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“How’d you know?”

“Ahhh, that would be telling,” he teased her

Keira’s eyes narrowed, but playfully “Trace has a big mouth”

Cody held up his hands in mock protest “You didn’t hear it from me”

“You asked him about me?” Keira was curious “When?”

Cody’s playful s”

“Oh” Keira’s heart skipped a beat as she realized what this meant, what it had to ht, a frisson of exciteh her veins He was interested even before that

Cody raised a hand as if to touch her cheek, but stopped himself “I wanted to know about you Who knows you better than your partner?”

“You could have asked me”

Cody shook his head “I doubt it I’ve been trying to ask you for al about yourself You always change the subject” His eyes held hers and wouldn’t let her look away

“Is that what?” she asked, her heartbeat picking up the pace “I knew you—” She stopped herself just in time before she said, I knew you wanted me “I didn’t realize”

He nodded, totally serious now “Before we go any further, we need to talk about the agency’s rule on fraternization”

“You’re not my supervisor,” she said quickly

“I know that But I ae” He hesitated “Up ’til now I’ve told ether is related to the case Maybe I was stretching things a bit, telling myself what I wanted to believe, but”

“You’re nothiainst fraternization—and we’re not breaking it”

He stared down at her, one corner of his rin she loved “Okay,” he said finally “Okay But first I need to tell you sos you’re entitled to know Then” He left the rest hanging, as if he wanted to leave Keira an out, just in case