his hands behind his head, sending Polly a wink as he did so. “Now, ladies and gents,” he said with a faint British lilt. “Any questions?”
Chapter Three
Connor tossed his oversized duffel bag onto the hardwood floor and looked around his new apartment. The police department had rented two units on the top floor of a building in Logan Square where they would live rent-free as long as they were cooperating with the undercover squad. Apparently since Bowen and Sera had already set up home base independently, Derek had anticipated Polly and Erin sharing one remaining apartment, while he and Austin shared the other. The girls had seemed indifferent about the arrangement, quickly gathering their things and heading home to check out the new digs.
He and Austin had been a different story altogether. Neither one of them had cottoned to the idea of sharing space with a virtual stranger they knew next to nothing about, protesting rather loudly when Derek dropped the news. After his little stunt, Austin had turned out to be outspoken as hell, so Connor had just sat back and waited. Derek, needed at another meeting, had basically told them both to fuck off and live in a Dumpster for all he cared. Austin claimed he already had a place to crash, so Connor had taken the apartment for himself.
Not bad. Back in Brooklyn, he’d split time between a run-down one bedroom and his mother’s dilapidated house in the Bronx when she felt too sick to be alone. He’d never lived in this much sunlight. It streamed in from several windows, even a skylight located just above the eat-in kitchen. The furniture they’d provided was functional, which was all he needed. Nothing flashy, just four white walls and a place to lay his head. Each bedroom was about the same size, so he took the one with a view of the street. That way, he could see anyone coming or going.
On cue, he saw Erin and Polly walking up the sidewalk. The giant cup of coffee in Polly’s hand explained how he’d beaten them to the building. Erin stooped down and picked up a short fallen tree branch and lit the end on fire with a lighter produced from her pocket, holding it up like an Olympic torch and jogging in a circle. Without flinching, Polly reached over and doused the flame with coffee.
Connor shook his head. Jesus, how had he forgotten in the space of an hour the effect that Erin had on him? She was a hundred yards away and yet his body reacted like she was naked and straddling him.
Fuck.He shouldn’t have thought of that.
Five stories down, Erin caught sight of him standing in the window and blew him a kiss.
Jesus. She’d be living right across the hall from him. Maybe he should have taken a page from Austin’s book and looked for other accommodations. How would he concentrate with her so close? He’d made only the barest contact with her body and still he knew what she’d feel like. All flexible angles and smooth, supple skin. He’d seen right where he wanted to be that afternoon. Just beneath that patch of denim. He wanted to shove her legs open and bite her there. Make her sorry she ever flashed her sweet spot at him. Make her grateful she had. Everything in between.
Connor stepped away from the window, wishing he weren’t the kind of man who hated the idea of two women carrying their own suitcases up the stairs. If he weren’t, he’d step into the shower and jerk his cock to the fantasy he’d been harboring since leaving the station. Erin on her hands and knees on the conference room table once again. Only this time, she’d be facing the other direction as he fucked her silly from behind. He’d never heard her speak in anything but that throaty purr, but her satisfied screams somehow already rang in his head.
Did it make him sick? He’d never been ashamed of his preference for rough sex before, but Erin had already shown signs of fear from a simple touch. He couldn’t even imagine her reaction if she could see the images his mind refused to stop projecting. Why had she inspired this restless urgency in him? The need had always been there, but never so demanding. So necessary.
With a curse, he stomped out of the apartment and down the stairs to help Erin and Polly with their luggage. They sat in the tiny foyer outfitted with mailboxes, perched on their suitcases and drinking coffee. They weren’t talking, Polly looking deep in thought while Erin tried to pick a mailbox lock with her fingernail.
She brightened when she saw him. “Baby, what took you so long?” Her elbow found Polly’s ribs, unseating her. “Told you he’d come down.”
“Yes, our fearless number two in command.” Polly smiled politely. “I’ve heard good things, but nothing directly from you. I don’t think you spoke once during the meeting.”
Connor picked up a suitcase in each hand. “Had nothing to add.”
“No?” She followed behind him. “You didn’t even feel the need to point out he’s turned us into a parody of the Mod Squad? I certainly did.”
Actually, hehadnoticed. “As long as we’re not required to wear bell bottoms.”
Polly laughed, but it was such a girlish sound compared to her no-nonsense demeanor, he looked back in surprise. Polly didn’t seem to notice anything amiss, but behind her Erin had a hand smacked over her mouth to hold in her own laughter.
“What about Derek?” Polly asked. “He’s wearing a wedding ring and I’ll admit he’s quite attractive, but I can’t imagine him with a wife. Seems like he’s already married to his job.”
Connor had zero desire to gossip about the captain’s marital status, so he breathed a sigh of relief when Erin piped up. “We should invite her over for empanadas and find out.”
“That’s a very specific plan,” Polly commented. “But unnecessary. I’d rather hack into her financial records.”
The bells on Erin’s boots tinkled. “More empanadas for me.”
He turned on the landing and went up the final flight of stairs, setting both suitcases down in front of their door. “Check the locks when you go inside and make sure they’re working. Windows and doors. If they’re broken, let me know.”
Erin pulled a bobby pin out of her pocket and inserted it into the lock. Two twists and one jiggle later and the door swung open. “This one is decent.”
Polly dangled a key. “Next time, we could use this.”
Connor decided he better go in and check the locks himself. Erin might be an escape artist, but hopefully noteveryonewould be able to open their door quite as easily. Otherwise he’d be sleeping on their couch until the locks were fixed to his satisfaction. Being that close to Erin would be the ultimate torture if he couldn’t push her up against a wall every time they were in the same room. As if she could read every last one of his thoughts, she sashayed past him through the doorway, trailing a hand over his abs as she went, sending heat spiraling to his groin. Polly pursed her lips and followed.
