Claims the man who called me a bitch.

“He didn’t seem to mind when he thanked me for putting my life on the line a few minutes ago—it’s what us boys in blue do to keep the community safe,” Curran fires back. “I know it’s not the same as filing books after spending two hundred grand on education, but he seemed to appreciate it.”

Burton rises to his full height, his face boiling over with rage. “Consider your inappropriate language and misconduct reported.”

His comment only widens Curran’s smile. “To who, my brother Declan O’Brien, the assistant DA? Nah, he can’t do much seeing how I don’t technically work here. And my captain probably wouldn’t pay much attention to a whiny little wannabe librarian.” He glances around the law library. “No offense to any of you. I’m sure you won’t wait as long as this dick has for a promotion that’ll never come. You seem smarter than that.” He turns to me then. “Ready, Tess?”

“Yes. Yes, I’m ready.”

I scramble to gather my belongings. Curran’s verbal ass-kicking will likely turn the other clerks further against me. Yet for now, I don’t care and do my best to squelch my smile.

I walk fast, hurrying down the hall toward the back stairwell. Curran easily keeps up. “Is there a fire?”

“No. The judge is waiting. They—the judges, I mean—don’t like to wait.”

“So why didn’t we go there first? Why’d you head back to the library?”

I push open the door leading into the stairwell, but it isn’t until the metal door shuts behind him and we reach the landing that I turn and face him. He cocks his head, waiting for me to answer what should be a simple question.

My mouth opens only to abruptly shut. He raises a brow, watching me and once more waiting for my answer. Damn it all. What is it about him? I’m a multi-published journalist, and can formulate complex paragraphs as easily as most draw stick figures, and yet Curran’s mere presence jumbles my thoughts like a roller coaster.

For a moment, all I can do is stare out of the wall of glass. Four levels down, pedestrians hustle through the busy Philly streets and aggressive drivers blare their horns in protest. Those scrambling below can see us, but are blind to my insecurities and deaf to my words. I shouldn’t be so nervous, and yet I am.

Curran intimidates the hell out of me—not because of his imposing presence, or that virtual arsenal clipped to his leather belt. Oh, no. He’s intimidated me since the first moment I met him—back when he wore a backward baseball cap and sweats, long before he’d carried a badge and gun. His easy smile and confidence brought women to their knees…including me.

I lower my chin. Daunting physique aside, Curran scares me. He’s seen a side of me no one else has, one I want to keep hidden. After all, I did a lot more than bask in his glory while I was down on my knees.

“You didn’t answer me,” he says. “Why didn’t we head to court first?”

“I needed to shut down my computer,” I respond, wishing my voice held more conviction.

“That could have waited. You hauled serious ass out of Deck’s office. Don’t tell me it’s because you couldn’t wait to get back to numbnuts back there.”

“No, of course not.” I blink up at him. Curran’s as tall as I remember, but his athletic build has widened to resemble more of a boxer’s physique than the soccer player I knew. I suppose with his line of work he needs more bulk, and that his days of fun and games are long over. “I needed a moment,” I admit.

“Why?”

My brows knit tight. “What do you mean, ‘why’? Because, well, because of—” His grin causes me to trip over my words. If memory serves, I awoke somewhat intelligent this morning. I clear my throat, the flicker of amusement lighting his eyes making it clear he’s enjoying my torment. “Your presence caught me by surprise,” I manage.

“Believe me, I almost fell off that damn chair when I realized who you were,” he says, chuckling. “Which leads me to ask, why the hell are you so pissed?”

“I’m not pissed.”

“Yeah, you are.”

“I am not!”

“Then why are you yelling?” he asks, laughing harder.

“I’m not yelling,” I say, quieting. I glance around. “Listen to me, Officer O’Brien—”

“It’s Curran. But I think you remember that.” The edges of his mouth lift. “And my guess, based on how you’re acting, is you remember a lot more than that.”

My lips part and heat spreads along my body. “You…cad.”

“What?”

“I said you’re a cad!”

He removes his hat and sweeps a hand over his closely buzzed hair. “I heard what you said. I’ve just never heard anyone aside from Bugs Bunny use that word. You gonna call me a scoundrel next?” He holds up his hands in surrender when I all but stamp my feet. “Look, lighten up. I was just as shocked to find you here as you were to see me. But so what? What’s the big deal?”

I take a breath, willing myself to remain calm. “The big deal is, I’ve worked hard to get where I am. This internship can open doors, or it could close them tightly behind me. I don’t want my morals or position questioned because of my past, ah, indiscretions.”

“Indiscretions,” Curran repeats. “So you don’t want anyone to know we…went to college together.”

My attention falls to the soiled concrete that makes up the landing. “Yes. Please don’t tell anyone that we, ah, attended the same college, as you put it.”

“Okay,” he says.

“Okay?” I repeat. “Really?”

“Yeah. I get it,” he assures me.

My shoulders relax as my worry lifts and dissipates in the coolness of the stairwell. Once more, my eyes sweep over his physique, stopping to scrutinize his face. I focus on each feature: those light blue eyes, his square jaw, and the curve of his nose. Miles Fenske was right. While glimpses of the young college student I knew remain, his visage reveals a man familiar with the rough city streets and the madness that comes with surviving them.

I shake my head in sympathy. Whatever he’s seen on the job likely hardened him in a way he wasn’t ready for, and forced him to mature into the man standing before me. Curran’s no longer that carefree frat boy I remember. I can see it. And in a way, it makes me sad.

“No one will know we went to college together,” he promises.

I place my hand against my chest. “Thank you,” I say, meaning it.

With that I turn and proceed down the second set of steps, stumbling over the last two when Curran yells, “But can I still brag about our crazy sex?”

Chapter 3

Curran

I try to lift Tess off the floor only to have her nail me in the shoulder with her little fist. “Hey, knock it off—I’m trying to help,” I say, laughing.

I reach for her again. This time, she smacks me across the chest with her giant purse. “Don’t you touch me, you cretin!”

I think about it. “I guess that’s a better word. Don’t remember Bugs using that one.”

“How about ‘asshole’? Did Bugs ever use ‘asshole’?”

“No. Come to think of it, I don’t think he did. Though it would have been damn funny if he had.”

Her pretty eyes narrow over her crooked glasses. “How did your mother not drown you at birth?”

I grin. “Ma wouldn’t do that. I’ve always been her favorite.” I hold out a hand. “Come on, let me help you up. The judge is waiting—you said so yourself.”

Instead of letting me help her, she pulls herself up by grasping the metal railing, clinging to it while she gathers her things. And although she’s limping, she pushes forward. “Looks like you did a real number on your knee,” I point out.