Rangers: Silver-Star Seductions: A Two-Book Box Set by Ciana Stone Page A

eighteen-year-old Carmen Miller, had died horribly. Cia couldn’t imagine the physical agony she had suffered, or the overwhelming terror and utter hopelessness she had endured.
    If only they had a lead. At this point, they had nothing and feeling ineffectual was driving her mad. There had to be some clue they’d missed, something they’d overlooked. She and Kade had gone over it for three straight days and they were no further than when they started.
    It was enough to have her needing to lash out. To break something or someone. She knew that wasn’t going to change anything and in the long run wouldn’t ease her anger, but right now that didn’t matter. She needed some kind of diversion.
    Lucky for her, diversion presented itself in a tantalizing package.
    “So, you want me to drop you at the station to get your car, or you want to go grab something to eat and maybe a couple of beers?” Kade looked over the hood of the dark sedan. “I don’t know about you, but I think I could use an hour or two away from the case.”
    “I could eat.”
    “Or drink?”
    She gave him a smile. “I can always drink.”
    His smile was as pretty a temptation as she’d ever seen and she knew in that instant that she’d end the night in bed with him. She didn’t know why she was so certain or how it would come about, but she’d put good money on it.
    And that brought a sense of excitement that helped dampen the dismal mood the afternoon had bestowed on her.
    Kade was one fine-looking man. A couple of inches over six feet, he was lean but obviously fit with an ass and legs that made a woman want to stand up and applaud. His chiseled features, smoke-gray eyes added up to a bad-boy-lethal look that never failed to excite her.
    And he was definitely one intense man. She’d watched him for the last three days, at the crime scene, the morgue, and scouring over the evidence. His attention was like a laser beam, totally focused and taking in every detail.
    What was more interesting, he seemed to pick up on details that ordinarily wouldn’t be noticed. She wondered what gave him such keen and unique insight. If she was smart, she’d focus on those qualities, rather than the enticing way he filled out his pants, or how her legs threatened to turn to mush when he focused that laser-beam gaze on her.
    But libido often overpowered reason, and right now, it had a good ten-second lead. Shrugging away thoughts of what would be wise, she slid into the passenger seat of his car. The bar he took her to was one she’d consider a local hangout. Small and not terribly crowded, it was the kind of place that attracted patrons who’d been coming for some time, a place to grab a beer after work, socialize with friends, or indulge in a friendly game of pool.
    They found a table, ordered drinks, and for the next hour went through the dance of small talk about where they were from, what they were into, what they disliked, and what they loved. Everything but what was uppermost on her mind. Would he be good in bed?
    Finally, after a bowl of good chili and a couple more drinks than she should have had, she decided it was time to up the game.
    “So, you any good?”
    His expression registered a moment of surprise before a slow smile rose on his face. “At what?”
    “Sex.”
    That did it. His eyes actually widened. She allowed herself a smile. “And pool.”
    “Yes, to both. You?”
    “I get by. You wanna play?”
    “Pool?”
    She shrugged. “It’s a start.”
    He stood and gestured toward an empty table. “Ladies first.”
    With a chuckle, she rose and made her way to the table. “Flip to break?” She pulled a quarter from her pocket.
    “Tails.”
    “Tail man, huh?” She grinned and flipped the coin. “Sorry, stud, heads it is. I break.”
    “Have at it.”
    She chalked up a cue and cut a look at him. “So what’re we playing for?”
    “The fun of it? Bragging rights?”
    “Kinda takes the thrill out of winning, don’t you