Convincing Alex: the classic story from the queen of romance that you won’t be able to put down

“Well, thanks for the lift.”

His eyes flashed to hers in the rearview mirror. Her face was still flushed, and her irises were a sharp enough jade to slice to the bone, but she looked more miffed than upset. Miffed, he thought with a snort. Stupid word. It fit her perfectly.

“You’re an idiot, McNee. And, like most idiots, you’re dangerous.”

“Oh, really?” She scooted up in the seat so that she could lean between him and Judd. “Just how do you figure that, smart guy?”

“Not only do you go back down to an area you have no business even knowing about—”

“Give me a break.”

“But,” he continued, “you sit there drinking coffee with a hooker, then pick a fight with her pimp. The kind of guy who’d as soon give a woman a black eye as wish her good-morning.”

Bess poked a finger at his shoulder. “I didn’t pick a fight with anyone, and if I had, it would be my business.”

“That’s why you’re an idiot.”

“Hey, Alex, ease off.”

“Keep out of this,” Alex and Bess snarled in unison.

“I’m not even here,” Judd mumbled, scooting down in his seat.

“It so happens I was conducting an interview.” Bess folded her arms on the seat so that she wouldn’t give in to the nasty urge to twist Alex’s ear. “In a public place,” she added. “And you had no right to come bursting in and ruining everything before I’d finished.”

“If I hadn’t come bursting in, babe, you’d have had your nose broken again.”

She scowled, wrinkling her undeniably crooked nose. “I can defend my nose, and anything else, just fine.”

“Yeah, anyone can see you’re a regular amazon. Ow!” He slapped at her hand and swore the air blue when she gave in and twisted his ear. “The minute I get you out of this car, I’m going to—”

“Uh, Alex?”

“I told you to keep out of it.”

“I’m out,” Judd assured him. “But you might want to take a look at the liquor store coming up at nine o’clock.”

Still steaming, Alex did, then let out a heavy sigh. “Perfect. This makes it perfect. Call it in.”

Bess watched, wide-eyed, as Judd radioed in an armed robbery in progress, gave their location and requested backup. Before she could shut her gaping mouth, Alex was swinging to the curb.

“You,” he said, stabbing a finger in her face. “Stay in the car, or I swear I’ll wring your neck.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Bess assured him after she managed to swallow the large ball of fear lodged in her throat. But before the words were out, he and Judd were out of the car and drawing their weapons.

He’d already forgotten her, she realized as she stared at his profile. Before he and Judd had crossed the street, he’d put on his cop’s mind and his cop’s face. She’d seen hundreds of actors try to emulate that particular look. Some came close, she realized, but this was the real thing. It wasn’t grim or fierce, but flat, almost blank.

Except for the eyes, she thought with a quick shudder. She’d had only one glimpse of his eyes, but it had been enough.

Life and death had been in them, and a potential for violence she would never have guessed at.