Chapter 6
"Remind me again why we drove in at different times this morning," said Jay. They had just pulled up beside Hailey's Jeep in the District parking lot as the street lights were coming on. Hailey unsnapped her seat belt and turned toward him with a sweet smile.
"In an attempt to maintain our cover as work-only partners."
Jay glanced out the windshield at patrol officers leaving one shift and coming in for another. He sighed and looked back to Hailey with a frown. "Yeah, but I have this weird feeling that somehow Voight already knows and, I don't know, is waiting for us to screw up before dropping the hammer. Of course, when we're at Molly's and Will's there, I worry that he'll blurt out something."
Hailey's reassuring hand landed on his thigh. "We're not going to screw up," she said in a quiet voice. "We can do these jobs that we love, be professional and still have our personal thing, which is very good, by the way." She paused to let her words sink in.
Jay's expression relaxed as he remembered how they spent the previous evening at his apartment. "We are good together, I can't deny that."
"Think about it. Have we behaved any differently at work? Have we crossed any lines?"
Jay placed his hand on top of Hailey's. "Not yet. However, yesterday afternoon in the break room, I really wanted to kiss you, but . . ."
"But Kev came in looking for his sandwich," said Hailey. "I remember."
"Right. Thwarted by the meatball sub," said Jay. "I wanted to be annoyed, but it was kinda funny. Like we were being punked."
Hailey was staring at him. "There's no reason you couldn't kiss me now."
"You think?" asked Jay with a little smirk. "Then I believe I will." He leaned over the console and grasped the back of Hailey's head. They were both breathless when they separated.
"Your place or mine?" asked Jay when he was able to drag enough air into his lungs.
"My place," said Hailey. "My mattress is newer. Plus, I missed my pillow."
Jay put his hand on his heart. "Your pillow? I'm offended since I thought I was your pillow."
"You are a lot of things to me, Jay, but you are not my new down pillows."
He gave a little laugh. "Guess I've been delegated to my proper category."
Hailey laughed, too. "I need to get my purse from my locker. Then you can follow me home."
"Okay. I'll go in with you . . . to protect you."
Hailey's eyebrows shot up. "Protect me at the District? Good one."
They were about to exit the truck when Jay said, "Hold on, there's Voight." He got in his SUV and drove away, but not before casting a glance in their direction.
"Did you see that? He looked right at us," said Jay.
"Enough, Jay. You're being paranoid." She peered at him closely. "Maybe that vaccine is messing with you. How do you feel?"
"Fine. Except my arm is itching." He rubbed his vaccination site through his shirt.
"Anyway, Voight's doing what any good cop would do – be aware of his surroundings," said Hailey.
Jay sighed heavily. "Yeah, maybe."
"Let's go. The sooner I get my purse, the sooner I can get home to my pillow," laughed Hailey in an effort to distract him.
"Next time you stay with me, bring one of those damn pillows and leave it there."
"Oh, is that an order?" asked Hailey as she cocked her head. She knew it wasn't, of course.
"A suggestion. I want my girlfriend to be as comfortable as possible since apparently only a down pillow will do."
Hailey leaned toward him for a quick kiss. "What a guy."
Since the rear exit was locked from the inside, they were forced to go in the front of the building. They were surprised to see Platt still at the desk. "Working late, Sarge?" asked Jay.
"Only until O'Riley gets here. He had a flat." Platt studied the two detectives. "How were your vaccinations? I heard about Ruzek."
"Uh, no problem," said Jay.
"Adam's resting at home," said Hailey.
Platt nodded. "Good. So, what are you two doing back here? New case?"
"Have to retrieve my purse."
"It takes two people to get a purse?" asked Platt. "It must weigh a ton."
Jay thought for a beat. "Yeah, it does."
"Have a good evening, Sarge," called Hailey as she headed for the stairs.
Platt frowned. "You, too." Voight's right. Something's going on there.
"Oh, it will be a very good evening," said Jay before he turned to catch up with Hailey.
They ran to the locker room and Hailey had barely closed her locker when Jay pushed her back against it and hungrily kissed her. Her arms went around his neck as his mouth slid down her neck in a trail of feverish kisses.
"Jay . . ." Her voice was a breathy whisper.
"I want you now," he said. He pushed her flannel shirt off her shoulders and then went for the hem of her tank top. It quickly landed on the floor, too. He eyed the black lace bra and his eyes darkened. "You're so beautiful," he said.
"Is this a good idea?" whispered Hailey.
"We're alone. Don't overthink it." His eyes held hers and that sexy grin she loved so much pulled her in.
"No thinking then," she smiled and helped him pull his Henley over his head.
He reached down and lifted her up, carrying her to the nearby bathroom where he sat her on the sink. She was about the unbuckle his belt when a familiar voice stopped them cold. Hailey's eyes grew wide.
"Damn it, Voight's back," hissed Jay. "Is he talking to Platt?"
There would be hell to pay if caught in this compromising situation, yet they felt paralyzed and strained to hear any other voices. "He's on the phone," said Hailey. Unknown to them, Platt had surrendered the front desk to O'Riley shortly before Voight returned.
"This is my fault. I should have stayed in the truck," said Jay.
Hailey slid off the sink and rested her hands against Jay's bare chest. "Hey, I'm a part of this, too. We'll get ourselves together, play it cool and stroll out of here."
Jay grinned down at her. "No harm, no foul?"
"Absolutely."
"Let's do it. Although, I was really enjoying the view," he said with another glance at her cleavage.
Hailey rolled her eyes. "Stop it."
They crept out of the bathroom and dressed quickly. "Ready?" asked Hailey.
Jay took a deep breath and nodded. "Ready." They stopped in the doorway and listened. Voight was moving around the bullpen, opening and closing file cabinet drawers.
"I've got the information in my hand," he said. "Fine. Twenty minutes."
Jay and Hailey shared a puzzled look. "What's that about?" asked Hailey. Jay shrugged. Then they heard him descending the stairs and the gate closing. "Give him a couple minutes and then we'll go," said Jay.
Two minutes passed slowly. Finally, they ventured down the stairs and out the back door. "That was close," said Jay.
"Too close," agreed Hailey. "See you soon."
"Sure. I want to see that black lace again."
On a side street, Voight sat in his SUV and saw his two detectives drive away separately. Wonder what they were up to?