Bear This Heat (A BBW Shifter Romance) (Last of the Shapeshifters) by A.E. Grace Page B

suspect.”
    Shrugging, he said, “You said firefight. Okay, so you were shooting at people, they were shooting at you. It was a reasonable question.”
    “You must be really popular at parties.”
    “I don’t care about popularity.”
    “I didn’t kill anyone, no. I did wound two of them.”
    “So why the promotion? Sounds like usual police work to me.”
    “I was riding solo that day.”
    “Ah,” Dylan sounded, nodded. “That’s not typical, is it?”
    “No.”
    “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.”
    “Please,” she scoffed. “I’m just wondering why you’re so interested. No need to treat me like I’m about to shatter.”
    “ You interest me.”
    “Why?”
    “You’re a beautiful woman and I kind of like you.”
    She opened her mouth to speak, but the words came out a fraction too late. It made Dylan smile.
    “Right.”
    “Tell me why you were, how did you put it, ‘riding solo’?”
    “Partner took some personal time. But there was nobody else to ride with me. So I went alone.”
    “That’s normal?”
    “Very. Not enough police to always put two people in a car.”
    “So, what, the department felt pressured because they let a woman ride solo who then got into a bit of a pickle?” He wiped his forehead, turning around to look at Sasha again who was still walking behind him.
    “That’s half of it, gender politics and all.”
    “There’s more?”
    “Yes. Backup came late.”
    Dylan stopped, narrowed his eyes. “You’re kidding.” Anger flooded into his mind.
    “No.”
    “Those assholes.”
    “I put out an officer in danger call, and shots fired. Backup was a few minutes later than it should have been.”
    “I can’t believe it.” He clenched his jaw. “They’d do you like that?”
    “Look, it’s not like I know anything for sure.”
    “But where there’s smoke-”
    “Yes,” Sasha said, cutting him off. “But I still don’t know anything for sure. Could have been anything.”
    Dylan backed off. “Okay. So they promoted you.”
    “Yes.”
    “To keep you quiet.”
    “Something like that.”
    “Did you celebrate?”
    “I’m sorry?”
    “Celebrate.”
    “Why do you ask that?”
    “Just, the ceremony was yesterday. You look a little tired today.”
    She stepped forward to him. “You think so, huh?”
    “Yes. It’s okay, though, because you’re still gorgeous.”
    “Would you stop that?”
    “What?”
    “You know what, Dylan. Seriously, I am not in the mood. And I have handcuffs and a gun.”
    “I don’t mind handcuffs, though they’d have to go on you.” She stopped, and he put up his hands playfully. “Fine,” he said. “As you wish. So, big celebration then?”
    “Yes,” she told him. “But not my promotion.”
    “Ah, I thought so. I’m no stranger to the hangover. You’ve got all the signs.” He watched her, amused, as she put her hands on her hips.
    “ You the detective, now?”
    “Come on. Bags, lazy slurring, posture, perspiration.” He ticked them off on his fingers, and then watched as she looked down at her shirt. It was sticking to her generous breasts. He licked his lips, and ticked off his thumb. “Add to that easily irritated…”
    “It was a friend’s birthday.”
    “Well, give her my best wishes.” He turned and started walking again. “So where the hell is your car, anyway? I’m getting a bit bored of this heat!”
    “It’s here,” she said. He’d just walked right past it. “Get in.”
    “Yes, Detective Inspector ,” Dylan said with mock formality. He thought about saluting her, but decided not to. That might be too much. As it stood, he was quite certain he was having more fun than she was, and that was the sort of situation that grew tiresome very quickly. And he didn’t want to bore her.
    He climbed into the passenger side, and instantly felt an impossible wave of more heat. “Fuck, it’s hot in here.”
    “This is blue five,” Sasha said, tapping the steering wheel. “Worst