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from her as the material hugged her heart-shaped ass. She was damn adorable in her modesty.
    When the door clicked shut, he turned to Rick, who watched him with an amused grin.
    “What?” he asked, tossing the burger wrappers into the garbage.
    Rick chuckled. “I didn’t say anything.”
    Jake clenched his jaw and tried not to feel like he’d just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
    Rick's voice sobered. “So, what’s the plan?”
    “The plan is to keep her safe. But she’s not cooperating.”
    “How’s that?”
    “She refuses to admit that the hit and run was anything but an accident, and won’t accept my offer of protection. The only reason she allowed me to stay tonight is because I bullied her. I’m taking her home in the morning.” He raked his hands through his hair. “Since she won’t allow me to protect her, we need to schedule a security detail to watch her house.”
    “I’m not sure I can convince Stone that the expense of around-the-clock security is warranted,” Rick said.
    “Dammit, Rick. I’m telling you, it was no accident.”
    “Hey, buddy, I didn’t say I didn’t believe you. I’m just sayin’ you may have to be satisfied with a squad car patrolling the area.”
    “That’s not good enough.” Jake had a bad feeling.
    “Without more proof to warrant the cost, it might be the best I can do.”
    Jake paced the small space. He needed to get home to Nick soon and wouldn’t be able to offer the protection Angela needed by himself. He turned to Rick and pointed a finger at him. “I want a patrol car parked in front of her house, 24/7,” he demanded.
    Rick’s lips thinned and he shook his head.
    “Come on, Rick, work with me here. At least for a few days. Convince Nate that I need some time to gather evidence.”
    “How are you gonna manage that?”
    He threw his hands in the air and shot Rick an angry look. “I don’t know yet, damn it. Has anyone followed up with the area businesses to see if it was caught on a security camera?”
    “No.”
    “Well, that’s where I’ll start.”
    “I can buy you a day, maybe two. If you need more than that, you need to bring me something to warrant the additional expense.” Rick glanced toward the bathroom, his brows drawn into deep furrows. “You know, she doesn’t seem like a criminal.”
    “Yeah, well . . . I’m starting to think I may be wrong about that.” He picked up his Coke and took the last swallow and crushed the can, then tossed it into the trashcan by the bed before turning back to Rick. “Although I’m still convinced she’s hiding something.”
    The bathroom door clicked and Jake got a sinking feeling in his stomach. He glanced over to find Angela glaring at him. Damn. How much had she heard?
    Rick chuckled. “Well, I gotta run, folks.” He stood and made his way to the door, giving Angela a quick two-fingered salute as he left. “It was nice to meet you, Angela.”
    “It was nice to meet you, too, Rick.” She gave him a tight smile. “Thanks for sneaking in the burgers.”
    “Anytime,” Rick replied, opening the door and stepping into the hall.
    Angela shuffled past Jake, her lips pressed tightly together, as the door clicked shut after Rick. When he reached out to help her onto the bed, she slapped his hand away. Without looking at him, she crawled into the bed and turned her back on him.
    Shit. Jake took a seat beside the bed, picked up the remote, and flipped mindlessly through the channels. The fact she was upset with him seriously pissed him off. She was a job and it shouldn’t matter to him one way or the other if she liked him.
    But it did. He swore softly. Sorry she’d overheard him, he strategized about a way to calm her, get their relationship back on more solid footing.
    Their relationship?
    He glowered at the TV. They didn’t have a relationship. She was nothing more than a witness that needed to testify. A beautiful witness for sure, but also a potential criminal.
    He recalled the