Page 49 of Love at First Rep

He was speechless. Absolutely speechless.

Shaking off his shock, he walked over to the conference room and made himself at home at one of the tables. The room was large and housed a dozen tables and chairs facing a podium and a big screen at the front of the room. Windows went along one entire wall so he could see the whole bullpen from where he sat, and Garrett could see him. Rafe took out his fake glasses, a notepad and the list Garrett provided of everyone in the department.

Usually, people met their partner’s coworkers at a barbecue or holiday party. One-on-one interviews as part of an undercover investigation were not the norm, but Rafe would enjoy it nonetheless.

Referring to his list, he picked out the first name and walked to the conference room door. Addressing the entire room, he called out, “Detective Casey Campisi, you’re up first.”

A man with wavy light brown hair jumped up from his desk next to Garrett’s, buttoning his suit jacket on his way across the room. He extended a hand when he reached Rafe, offering a friendly smile despite the bags under his eyes. According to Garrett, Campisi was a stand-up guy with a one-year-old at home, so Rafe would do his best not to stress him out too much.

“Come on in, Detective Campisi. This won’t take too long.”

“Sure, whatever you need.”

Both of them settled at the table, and Rafe began his questioning. Maybe Campisi was clean, but he might have an idea of other things going on at the department that neither Rafe nor Garrett were privy to.

“Detective Campisi, have you ever engaged in inappropriate or illegal activity during your tenure in the Cherrywood Police Department?”

“No, sir.”

“Have you ever witnessed your coworkers engaging in inappropriate or illegal activity?”

Campisi’s eyes wandered in thought, like he truly pondered the question. “Not that I know of, sir.”

“How would you characterize Captain Graham McHugh as a superior in your department?”

Campisi squirmed slightly on his chair. When he answered, Rafe could tell Campisi chose his words carefully. “Captain McHugh is a satisfactory captain and he completes the duties of his position.”

Rafe kept a straight face. McHugh had certainly left quite the impression on his employees.

Most of Rafe’s interviews went similarly. No one admitted or alluded to any illegal or inappropriate activity by any of their coworkers, except for the occasional use of their computers to play games for a brain break. Rafe wouldn’t fault anyone for that, though.

Since it couldn’t appear like he had any relationship with Garrett, Rafe had to pull him in for an interview too. He wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity to play with him a little.

As Garrett sat across from him, his face expressionless as he played his own role, Rafe couldn’t help but ogle him. Garrett left his suit jacket at his desk and wore a boring blue tie and simple button-down, the sleeves rolled up to reveal his chiseled forearms and a dusting of blond hair. Rafe was mesmerized.

Fuck, why is that so hot?

Unfortunately, it was time to focus. He couldn’t spend the whole conversation checking Garrett out.

“Detective Pearson, have you engaged in any inappropriate activity at work?”

“No, sir, I have not.”

“Would you like to?”

Garrett’s lip curved slightly at one corner.

“Officer Perez, are you condoning engaging in inappropriate activity?”

Rafe kept his eyes focused on Garrett’s, his mind racing with every inappropriate act he wanted to do to Garrett, wanted him to do to Rafe, wanted them to do together. If he had his way, Rafe would swipe away everything off the table between them and take Garrett right on the surface for everyone to see through the conference room windows.

“Of course not, Detective,” Rafe said. “That would be a conflict of interest as it pertains to this investigation. I’d never do something like throw you on this table and take you apart, rip your clothes off and spend the rest of this interview running my mouth over every inch of your body before inhaling your cock and making you mine. That would be highly inappropriate.”

Garrett’s face remained impassive, but a slight flush appeared on his cheeks.

“I agree,” Garrett said, his voice suddenly raspy.

“Great. One last question, Detective. And this entire investigation hangs on your answer, so please be honest.”