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amplified the pressure that Alexis felt. If Beck was digging deep down into his emotional well to tell her that, he must think that this assignment was important. Really important.
    Alexis had to clear her throat. “Thank you.”
    She struggled with what to say next. How to respond and let him know how much she appreciated his guidance. But as quickly as he had gone into godfather mode, he switched back to cranky lieutenant mode.
    He heaved a stack of thick files toward her. “All right. Read up on our Mr. Dekker. You’re going in for recon only. Understand?”
    “Yes, sir.” Alexis stared at the files in her lap. How much information could there be on a washed-up MMA fighter?
    “We just want names and places,” Beck reinforced. “No confrontations, no playing hero. Just plain ol’ simple information gathering.”
    Alexis gulped as she nodded. Information gathering. She could do that.
    “Have I made myself clear, Detective?”
    “Yes, sir,” Alexis said, rising from her chair. She tried to sound a hell of a lot more confident than she felt.
    “Good.” Beck braced his palms on the desk, pushing himself to his feet. “I want you at Dekker’s studio at 7:00 p.m. sharp. You’ll go in as a prospective student. I’m sure you’ll have no problem talking your way into private lessons.”
    “I’ll try my best, sir.”
    Just like that, he escorted her out of his office. There was barely enough time to let a flicker of a smile rise to her lips, when she spotted Grace. The older detective was slamming drawers and mumbling under her breath about a lost pen. Anger management, much?
    Alexis took the long way around to her desk as Nick caught up. He didn’t say anything for five steps. A record. “I’m sure you have something to add?”
    Nick frowned. “Mixed martial arts, huh? Zumba doesn’t count, Alexis.”
    She turned on him. Granted, he had been the nicest and most supportive of all the detectives—hence, the pity dates. But Nick could still go too far.
    “Zumba? Really, that’s all you’ve got? Like you’ve ever taken a roundhouse to the chin.”
    Nick’s eyes flashed with anger. “That’s not the point.”
    “Yeah, it kind of is.” Okay, after her talk with Beck it wasn’t, but Nick didn’t need to know that. “And as a matter of fact, I do have significant MMA experience.”
    Okay, maybe dating a guy in college who never went pro wasn’t significant, but at least she knew the terminology and wouldn’t embarrass herself by leading with the wrong leg.
    Nick sighed. “There’s nothing I could say to change your mind?”
    Alexis just shook her head.
    “Then how about I try to say it over a beer and my world-renowned organic onion rings?”
    Nick tried, he really tried, but Alexis needed a guy who maybe didn’t have to try so hard.
    “Look, Nick …”
    Ugh. Nick got that look on his face. The one that puppies get after having a bone taken away. The look that said, “I guess everyone was right. Nice guys do finish last.” It was the look that had gotten her to go out with him in the first place.
    “I can’t,” she said, and Nick’s face fell a little further. “Beck wants me at Dekker’s gym tonight.”
    “Tonight?” Nick said, suddenly not crestfallen at all. “So soon. Are you ready for it?”
    Actually Alexis wasn’t at all sure, but she definitely wasn’t going to admit that to Nick. Not with Grace hovering around, and not-so-subtly eavesdropping.
    She just gave him that look. That way she didn’t have to lie.
    “All right, all right,” Nick said, hands in pretend defeat. “I won’t ask any more questions as long as we have dinner tomorrow night.” Nick hurried on. “Did I mention that the oil I use to deep-fry the rings has zero trans fat?”
    Right. Like her cholesterol level was the biggest hesitation to saying yes to the ominous third date.
    “Let me get back to you tomorrow morning.”
    Nick’s lips didn’t quite fall into a frown, but neither did they smile. He