Coop wanted to say something more. He wanted to believe she meant it about kissing him, but it didn’t change the fact that she was still his boss. And she’d torn his heart out once. That was a sucker’s combo, and he was tired of being a sucker.

“Look, I’m not trying to bolt or anything. It’s just that from what I’ve seen so far, getting through any of those doors is impossible. Maybe there’s a way in, but it’s going to take some time to find. How long will Salzman give me?”

“A few days. A week maybe.”

“That might not be long enough.”

“You’re forgetting something. You work for the DOPS now. Back at headquarters, they’ll probably have all kinds of information about this place. And I’ll be there to help you. You don’t have to do this alone.”

Coop was silent for a minute. “I don’t know.”

“Just don’t make your mind up now. Give it a couple of days and see what the big brains come up with.”

Cop shook his head wearily. He was already sick of the spy world. “Fine. But if I say no . . .”

“No one wants you committing suicide.”

He gave her a look.

“Well, maybe Salzman, but he wants everybody dead.”

“That’s a comfort.”

“For now, let’s just play things by ear. Okay?”

“Okay. For now,” he said. “I want a drink. Do you want a drink?”

“Yes, but I have to get up early and write a report about what happened tonight.”

“You going to rat me out about the Vin Mariani?”

Giselle made an are-you-kidding-me face. “No way. It would be both of our asses.”

“Speaking of which, let’s get back to that thing you said earlier about kissing me.”

“Kissing you? That’s the first I’m hearing of it. You must be fantasizing about your vampire chippie back in Jinx Town.”

“You’re just mad because she called you my mom.”

“Why would that make me mad? You need a babysitter or you’d never find your head up your ass.”

“So, what you’re saying is that us getting into the backseat is out of the question.”

“In this life and the next.”

“Too bad. I have some new moves you would have loved.”

Giselle started the car. “You did a lot of making out in prison, did you?”

“No. Yoga. It makes you limber. You’d be amazed at what I can put behind what these days.”

Giselle looked at him and pulled back onto the road. “You never took a yoga class in your life.”

Coop looked out the window at the mansion. “I guess now you’ll never know.”

“Liar.”

“Now who’s Mr. Chicken?”

“That’s Ms. Chicken to you. Don’t forget I’m still your boss. You’ll do what I say.”