BAD Beginnings by Shelley Wall

sister.” Oh, God, no. Stop. “Older sister but who can tell, right? And you are?”
    Logan had that dear-in-the-headlights look men get when faced with a situation that was so far removed from their intended agenda it wasn’t even on the same planet. He set the cup down and took her grasp. “Logan. Nice to meet you. Gemma’s told me so much about you.”
    Liar.
    She had never spoken of her family at all, but saying it certainly seemed to charm Gwen. He poured on another of those million dollar smiles that recently sent her bones to Jell-O and swept a hand toward the empty seat by Gemma. “Care to join us?”
    “No!” Gemma’s voice was sharp and both of them jumped. Gwen started to sit but Gemma grabbed her forearm and yanked her to her feet. She shot a glance at Logan. “We’ll be right back, okay?” She rattled off her order in case the waitress came back and dragged Gwen to the bathroom.
    Inside, she whirled. “What the hell are you doing? Can’t you see I’m busy?”
    Gwen wiggled her eyebrows. “Don’t you mean about to get busy? Dang, Gem, since when did you start dating hunks? Please don’t tell me he’s a cop, too? Oh, God, your partner? Is he your new partner?”
    Gemma shook her arm. “Shut. Up. No, he’s not my partner. He’s my suspect. And he hasn’t a clue who I am, so stop. Leave. Don’t blow this. Okay?”
    Gwen’s face turned ashen. Her eyes started to water. “Oh. No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean-- How was I to know?”
    “You weren’t. I wasn’t expecting to see anyone.”
    Her sister tilted a brow. “Then maybe you should have picked a spot that’s not five easy miles from our parent’s house? And mine? You know, it’s no wonder you’re struggling with this case. Sometimes you’re a real moron. I have to hand it to you, that guy looks a hell of a lot better in person. The papers don’t do him justice. He looks all arrogant and uppity in print.” Gwen turned to the mirror, pulled a lip-gloss from her bag, and applied shine to her perfect mouth. Gemma had always been irritated that Gwen had all the feminine perfection in the family. “So, let’s go back out there and rattle his cage, what do you say? Maybe together we could—”
    “We aren’t doing anything. You are leaving.”
    “No way. I want to meet this guy and understand why you think he’s got a sick side. So far, all I see is sheet candy.” She giggled.
    “Gwen!”
    “Besides I’m meeting Doby and his friends here for dinner. They’re probably already out there somewhere. I just walked in.”
    “What? No way! I can’t see them. They’ll—”
    Gwen patted her arm. “Don’t worry. I’ll just fill him in. Hang on a sec.” She drew a phone from her purse made a few taps on the keys and pressed a button. “There, I just texted him that you’re here and on a case…and not to rat you out.”
    Her phone bleeped. She glanced at the screen and giggled.
    “What?” Gwen tried to peer at the display but Gemma yanked it back.
    “He said no problem, he’d be happy to help out.”
    Yeah, right. “That’s not what he said.”
    “Uh, well, he said he’d be happy to give you shit but he won’t blow your case. Come on, let’s get back out there. I want to meet our potential criminal.”
    “We don’t know he’s—”
    “I know. I know. Innocent until proven guilty. I got it. But dang, won’t it be fun trying to investigate that hunk of ass? Mmmm, mmm. Put me alone in an interrogation room with him anytime.”
    “Need I remind you, you’re married?”
    “Hey, just because I’m on a diet doesn’t mean I can’t look at the menu.” Gwen strode back to the table, intent on getting said look. “Speaking of menus, I hope Doby ordered for me, I’m starving.”
    Gemma scanned the room searching for her brother-in-law, who also happened to be a cop. There, in the corner. Why hadn’t she noticed the three uniforms earlier? Shit. She was ruined for sure. Logan had seen them.
    He smiled as the two