Borderline by Chase T. A. Page A

figured I’d come out here and try to get some more work done.”
    He didn’t worry about looking weak in front of Mac. The ranger probably had his own nightmares to deal with from past cases.
    “Why didn’t you wake me? I would have been happy to take your mind off your dreams.” Mac ran his hand up Tanner’s calf to his knee and back, massaging as he went.
    Tanner’s eyes closed as he savored the warmth of Mac’s fingers on his body. “Didn’t see the point of both of us losing sleep, even though having sex with you would have been great. I know you’ve been running on less sleep than me, and didn’t want to disturb you. I was going to get you up soon anyway.”
    “Yeah. I’ve got to head home and change before meeting Billingsley and briefing him on what we figured out.” Mac didn’t seem in too big a hurry to leave.
    “He should be happy you have new leads to work on. Oh, by the way, I’ll be coming to look through all the physical evidence you took from the scenes at some point today. I want to make sure I’m not overlooking anything that might help add to his profile.”
    Mac nodded. “Give me a call before you come, and I’ll make sure the boxes are available to you. I think the ME’s going to release Marissa’s body today. I told the Levistons I’d call them when they could have the funeral home come get her.”
    Tanner took Mac’s hand and squeezed. “I know it’s going to be difficult. You know my number, and you can call me anytime to talk or just to bitch about how bad the Texans are playing.”
    Mac’s rough chuckle rippled over Tanner’s body. “I know it, and I’ll probably be calling you to meet me at a bar, so I can get rip-roaring drunk tonight.”
    “Ah, but I know better. You won’t get drunk again until this case is over and the bastard’s been caught. When that happens, we’ll go out and I’ll buy the first round.” He entwined their fingers and let their hands settle on his shin.
    “I like the fact you said when and not if.” Mac closed his eyes and leaned his head back.
    “Do you really think there’s even a remote possibility you won’t find who did this?” Tanner shook his head. “Mac, you won’t rest until the man who killed Marissa is behind bars. I might not have known you for very long, but I think I understand how tenacious you are when it comes to cases. You wouldn’t be where you’re at in the rangers if you didn’t solve a lot of your cases.”
    “And you wouldn’t be where you’re at if you weren’t good at your job,” Mac remarked, opening his eyes to meet Tanner’s gaze. “Between the two of us, we’ll bring the fucker down. He might kill another woman, but it’ll be his last. I’m not letting him hurt another person after that.”
    Tanner brought Mac’s hand to his mouth and pressed a kiss on the man’s knuckles. “I wish there was a way to save this last one, but unless we get a miracle, I don’t see it.”
    “I know, yet with each murder, he risks screwing up. No one’s perfect a hundred percent of the time, and we’ll catch him.”
    “Why did you become a cop in the first place?” Tanner shrugged when Mac looked at him. “I don’t know why, but it’s not the first career choice I’d think of for you.”
    Mac’s smile looked more like a smirk. “What do you think I should be doing?”
    “Don’t know for sure, but my instincts tell me if José hadn’t gotten to you, you’d be on the other side of the law. Probably not a mule, though. You’d be in charge of whatever criminal activity you chose.”
    He burst out laughing as Mac shoved him onto his back and loomed over him. He spread his legs, letting Mac’s hips nestle between them. Reaching up, he smoothed the rumpled hair falling over Mac’s forehead.
    “You’re right; even after José adopted me, I was still rather wild. Then I met a cop who used to come into José’s store. We’d talk, and he convinced me police work was interesting and, at times, could