“Don’t go being like that on such a special day.” Dave’s hands roamed down my back and grabbed onto the back pockets of my new jeans. “Remember, I have a surprise for you.” He kissed me again.

Now I felt bad. “I know. Maybe I just don’t think my ass was ever as tight as hers . . .”

“Your ass is tight. Here, let me feel it,” Dave said, using both hands to give me a hard squeeze.

“Don’t!” I yelped. His squeeze was so sharp it bordered on being a double-handed pinch. I tried to wiggle away.

“Um, excuse me, Dani?” Hearing the voice from the doorway, Dave and I sprang apart like a couple of kids caught playing doctor.

“Oh . . . Hey, Rich,” I stammered out.

Rich Pisani’s huge frame filled the doorway. Rich was one of the technical advisers on Flesh and Bone. A retired LAPD cop, he was retained by the show for whenever we had a question about real police procedure. Rich mostly kept to himself, and the rumor was that he’d resigned from the force after taking a bullet for someone. Being a consultant was a good gig for him, but I knew he also did security for celebrities, as well as some private-eye work on the side.

“What’s up?” I asked.

Dave, unfazed, turned his attention to the bookcases, choosing to ignore Rich.

Rich hesitated in the doorway, eyeing us warily. “You left me a message that you had some questions for me, about something you’re working on.”

“Oh, shit.” I had totally forgotten that Rich and I had made a plan to meet. I did have a couple of things I wanted to go over with him, but it was for a show several weeks away, and it wasn’t Marilyn-related, so it could wait.

“I’m sorry to blow you off like this, Rich, but I was just headed out,” I said, shooting a glance at Dave, who, after removing his hands from my ass was now shaking a snow globe I had on my desk, captivated by the falling flakes. “Um . . . Rich, this is my boyfriend, Dave.”

“Nice to meet you, Dave,” Rich offered.

“Back at you, man,” Dave answered, barely glancing at Rich.

Embarrassed by Dave’s semi-rudeness, I moved behind my desk and began powering down my laptop. “Rich, are you cool if we do this next week?”

He shrugged. “Sure, if that works for you. I just thought there was some urgency because you were working on deadline.”

“I was . . . I mean, I am on a deadline, but I just can’t today . . . okay?”

I don’t know why I felt so awkward. The girls in the office all swooned over Rich. They even had a nickname for him: “Detective McDreamy.” Whatever—I didn’t see it.

“We can reschedule for next week, Dani. It’s no problem.” Rich gave Dave that universal nod that all guys exchange. “Nice meeting you, Dave.”