Cops in general put him on edge. Female cops with a mean streak...not really his thing.
And now that he’d had Avery he plain wasn’t interested in anyone else.
Dash disappeared from sight into the back room where Peterson had gone, but Rowdy didn’t hear any fireworks, so maybe they’d work it out.
“She’s very attractive,” Avery pointed out.
“In a cold-steel type of way, sure.” Avery and the lieutenant were both petite women, but that’s where the similarity ended. The lieutenant had short-cropped dark curls and a military posture. Avery’s long red hair, even when tied back, could inspire fantasies, and he much preferred her laid-back, easy way.
Just then, Peterson and Dash emerged. Dash tried to lead her back to the booth, but Peterson wasn’t cooperating. People glanced their way as Dash grinned at her and Peterson balled up her fists as if she might attack.
“Shit.” Rowdy handed over a beer mug he’d just refilled and wiped off his hands. “Looks like I need to run interference.” He gave it some quick thought, and made a decision. “Have Cannon give you a break and then join us.”
Avery stepped back. “Oh, I don’t want to intrude—”
“I need you with me, okay?” What better way to dissuade Peterson than by showing her he had other interests?
Avery looked like he’d doused her in ice water. She stood there staring up at him, lips parted, eyes wide.
What the hell?
Belatedly, she got herself together. “Yes, of course.” She smiled brightly. “Go on. I’ll be over as soon as I can get Cannon here.”
Was she that thrown by him asking a favor? “Thanks, babe.”
He reached Dash and the lieutenant in time to hear her say, “I am not doing this with you, Dash.”
“Well, Rowdy’s out, so it’s me or you go home empty-handed.”
Ah, hell. Were they bartering sex? Rowdy nudged Peterson toward the booth, saying, “How about we sit down and talk this out?”
She wrapped her arms around one of his and dragged him into the seat with her. Pulling him close, so close Rowdy thought she was going to kiss him, Peterson said, “I’m undercover, you ass.”
Huh.
“I need you to shore up my cover.” She slid a hand to his chest, stroking him. “And I don’t want this other ass—” she looked at Dash so there’d be no misunderstandings “—in my way.”
Dash said, “And yet, here I am.”
When the lieutenant’s thumb brushed over his left nipple, Rowdy nearly jumped out of the booth. Catching her wrist and lifting it away, Rowdy disengaged as much as he could. “Why are you here, in my place, if you’re undercover?” The last thing the bar needed was more trouble.
She leaned in again, so close that her boobs were on his arm, her moist breath in his ear. “What do you know about BD videos?”
Bondage and discipline p**n os? He rubbed his ear, wishing Avery would hurry it up. “That I don’t need or want to see them. Why?”
“Sometimes...” Her mouth firmed. “Sometimes the women aren’t as willing as you’d think.”
As he made some quick mental connections, ice ran through his veins. “You think someone is forcing them? Women from my bar?”
“I think the ones producing the videos might hang out here.”
“Why would you think that?”
Her fingers walked up his chest to his chin. “Evidence.”
“See what I’m dealing with?” Dash leaned forward, forearms on the booth. “She needs help with her cover. If she just hangs out here looking like that, every dick in the place will be on her.”
“You,” Peterson said, still teasing her fingers over Rowdy. She turned those big blue eyes on Dash and enunciated clearly, “Not him.”
No, and no again. “Sorry, I can’t oblige.” Rowdy forcibly set her a few inches away. “Earlier today I went out of my way to let all and sundry know that I’m with Avery. If I mix it up with you, they’ll think she’s fair game again.”
Peterson’s brows lifted. “And she’s not?”
“Definitely not.”
“And here I got the impression you weren’t the type to settle on one woman. Interesting.” Her gaze slid to Dash. “You still won’t do.”
“You’d have to try me on for size before you make that judgment.”
Rowdy half expected Peterson to shoot Dash. He didn’t have a single doubt that she was packing. The lieutenant was not a woman who went out and about unarmed.
She surprised him by being reasonable. “I need to be here in the evenings. You work construction. The nights could be late....”
“I’ll persevere.” Knowing he had her, Dash sat back and smiled. “I own the company, remember. I can set any hours for myself that I want.”
Finally Avery showed up. With her bottom lip caught in her teeth, her gaze tentative, she paused by the booth and dried her hands on her apron.
Dash scooted over to make room for her, and Avery slid into the seat beside him.
Rowdy muttered, “This is f**ked up.”
“Rowdy,” Avery chastised, glancing at Peterson in apology. “Language.”
Peterson gave a startled laugh, looked at Rowdy, and then at Avery and laughed again. “Oh, I like her, Rowdy. I really do.”
Dash stretched an arm out along the back of the booth. “Me, too.”