Dangerous Attachments (Dr. Sylvia Strange Book 1) by Sarah Lovett Page A

sounds grew closer by the second.
    The overhead street lamp was out; Watson's feet crunched broken glass. In the dark it was hard to see the colors of the vehicles. The blue Capri was parked second to last. Lucas found the key under the front bumper. He unlocked the door and slid behind the driver's seat. The map was on the seat next to him. Clothes, fast food, and a bottle of whiskey had been stashed on the floor. He was ravenous. He clamped a Big Mac between his teeth, turned the key, and felt the rumble of the engine in his bones.

CHAPTER SEVEN
    R OSIE SPUN OUT, struck a pose, and then whirled back into Ray's arms. She had her shoes off, the heels too high for dancing, and her stockinged feet moved easily to the funky beat of Los Lobos. Ray, though short and round, was the perfect dancer; he always made his partner look good. For most of their married life, Rosie had been Ray's principal dance partner but he'd been known to kick up his heels with various cousins, nieces, and even Abuelita Sánchez. Ray let out a whoop as he dipped Rosie back and planted a kiss square on her mouth. Laughing, Rosie led her husband off Rodeo Nites' dance floor and back to the small table where Sylvia was sitting.
    "I'm getting old," Rosie said. Sylvia shook her head and pointed to her ear. Rosie tried again, forcing her voice over the loud bass beat of the music, "I'm getting too old to stay up past midnight."
    "In that case, I'm dancing with Sylvia," Ray said.
    Sylvia protested as he pulled her from the chair.
    Rosie waved. "Just let him lead!" She watched her husband gliding Sylvia across the floor. Her friend was at least five inches taller than Ray, but the two still made a cute pair. Rosie was glad to see Sylvia laughing, having fun.
    She eased her feet into magenta heels and glanced toward the bar. Through the smoke and press of bodies—for a Thursday, it was packed—she glimpsed a familiar face. She lost him in the crowd. When he reappeared following a majestic blond female, Rosie recognized the twice-broken nose and dark head of Matt England. It was easy to spot him for a cop. The authority of his presence couldn't be left at home with the uniform.
    The woman tugged him toward the bar.
    "Yo, Matt!" Rosie tried to catch his attention. He and the blonde were speaking—arguing?—and then Matt turned away and left her at the bar.
    Rosie saw him exit Rodeo Nites. She pushed her way past urban cowboys and followed her friend out the door. The cold assaulted her skin and cleared her head.
    "Hey, England," Rosie called.
    He was hunkered against the stucco wall, both hands stuffed into pockets. "Rosie?" He returned her grin with an embarrassed smile that melted away fifteen years. She almost expected to hear a
gee whiz
.
    Instead, Matt spit out his chewing gum and said, "What are you doing here?"
    "Dancing with Ray. What's your excuse?" Rosie arched an eyebrow toward the bar's entrance. Two men were entering just as Matt's date appeared; they both turned to appraise her butt.
    "Angelique," Matt said. It came out more like an apology than an introduction. "Angelique Harvey, this is Rosie Sánchez."
    As Rosie extended her hand to meet Angelique's limp handshake, she got a whiff of smoke laced with expensive perfume. Neither woman spoke. With ample opportunity to survey Ms. Harvey's lithe body in skintight jeans, off-the-shoulder bandeau, and leather jacket, Rosie placed herself a mental bet—the clothes, the muscles, and the mane were all the result of a very recent divorce. The blonde gave Rosie a cool once-over.
    To fill the silence, Matt spoke loudly. "Angelique's brother works at the lab with Gausser."
    "Really?" No doubt Hansi Gausser, who ran the state crime lab, had fixed Matt up with Angelique. Gausser was terrific at his job, but completely inept at anything else, especially matchmaking. Pull in your claws, she told herself.
    Rosie took Matt by the arm and navigated him to the edge of the walkway. "Did you look at the file I sent