I frowned and looked down the sights again, swung to the right. “It must have meant something, Balko.”
“I guess I can sense chemistry in the way you three are together.”
“You’re reading too much into teamwork.”
“You’re a fine-looking woman,” he said. “In Slovak we would describe you assilnážena s vášnou vo svojichhlbkach.”
“And what the heck does that mean?” And why was his native tongue so damn sexy? Like it was laced with mystery and danger and the unknown.
“A fine woman with passion in her depths.”
“You do remember who you’re speaking to, right?” I could take a compliment, but Balko was my new team member.
You angry fucked the other one.
“Forgive me,” he said. “It is the way of my people, to speak from the heart and always seek the truth.”
“And they’re great qualities in a cop, but don’t get carried away with your detective work on me.”
“So there is something to detect?”
“Oh, shut the hell up.” I shoved his shoulder.
He raised his head and chuckled. “I like you.”
“And at the moment I don’t like you. I should have partnered with one of the other guys.”
“So go join one of them.”
“No. This is our detail. This is our spot.”
“And it’s getting real hot.”
“Yep, get used to it.”
He went quiet and I felt bad for being snippy with him, because the truth was he’d hit the nail on the head. It just scared me that both he and Sean had picked up on my relationships so quickly.
Does the chief know too?
I had to push that worry aside. Having it spinning web-like around my head would distract me from crowd watching.
After a few minutes our silence became deafening. “So tell me about your home. How old were you when you came to the USA?”
He adjusted his weapon stand a fraction of a centimetre. “Ten, with my parents. My father had an opportunity that meant it was worth moving the whole family here.”
“Sounds interesting. Tell me more.”
I settled in for the duration, happy to listen to Balko’s voice as the sun beat down and I kept an eye on the female protestors.
Chapter Twelve
“Hey, boss, we’re back.”
“Thank the Lord,” I muttered as Ricardo tapped my leg.
“I need to pee,” Balko said, lifting his face from his weapon.
“You go. I’ll take over here.” Ricardo squatted down next to us.