Be My Baby Read Free

up and she’d opened her mouth to offer a cool reply when Pfeffer jumped into the breech.
    “Ms. Lowell is down heah to open the Garden Crown, a fine new jewel in the glitterin’ tiara that comprises the Crown Hotels,” he said expansively.
    “And she’s—what?—had the heap burgled already and needs a cop?” Beau’s eyes were insolent as he looked down at her. “In that case, sugar, you’ve come to the best.”
    “Watch your tongue, Dupree. Ms. Lowell has received a threatening letter and I’m assigning you to keep her safe.”
    Breaths were sucked in throughout the room and everyone drew back as if Beau were a ticking bomb primed to go off. Juliet wished she understood what the hell was going on. Clearly there were underlying subtexts here she didn’t understand. Sergeant Dupree’s black eyes glittered with pure fury as his gaze wrenched from her face to the captain’s.
    “Guard dog duty?” he said through clenched teeth.
    “Her fawtha was quite insistent, and he is Thomas Lowell, after all. Here’s a copy of the letter.” Pfeffer thrust it into Beau’s hands. “I’m sure you’ll want to study it. And of course you’ll be gratified to know you’ll also be Ms. Lowell’s escort for all the hotel’s pre-opening functions,” he added with gusto.
    “Oh, shit,” someone murmured.
    Beau scanned the letter. When his dark-eyed gaze raised, it locked on her face. “Daddy must have some connections,” he said with soft-voiced contempt. “’Cause this”—the white paper in one hand smacked against the long, brown fingers of his other—“is pure bullshit, but it looks as if he just bought his baby girl a brand-new boy anyway.”
    If his initial charm had made her heart pound,having all that fury transferred to her added an almost frantic throb to its erratic rhythm. Somehow this man managed to wreak havoc with her usually unshakable composure, leaving her feeling entirely unstrung.
    Always remember who you are . Her grandmother’s arrogant exhortation offered unexpected comfort, and she needed every ounce of ammunition at her disposal.
    She gave him a cool smile.
    He narrowed his eyes at her and said insolently, “You don’t talk much, do you, angel-face? I like that in a woman.”
    Gardner rolled his eyes and Captain Pfeffer snapped, “That’s quite enough, Sergeant. You will mind your mannahs and address her as Ms. Lowell.”
    Beau’s hard gaze left her face and zeroed in on the captain’s. His voice lost its honeyed drawl as he lashed out, “Or you’ll do what, Acting Captain Pfeffer? Remove me from her case and put me on somethin’ a little less…important—like the Panty Snatcher case?”
    “ Forget that piddly-ass case!” Captain Pfeffer’s polished facade cracked as he thrust his jaw pugnaciously near Beau’s. “I’ve given you your assignment, and you’ll do what you’re damn well told, or I’ll strip you of your gold shield.” It was an idea he clearly relished.
    “Oh, please—” Juliet protested in distress, but Beau cut her off.
    “Come on, Miz Lowell.” His hand wrappedaround her wrist and he headed for the door, pulling her in his wake.
    “Dupree!” Pfeffer’s voice behind them was a peremptory warning to halt, but Beau never slackened his pace.
    Stumbling along behind him, Juliet cast a brief look over her shoulder at the captain and Sergeant Gardner and gave them a helpless shrug. Then they were lost to sight as the warm hand that held her captive yanked her out the door.

2
    G oddam, sonofabitchin’ bureaucrat! Beau punched the accelerator to the floor as his car sped toward the Garden District. This never would have happened if Captain Taylor were around. But then Taylor was a real cop, not a half-baked, arrogant, self-important politician like the Pissant. The thought made Beau snort. Forget that piddly ass case, my butt .
    Okay, so he, like everyone else at the station, had considered the Panty Snatcher a bit of a joke at first. Cops dealt with