Under Cover: A Blue Collar Alpha Romance

by Aria Cole

  “I can’t believe this is my life.” I pushed a hand over my face before stalking behind her, eyes on what was apparently my new case while I spoke aloud, “Patsy, could you please reopen Ms. Wells’s case in the system and then fetch some water? I’m sure she’ll be parched after her antics tonight.”

  This woman was a crazy train. If I was going to work alongside her, I’d have to find some way to make it amusing for me.

  “Sure thing, Brody.” She paused. “I mean, Detective Romano.”

  I rolled my eyes, thankful that while Ms. Wells may know my full name, my home address was unlisted. I had no doubt she would be stalking my ass right now if she’d known where to find me.

  Which I guess she did, because I was pretty much at the station more than at home.

  Patsy let the door close snugly, leaving me to my devilish little plaything.

  “So, Ms. Wells. Mind telling me what this is really all about?” I huffed at her ear, my hand hovering at her backside, imagining how I was going to slip my fingers in the pocket of those tight jeans she wore and fish out the handcuff key.

  “I want to find my dog.” She wiggled her arms. “Does everyone in your life find you this exasperating?” I caught my bottom lip between my teeth. and tried to push the idea of her silky soft flesh from my mind, focusing on the situation at hand. The last thing I needed was to get a hard-on for this nut job.

  I eased two fingers between the fabric, her round, plumpass cheek taunting me. Arousal mixed with annoyance that I was here, doing this.

  “It’s not every day a detective has his hands down my pants.”

  A low growl erupted from my body.

  She just kept rambling. “I had to get your attention. I needed your help, and you refused me. What else would I do?”

  “It’s not a missing persons case. Hire a private dog detective.” My fingers were hesitating, everything about this feeling so inappropriate. “I’m not usually in the business of accommodating these kinds of dramatics.”

  “But I don’t have any money, Detective. My house burned down last year. I lost everything and had to start over. All I have in this world is my sweet Charlie Boy.” She lowered the timbre of the last word, lowering her eyes and jutting out her bottom lip. I felt like a sick fuck, because that sent a spark of forbidden excitement to the base of my balls.

  “You know, I am not gonna get paid for helping you. This is on me. Shit, I will be lucky if I am not made into the department’s fucking joke.” Every last muscle of my body hummed with barely sustained control as the knowledge that only rough denim seperated my fingers from the feel of her silky everything. “You’re asking me to work pro bono.” I paused. “And now you’ve got me copping a feel.”

  Each of her breaths rippled with energy as my fingers locked around an object nestled in the deepest corner of her back pocket.

  “I’d rather take you on a date first.”

  Sexual tension suckjed the air from the room before she whispered, “I make a point of avoiding dates.” She exhaled a soft puff of air, erotic and sweet at the same time. “Especially with strangers.”

  I swallowed, the idea of taking her out on a date at all leaving the vision of her naked and wiggling against my tongue by the end of the night now permanently emblazoned behind my eyelids.

  “Surprising,” I struggled to control the throb in my pants, “considering my hand is so close to your ass right now, Ms. Wells.” I wiggled the handcuff keys from the skin-tight pocket of her jeans, half-wishing I hadn’t been so quick to find them. Being pressed up against Miss Phoebe Wells was more than a little intoxicating.

  I sighed, fumbling with the warm metal that’d just been tucked against denim and ass cheek. “I should open a report on you for explicit behavior.”

  Her body trembled when my fingers worked at her wrists.

  A moment later she was free. “Wouldn’t that be a conflict of interest?” She turned, sparkling eyes glued to mine defiantly. “How are you gonna work with me and investigate me at the same time, Detective?”

  “Oh believe me, everything about you is a conflict of my best interest.” I shook my head. “I’m strugglin’ to figure out how I’m gonna work with you either way.”

  “As long as we’re clear then--” she smirked, “your hands down my pants was definitely a conflict of interest.” She smirked.

  “My hands weren’t down your pants, don’t start spreading that rumor of I’ll be out of a job, Wells.”

  “Just Wells, now, huh?” Her shoulder brushed mine, eyes twinkling with amused delight. “Does this mean we’re partners in crime?”

  I groaned. “Lord help me.”

  The door to my office swung open then, Patsy returning with a chilled bottle of water in one hand. “How’s it going without me?”

  Ms. Wells took the water bottle and then turned to me and smiled. “The detective and I are getting on like old friends. So when do we get to work finding my Charlie McFluffer Pants, Detective?”

  I shook my head, disbelief running through me. “We’re searching for a mutt who goes by the name of Charlie McFluffer Pants?”

  “Charlie McFluffer Pants at home, just Charlie Boy on the streets.” She shrugged. “Or at the dog park.”

  I nodded. “The level of crazy just went up about twelve notches. How is it that you’re more trouble to me free than when you’re handcuffed to my damn desk?” I shook my head, truly flabbergasted by this woman. “I already regret unlocking you.”

  She did a little curtsy, as if she was proud of herself.

  Well, game the fuck on then, Ms. Wells.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  Phoebe

  “It’s been four days. I’ve plastered the entire town with that police sketch your artist gave me, called every single shelter in the nearest three surrounding counties, and I’ve knocked on neighborhood doors for six hours straight every day since he’s been gone. What have you been doing?” I was devolving into a sobbing mess now.

  Detective Dick hauled me into his office, slamming the door behind us.

  “Listen, Phoebe. You see that pile on my desk?”

  I glanced at the stack of manila envelopes. There were at least twenty of them piled neatly on top of each other.

  “Those are real missing persons reports. So when I’m on duty, they take priority.” he pressed me into the chair, hand clamped tight at my elbow.

  “Ouch! That hurt. I could report you for being so physical. Police brutality and all that,” I said as I rubbed my elbow. I was positive his tight hold was going to leave a mark. “I’m delicate, you know. My fair skin makes me bruise easily. You need to handle me with care,” I muttered under my breath.

  He stalked over to me, determination and anger burning inside his eyes. He invaded my space and grabbed my hands, pinning them to the side of the chair. His hold was strong, and his dominance made my insides flare with fire.

  It made me feel the same as it had when he had his hands down my panties.

  Thank God that key hadn’t been in my front pocket, because then Detective Dick would have felt how soaked I was through my jeans. When his strong, calloused hands had grazed my body, I’d drenched my thighs with enough moisture to quench the Sahara.

  I hadn’t been able to stop thinking about how his extra-large fingers would feel inside me. Then I’d thought about how his dick must be like an oversize anaconda.

  Hot damn.

  I’d really needed to get out of there before I’d found myself begging to be tied to his desk, praying for something a little more R-rated.

  That night I’d gone home and pleasured myself fully, thinking of his hands roaming my most private places.

  “You have no idea what brutality is, but if you aren’t careful, little girl, I will show you,” he hissed in my face.

  Please show me, the tiny voice in my mind kept shouting, getting louder and louder.

  “Oh, please! You aren’t my daddy. What are you going to do? Put me over your lap and spank me?” I whispered a
s my breathing grew heavy. I hoped it didn’t sound like I was panting.

  Truth be told, I was completely fine with getting that spanking naked on top of his desk.

  He bent closer until his lips were just at my ears. “Little girl, I wouldn't be gentle like your daddy. I would make sure you knew what a bad girl you were.”

  His breath was hot and heavy against my skin, causing my flesh to rise and creating a formation of goosebumps. And then suddenly, he let me go and in a flash was on his feet with the vast distance of his desk between us.

  “Why is it always the crazies?” he muttered under his breath while scrubbing his hands over his stubble. His words hit me like a bucket of ice, dulling the inferno that was raging inside me a few moments ago to a dull simmer. I was angry that the simmer was even there.

  I stood and walked right up to him, hovering only inches away so he could see the disdain on my face.

  “Where do you get off calling me crazy? If you had just agreed to help me find my dog when I first walked in here, none of the rest of it would have happened. This is all your fault!” I said with venom lacing my words.

  I wanted Dick to think he had no effect on me. I was totally lying, but there was no way in hell I was going to let him know that.

  “You keep telling yourself that, sweetheart,” he mocked.

  “You promised to help. I expect you to keep your word.”

  “I am going to help you, but I need to help find real people first. Your dog isn’t more important than the missing six-year-old. Your pain is nothing like the pain of her mother’s, and if you think it is, your ass is certifiable.” His words rocketed through me, but there was no way I could let him have the upper hand. In that moment, I sank down on the floor and started crying. I knew that was his kryptonite.

  Drown in the river of my emotional woman tears, asshole.

  Just as I’d hoped, he crouched down beside me and started to pat my back. He looked uncomfortable, and I liked it.

  “He is all I have!” I wailed. I didn’t dare look up. I kept my hands on my head and forced the tears to spring out of my eyes. I knew his weakness, and I was going to exploit it dry until I got what I wanted.

  I wanted Charlie.

  Once I had him, Detective Dick would be completely rid of me.

  Forever.

  “Jesus. Get the hell up,” he begged, patting my back.

  “Please, Detective. Please help me. I’m desperate.” I wiped my cheeks with my hands. “You think I can have a tissue?” I asked between wails.

  He jumped up like someone had scalded him with hot water, ran to his desk, and appeared a moment later with a Kleenex.

  “You know, with the amount you cry, you should maybe invest in having a pack of these in your purse,” he muttered while running his hands nervously in his hair. His lush dark hair looked so touchably soft.

  “Please help me,” I whimpered.

  “Fine. Tonight. Just please, no more tears. I promise tonight and every night after work, I will help you look for him,” he whispered, his tone much calmer and steadier than before.

  “Great.” I smiled as I rose to my feet.

  His face contorted from pity to rage.

  “Meet me here at five. Now get the hell out of my office before my control diminishes,” he said in a steely tone, and I ran out, my inner cheerleader turning triumphant cartwheels.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Brody

  “The first night I brought him home, I held him for three hours straight in my lap, rubbing his little puppy tummy and watching baking competition shows with him.”

  I barely contained the growl in my throat as we walked through our local shelter, my third time in so many days doing this walk, still no sign of precious Charlie anywhere.

  “And when my father passed away, I held Charlie and cried for three weeks straight.” She paused when we reached the end of the sparse hallway, a dozen pairs of puppy dog eyes on us and none of them right. “I can’t lose him now.”

  Tears welled in her eyes, real and true, and my heart cracked a little for her.

  “We’ll find him.” Before I thought about it, I enclosed her in my arms, her little shoulders shaking as she unleashed against my broad chest. “Maybe we can get a few neighborhood kids together to canvas the few blocks around your house tomorrow night.”

  I knew my options were limited. The only thing I could do was make sure she was safe. In the last few hours we’d spent searching the nearest shelters to her house, I’d come to realize just how much this little dog had meant to her. And how alone she really was.

  Without words, I led her down the hallway we’d just walked and then out into the evening air.

  “The temperatures are getting cooler at night.” She pulled away when we reached the parking lot. “I haven’t been sleeping much at all, thinking about him out there alone.” She leaned against her car, a palm covering her eyes as I imagined more tears brimming over.

  “Let me drive you home. I’ll even stop and pick us up sandwiches from the deli.” I hovered a palm at her elbow, wanting to bring her back into my arms again, where the feel of her was still left tingling there.

  “I can’t even think about eating right now.” She opened the door of her car, shadowed eyes on me. “But thank you anyway. You really have been nice tonight.”

  I nearly laughed under my breath at her subtle attempt at kindness. “Off my game, I guess.”

  I leaned into her, lost in a moment of enjoyment.

  “I’ll be sure to get out of the wrong side of the bed tomorrow morning just for you.”

  She cracked a soft smile. “Wouldn’t want to break your stellar record.”

  I chuckled, thinking how easy it was to talk with her when she wasn’t crying. But I suppose I’d been a bit of an asshole. Of course she hadn’t been sleeping. This fucking mutt was the only thing in her life that seemed to matter to her.

  “Well, afraid I’m about to burst your bubble and insist on buying you that sandwich. How am I supposed to find Charlie if you’re wasting away on me?”

  Her eyes lingered on my gaze, something softer and sweeter than I was used to hanging there. Maybe I hadn’t given her a fair shot through all those damn tears, but hell if I didn’t feel a little bad for all that shit between us before.

  “Sure you want to share a dinner with the woman who chained herself to your desk?”

  “How could I forget that little stunt?”

  One eyebrow arched, a cocky little grin twisting her lip sideways.

  “Besides,” I continued, “I didn’t say anything about being pleasant at this dinner.”

  A pause, long and slow and just about earth-shattering, hung between us. I swallowed, shifting closer, caught in the web of her expressive dark eyes.

  “Can’t imagine you pleasant anyway,” she finally confessed with a taunt.

  I caught her car door before she could close it. “I'm mighty pleasant on a date.” I said, ducking into her space, “but you wouldn’t know since this isn’t one.” I went around to the other side of her car, opened the door, and gestured her in.

  She tipped her head to the side before taking a breath and allowing me to help her into the passenger seat.

  “It’s my duty to keep you safe, Ms. Wells.”

  ***

  Three hours and two takeout meatball sandwiches later, Phoebe and I were planted under the stars on her back porch, thighs nearly touching as we talked about anything and everything, from her growing-up years to my choosing to be a law enforcement officer.

  “So all it took was coming across that one crash scene when you were a kid and you knew you would help people someday?” Her voice was thick with sleepiness, but she just kept asking me more questions about my life in an effort to keep herself awake, I was coming to think.

  “I thought my dad was such a hero when he ran toward that crashed car, instructing me to wave down the next car with a phone and have them call the ambulance. He helped a little kid out of the back seat
and started administering CPR.” The memory moved me even now. “When I was old enough to get certified and take gun safety courses, I did, and then I joined the campus patrol. Thought about ROTC, but I just didn’t like the idea of being so far from home for so long.”

  I paused, thinking back on that time, how it’d changed me as a man on some deep level.

  “Truth is, my dad was diagnosed with a rare illness the same summer I graduated high school. I knew Mom couldn’t take care of him by herself, so I stayed because there wasn’t anywhere else I could imagine being.”

  Phoebe’s eyes hung on mine, shining and soft in the silver light. “You were your dad’s hero, then.”

  I shrugged her sentiments off. “I don’t know about that. He would have been proud if I’d gotten into the army like him.”

  She inched closer to me then, our thighs brushing. “But then who knows where you’d be right now.”

  I let her words linger before she continued.

  “After my father was gone, the only thing that finally got me out of bed in the morning was the idea that all of us are right where we need to be, with exactly who we need to be with, at every moment.”

  I felt connected to her then, in some way that I hadn’t connected with anyone. Now that I thought about it, I’d been so consumed with thinking how lonely her life looked, but I hadn’t opened up this much to anyone in my life as much as I had her in these last few hours.

  “Ya know…” I angled a little more to her, sliding my fingers down the curve of her wrist before reaching her fingers and wrapping them in mine. “I didn’t know I was sharing dinner with such a wise ass tonight.”

  Her grin cracked, sadness melting away to humor before she knocked her shoulder with mine. “And I didn’t peg you for such a compassionate hero.”

  She rolled her eyes with her words, and we both burst into laughter.

  “I can’t even tell you how good it feels to just laugh,” she finally said.

  “There’s not a lot of it happening around the station either.”

  Silence settled around us as the noisy night creatures started chirping and singing.