Steal My Heart
Aimee O’Brian
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication date: August 5th 2019
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
When a fantasy turns into a cold reality
Lexanne Harris had a plan down to the last sexy detail. Never did she think her attempt to spice up her love life with her boyfriend would involve her in a burglary with a sexier than sin thief whose emerald eyes and serious between the sheets skills are impossible to forget. As a police detective she is expected to stand on the side of the law and fight for justice. But what happens when the lines of justice blur and what’s wrong becomes way too tempting?
The situation might be challenging but Lexanne is determined to get assigned to the case, recover the jewels and catch the culprit.
The question is: What will she do with her sexy cat burglar when she catches him?
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I was a professional, I reminded myself, beeping my car locked. I wore my investigator’s garb today: black trousers, black button-down shirt, power-red blazer, and run-your-ass-down-if-I-have-to shoes. My hair was up in a tight bun, and me, you guessed it, tight-assed as they came. At least at work. Because that’s how I got to where I was in a testosterone-dominated work environment.
I was good at catching criminals. In more ways than one.
I shoved that thought into oblivion. Weaving through the squad room, I marched to my captain’s door and rapped sharply twice.
A gruff voice shouted, “Enter.”
I swung open the door and took in the towering piles of folders on the too-small desk. Bulky ex-hockey star Cole Sheehan stood behind it. Golden-boy athlete turned cop, he always caught his man in the same way he’d always made his goal. Now at forty-five, he’d earned his stripes. His piercing blue eyes took in my starched appearance.
“What do you want?” he barked.
“Reassignment,” I barked back. I stood as tall as my five-foot-six frame allowed.
“Everybody wants that, Harris. I don’t need you whining like a girl about how hard your workload is.”
“I’d like it harder. Sir.”
That got his attention. He swiveled his head on his bulldog neck. His eyes pinned me down like a bug in a science experiment. I took care not to twitch.
Confident I had his undivided attention, I continued, “I want in on the high-end burglaries—the ones in the Heights. My reports on the convenience store robberies are on your desk.” I gave a curt nod at the stacks. “I’ve cleared my cases, all of them. The files are in that mound somewhere.” Said mound teetered, threatening an avalanche. “I swear.”
He studied me, gave a nod. “Good work on those. You caught your man in record time. Not sure you’re ready for the big time though.” He gave a snort, turned to glare at his desk. “Why’d my clerk quit? I need a secretary.”
I gave a half smile. “Ask Detective Finney. I don’t do secretary.”
“Your reports read better than his.”
Gratifying, I supposed. I still wouldn’t do secretary. I waited while he tried to stare me down. I’d stared down gang members and drug dealers to get where I was, assigned to the prestigious Larceny Division. I could handle a police captain.
“What can you offer the case? All one hundred twenty-five pounds of you.”
I bit back my retort, determined to remain professional. It was an old teasing. How did a little girl like you end up in a big, badass police station like this?
But here’s where it got tricky. I couldn’t tell him the whole story. I couldn’t even tell him half. I stiffened and imparted a little truth. “I’m house sitting in the Heights. Staying in that neighborhood gives me a stake in this. And I’m right on scene if there’s another incident.” And wasn’t that the truth.
“Bored, are you?”
I relaxed my shoulders. “I like a challenge.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
I took a confident breath and let him see it.
Sheehan gave an approving nod. “Get with Detective Anderson. He’ll bring you up to date. Don’t disappoint, Harris.”
I turned to go.
“I’ll reassign Finney.”
I clutched the doorframe, angled back slowly. “That might be a problem.”
“You didn’t think I’d assign you to work with your boyfriend, did you?”
I paused. We’d been discreet, but Sheehan had been a detective in the field, and a good one, before he’d taken the desk job. Mark would be mega-pissed. If I didn’t keep him on the case, he might rat me out.
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Author Bio:
Having lived in both California and Texas, Aimee O’Brian now resides in the beautiful wine country. With her three children grown and experiencing their own adventures, she and her husband are free to explore the world. When she’s not reading, writing, or planting even more perennials in her garden, she can be found stomping through ancient ruins and getting lost in museums.
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