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lying on the floor. He’d been shaking so hard, he’d scared himself while driving that chick back to her apartment and now, he couldn’t even remember her name.
    Carmen. Beautiful, hot blooded, hot tempered Carmen Redstone. He didn’t realize he had been grinning until she hissed at him.
    “I’m glad you find this so amusing.” She walked to the water cooler and filled one of those dinky little cups.
    “By the way, Genonese, what have you done?”
    He jumped up in a flash and crossed the room to grip her arm. “I could ask you the same question. You’ve run the string out on good behavior. Shot anyone in the ass lately?”
    That drew fire. The slightly drawn lips and narrowed eyes told him she wanted to punch him.
    “Get back in your cage, you bastard.” She drank the water and death gripped the cup.
    “Can’t take it, huh?” He laughed and pried the paper from her clenched fist. “I don’t have any idea why we’re here but I’d suggest we act as a team, not good cop, bad cop.”
    “And we both know which you are.”
    “I was worried about you at the reception, Redstone.” He’d never had to apologize for making a hare-brained mistake with a woman before. Forgetting he’d loosely made a date with that redhead had been the dumbest thing he’d done in years.
    “Your brain’s in your jeans.” She slid by him and out of the corner he’d had her in for a few seconds. “Get this straight, Genonese, I don’t give a damn about your personal life. It has nothing to do with me.”
    “What happened to us being friends?” Don knew that was a stretch, being friends with a wild cat, but something crazy in his blood made him want to be in her favor. “And, Miss Carmen, you’ve been in my jeans more than I have.”
    Her eyes narrowed in silent warning. He couldn’t stop the grin that messed up his angry expression.
    She was beautiful, and he especially liked the way her eyes changed colors to match her mood. Right now, they were jet black. Really pissed off jet.
“Don.”
“Yes, dear.”
    “Shut your mouth.” She glanced over his shoulder. “Chief Drummond is here.”
    He straightened his attitude and turned to look at the burly man in a gray pinstripe suit. Hell, this scene could be straight out of
The Godfather
.
    Chief Drummond waved his fat cigar in their direction and sat at his desk. “This won’t take long.” He dropped the cigar in a crystal ashtray and gestured toward the two chairs near the desk. “Now, you both have applied for the rank of captain some months back.” He cocked an eyebrow at them as they took their seats. “There weren’t any vacancies then.”
    Carmen glanced at him and gave the tiniest shrug he’d ever seen. Don figured she was getting set for another disappointment. What the hell had the Chief hauled them in for? To see the disgust on their faces at his denial of approval?
    “We understand, sir.” She started to stand, but the chief’s wave sat her down again. “We all have to wait our turn. Sir.”
    Damn it. How could she go on being nice to the pompous prick? He probably planned to cut her to shreds.
    “Sir, we appreciate your time in explaining the situation.” Don leaned back in his chair, copping a nonchalant pose. “Is there another reason you made time for us today?”
    The look he got from the busy man fried his nuts. Once again, he’d stepped over the line.
    “Genonese, you have a reputation for having a fast tongue and faster trigger finger.”
    Aw, shit. Don couldn’t argue with that, and now, he was chin deep in crap. “A reputation well deserved, sir. I spoke out of turn. Sorry.”
    Carmen slid an amused glance his way. She obviously enjoyed his being on the carpet. The air weighed a ton while he waited for the hammer to fall. He sucked in a deep breath when the Chief focused on pulling a folder from the desk drawer.
    “Now, if I can get on to more serious matters.” The head man of the department shot a warning look at Don. “Two of our