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paused at the door. “Don’t your feet hurt?”
    “Nah. I got arches of steel. And most guys tip better if you walk around on skinny heels.” She bent to run a hand up her leg. “I believe in using what works.”
    “Yeah. Well, good night.”
    Ally stepped out of the lounge, shutting the door behind her, and bumped solidly into Jonah.
    “Where’d you park?” he asked her.
    “I didn’t. I walked.” Ran, she remembered, but it came to the same thing.
    “I’ll drive you home.”
    “I can walk. It’s not far.”
    “It’s two in the morning. A block is too far.”
    “For heaven’s sake, Blackhawk, I’m a cop.”
    “So naturally, bullets bounce off you.”
    Before she could argue, he caught her chin in his hand. The gesture, the firm grip of his fingers, shocked her to silence. “You’re not a cop at the moment,” he murmured. “You’re a female employee and the daughter of a friend. I’ll drive you home.”
    “Fine. Dandy. My feet hurt anyway.”
    She started to shove his hand away, but he beat her to it and shifted his grip to her arm.
    “Night, boss.” Beth called out, grinning at them as they passed. “Get that girl off her feet.”
    “That’s my plan. Later, Will. Night, Frannie.”
    Suspicion was buzzing in Ally’s brain as Will lifted his brandy snifter and Frannie watched her with quiet and serious eyes.
    “What was that?” Ally demanded when they stepped out in the cool air. “What exactly was that?”
    “That was me saying good night to friends and employees. I’m parked across the street.”
    “Excuse me, my feet have gone numb, not my brain. You gave those people the very distinct impression that we have a thing here.”
    “That’s right. I didn’t consider it, either, until Beth made some remark earlier. It simplifies things.”
    She stopped beside a sleek black Jaguar. “Just how do you figure that having people think there’s a personal thing between us simplifies anything?”
    “And you call yourself a detective.” He unlocked the passenger door, opened it. “You’re a beautiful blonde with legs up to your ears. I hire you, out of the blue, when you have basically no experience. The first assumption from people who know me is I’m attracted to you. The second would be you’re attracted to me. Add all those together and you end up with romance. Or at least sex. Are you going to get in?”
    “You haven’t explained how those deductions equal simple.”
    “If people think we’re involved, they won’t think twice if I give you a little leeway, if you come up to my office. They’ll be friendlier.”
    Ally said nothing while she let it run through her head. Then she nodded. “All right. There’s an advantage to it.”
    Going with impulse, he shifted, boxed her in between his body and the car door. There was a light breeze, just enough to stir her scent. There was a three-quarter moon, bright enough to sprinkle silver into her eyes. The moment, he decided, seemed to call for it.
    “Could be more than one advantage to it.”
    The thrill that sprinted straight up her spine irritated her. “Oh, you’re going to want to step back, Blackhawk.”
    “Beth’s at the window of the bar, and she’s got a romantic heart despite everything that’s happened to her. She’s hoping for a moment here. A long, slow kiss, the kind that slides over melting sighs and heats the blood.”
    His hands came to her hips as he spoke, rode up to just under her breasts. Her mouth went dry and the ache in her belly was a wide stretch of longing.
    “You’re going to have to disappoint her.”
    Jonah skimmed his gaze down to her mouth. “She’s not the only one.” But he released her, stepped back. “Don’t worry, Detective. I never hit on cops, or daughters of friends.”
    “Then I guess I’ve got a double shield against your wild and irresistible charms.”
    “Good thing for both of us, because I sure as hell like the look of you. You getting in?”
    “Yeah, I’m getting