“I said I didn’t want to be a cop. My choice. There’s a difference.” He gritted his teeth. Stay calm, he told himself. Losing his temper would only make matters worse. Even with TEMPERATURE’S RISING 79 her training, she wasn’t experienced enough for a stakeout. He knew she’d only been a street cop, but from what Mike had told him, she’d been given the easiest assign-ments. What had he said about her? That she was as delicate as a rose petal. Looking at her, Conor knew Mike was telling the truth. Jessica was the picture of purity—even if her kisses told another story. A twinge of guilt rippled down his spine. He felt like the great corrupter. Right now, she had to see he was right and the best possible solution, the only solution, was that she let him do his job. He took a deep, relaxing breath and continued. “How can I protect you and catch the bad guys?” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “Excuse me? When I need a man to protect me, that’ll be the day I run out and buy a Betty Crocker cookbook and tie on an apron.”
