Logan’s icy respect left a chill in the room. “We explained to you that she was getting dressed.”

Still shrugging into his shirt and carrying his shoes, Dash came back in. Wow, he’d dressed, washed and cleaned his teeth in record time. He hadn’t bothered with a shave, but honestly, she liked the way he looked so rugged and rough. Even here and now, with her commander breathing fire, her home the scene of a crime, the stench of kerosene thick in the air, she wanted him.

The idea that she’d always want him scared her a little.

Maybe everything was starting to build up, but she gave a twittering laugh that sounded nothing like her usual starched self—as evidenced by the way everyone looked at her with wary concern.

Patting Dash’s chest, she asked, “Did you run the entire time?”

“Yup.” He hopped as he pulled on one shoe, and then the other. “And now I’m ready. You?”

Yes, more than ready. But she needed to clear house first. “Logan, Reese, thank you again. I look forward to hearing an update.”

The detectives didn’t like it, but they refrained from arguing.

Next she turned to the commander. “Dan, as you can see—”

“They won’t be reporting to you.”

That blunt statement landed like a slap. Margo never broke eye contact with him. He was a bully of the worst kind, and she knew it. She refused to blink. She refused to speak. Never would she show him a weakness.

The staring contest ended when Dan broke. “You’re out of it, Margaret.” He tried for a gentle tone that lacked validity. “Effective immediately.”

Her smile let him know that wouldn’t go unchallenged. “Detectives, I’ll talk with you later. Rowdy, Dash, if you’ll excuse me a moment...”

Rowdy stood and walked out front with Logan and Reese. Dash crossed his arms and stood his ground. By look and stance he made it very clear he wouldn’t budge.

And again she wanted to laugh.

God, very little in her life right now was funny. But he so easily lifted her spirits and made stuff that would normally feel overwhelming seem very small and insignificant.

Dan gave Dash a burning glare.

“He can stay,” she decided. “This won’t take long.”

That seemed to alarm Dan. And with good reason.

Margo stepped away from Dash and moved closer to Dan. “I have agreed—on my own, without your command—to remove myself for the weekend. If someone is trying to kill me, an innocent could get caught in the cross fire.”

“Him?” Dan asked, nodding toward Dash.

“He can handle himself.” True. She realized it, but that didn’t make her any less worried. Love had that effect, she guessed.

“Who the hell is he exactly?”

Mine, she wanted to say, but settled on, “None of your business.”

His lip curled with jealousy. “Meaning, it’s personal?”

“Oh, yes.” With a wealth of satisfaction, she said, “Very personal.” Still walking, she circled Dan.

He turned so that she wouldn’t be at his back.

Smart.

When she glanced up, she caught Dash smiling. “I was talking about pedestrians on the road who might catch a stray bullet meant for me.”

“Jesus, you think someone would do that?”

She shrugged, embellishing since it served her to do so. “Why not? A few days ago someone T-boned me. During the night someone planned to barbecue me. I’m sensing a pattern. How should I know the limit of their sickness?”

He verbally pounced. “This is exactly my point—”

“No.” With mock regret, she shook her head. “Your point is, and always has been, to try to take advantage of me.”

Alarm sharpened his tone. “Margaret.”

“Don’t worry. Dash already knows the sordid details.”

Astonishment swung Dan around to snarl at Dash—which affected Dash not at all.

He continued to look insolent and stalwart. And sexy.

Definitely sexy.

“Why?” Dan asked through his teeth, his big hands curling and uncurling. “You agreed to never mention it.”

“And you,” she said in a raised voice, stepping up to meet his anger, “agreed to stay the hell out of my way!”

Dan breathed hard as they stared at each other, and before Margo even realized he’d moved, Dash inserted himself in front of her, then eased her back.

In an offhand, unconcerned way, he said, “Just to be safe, since he’s sort of fuming there, and you’re not exactly looking peaceful.”

“This is bullshit.” Dan turned away, but jerked right back around again. “You think I’d strike her?”

“I don’t know you—but she does.” Dash remained loose and relaxed. “I know she’s fair and honorable, but she doesn’t like you. Sort of tells me a lot, ya know?”

Seeing he had a losing battle, Dan tried a new tack. “Margaret, you are too damn close to this case and you know it.”

“Why?” She stepped from behind Dash. “Because it reminds me of another case?”

“No!” His gaze shifted nervously. “Damn it, don’t put words in my mouth. This is completely different.”

“There are definite differences—like the taping and selling of rapes on video.”

Dan rubbed his forehead. “Sick.”

“Yes.” Funny, but that’s almost exactly what her father had called it. “But women are still being abused. So you know I want to stay involved.”

Snarling again, Dan knotted his hand in his silver hair and took three long steps away before turning to face her again. “I am still the commander.”

“You should be satisfied with that.” She went to the door and held it open and, having that settled, she said with amicable politeness, “Thank you again for stopping by, Dan. Your concern is appreciated.”

Impotent fury showed in every line of his posture. “This isn’t over.”

“Yes, it is.”

He stormed out, not bothering to speak to Logan and Reese, who loitered on the front porch, or Rowdy, who stood right by the door, his shoulder propped on the doorjamb.

Had he heard it all? She wouldn’t be surprised.

She heard the squeal of tires as Dan sped from her driveway. Dash leaned down to her ear. “I am so horny for you right now.” And he stroked her bottom suggestively. “The hottest thing I’ve seen in a long time.”

Absurd...but damn it, she laughed. Again.

Every other man she knew would have called her a ballbuster, a tyrant, and much, much worse for how she’d dealt with the commander. But not Dash.

No, he liked it when she got autocratic. That complete and utter acceptance made her want him, too.

What had happened to her lethal edge?

But she already knew. Sexy, controlling Dashiel Riske had happened.

Would she ever again be the same?

* * *

IT SUCKED THAT she hadn’t invited him in to see the doctor with her. He understood—their intimate relationship was still fairly new, despite all the time he’d put in trying to soften her up. If it hadn’t been for that damn wreck, she might still be shutting him out.

But he had made headway, damn it. Today, she’d accepted him as she’d faced off with her commander.

God, she’d been...incredible. Ballsy, yes; Lieutenant Margaret Peterson backed down from no man.

But she’d also been clever and righteous. And proud.

Could a woman be any hotter than that? More appealing? She was his. He’d make it so.

Some sick fuck wanted to hurt her.

Dash squeezed his eyes shut and said a few prayers. Sitting in the waiting room gave him too much time to think about all the problems, all the threats against her, and all the ways he wanted to keep her safe—while also supporting her in any way she needed.

Reese was right that he would never have been happy with a meek woman. But damn, Margo was a challenge.

Pacing didn’t help much, but he did it anyway. He needed this current situation resolved so he could concentrate solely on loving her—and getting her to love him in return.

* * *

THE RECEPTIONIST KEPT smiling at him. Dash nodded back and did more pacing.

A female patient, mid-twenties, tracked his every move. He ignored her suggestive staring.

Once he got Margo alone in his new cabin, where they could talk without interruptions, he would convince her to move in with him long-term. She’d be safer at his place. It was more secure—and she wouldn’t be alone.

Forever would suit him, but he didn’t want to rush her. At least, not more than he already had.

When the door leading to the patient rooms opened, Dash turned...and saw Margo striding out. It took no more than one look at her set face to see her distress.

The splint was gone, so what had happened?

He held back while she took care of paperwork with the receptionist, then held open the exit door for her when she angrily marched his way.

They were just leaving the building when he finally broke the silence. “Everything go okay?”

“No.”

Whistling under his breath, Dash kept pace with her. “Bad news?”

Stoic, as always, she flexed both hands. “Nothing I can’t deal with.”

Damn, he could guess the problem. The splint was gone, but apparently that wasn’t the end of it as she’d hoped. He opened the passenger door to the rental. “You didn’t get clearance?”

“No, I didn’t. Not yet.” She slid in and pulled the door shut, leaving Dash standing there.

Prickly. But he could deal with that.

On a sigh, Dash circled the hood and got behind the wheel. He didn’t start the car. Not yet. “You plan to ignore the doc’s orders.” It wasn’t a question.

“It’s my body, damn it. I know how I feel and what I’m capable of.”