Now the wheels are turning in my mind, too. I have to admit, this is a really good plan.
“And Jonah’s okay with this?” I ask.
Logan’s expression turns sheepish. “He will be.”
“He doesn’t know yet?” My lips part with surprise.
“We figured we should clear this plan with you before bringing anyone else in,” Sgt. Jones says.
I sigh softly. “No, you’re right. I appreciate that.” I laugh. “I’ve done some crazy undercover shit, but I’ve gotta say, I never thought I’d be posing as the girlfriend of a pro hockey player. And a beauty writer at that. I hardly even wear makeup.”
“I’ve got you covered there, too,” Logan says. “You’ll be moving in with the son of one of our deputy chiefs, Kai St. James. Kai is a huge Instagram beauty influencer. He’s going to help you with all the beauty blogging stuff. He won’t know the details, but he does know you’re working undercover.”
I briefly consider all the aspects of this undercover role before asking, “And you’re sure your brother will go for this?”
“I mean, when he sees you…yeah.” Logan grins and shrugs.
“I’m not sleeping with him,” I say firmly.
“Hell no, I’d never ask you to do something like that. Jonah’s a good guy; I’d trust him with my life. He’ll do it when I explain the importance of this investigation to him. I was joking about him doing it just because of your looks and I’m sorry.”
“I don’t care, I’m used to it. I just need to know that he won’t talk to anyone. My life will be in danger if he does.”
“Don’t worry about that. When I tell Jonah about Shields, he’ll help in any way he can. I know him—he will.”
“And he won’t mind pretending to be my boyfriend?”
Logan shakes his head. “Jonah’s been… pretty committed to being single since his wife passed away three years ago. But that doesn’t stop women from trying. This will give him a way to avoid all that.”
“Okay,” I say. “I trust your judgment.”
Logan clears his throat. “I do need to ask you, though…I mean, part of this cover will be you and Jonah being openly affectionate with each other. Is that okay with you?”
I scoff. “I worked undercover as a stripper for three months once and had to give lap dances to some nasty-ass men. But we saved a number of girls in the end and every last second of stripping was worth it. I can handle your brother grabbing my ass and kissing me.”
Logan looks relieved. “I was told you’re the best there is at this.”
“It’s my life,” I admit. “And failure isn’t an option in this line of work.”
“You and I are gonna get along great,” Logan says, grinning.
“Thanks for all the research you’ve compiled for this case. I know all the stuff you’ve done so far isn’t the exciting part, but it’s essential.”
“I appreciate that,” he says.
“Logan’s the best detective we’ve got,” Sgt. Jones says. “And anything the two of you need for this case, it’s yours.”
“All we need now is to brief Jonah when he gets here and then I’ll send you to meet Kai,” Logan says. “I’ve had his place swept for bugs and I had a little soundproof area installed so the two of you have a place to talk about anything off script.”
I nod and smile. “Okay, then. Let’s take this fucker down.”
Chapter Four
Jonah
“Are you fucking serious?” I look at my brother, incredulous.
“I fucking am.”
“You want me to pretend to be in a relationship with a federal agent? Introduce her to all my teammates and Durand?”
“Yeah, that’s the how, but keep in mind the why, man—to put away a sex trafficker of children.”
I shift in my seat, across from my brother’s desk in his office. “Yeah, I get it, but…I’m a hockey player, man. I don’t know shit about undercover police work.”
“You won’t be working undercover. Reyna will. All you have to do is pretend to be dating her. And did I mention she’s ridiculously hot?”
“You did.” I glare at him. “You think that’s what I’m thinking about right now, whether or not she’s hot?”
He shrugs. “It doesn’t hurt that she is.”
I exhale hard. “Dude, I’m already under a ton of pressure. It’s early in the season and we’re grinding for every win. And I travel all the time.”
“You won’t actually have a girlfriend. You don’t need to call from the road or send her flowers.”
“Yeah, but—”
My brother cuts me off. “You need to at least meet her. She’s not gonna catch feelings, trust me. She specifically said she’s not sleeping with you.”
I throw my hands up. “I can’t believe you fucking pitched this to her without me even knowing.”
“That’s how law enforcement works.”
“How long would it be for?”
Logan shrugs. “However long it takes. If I had to guess, a few months.”
“Christ.” I let out a long sigh and look up at the ceiling.
“Come on, man. It’s not like it’s gonna keep you from dating anyone else; you don’t even want to.”
“Yeah, and everyone knows that. Will they really buy this phony relationship?”
“Yes.”
I roll my eyes. “And how the fuck would you know that?”
“When you see her, you’ll get it.”
“I can’t believe this. You’re an asshole, you know that?”
He grins. “Catching bad guys is more intense than passing a puck back and forth on a sheet of ice. The pay is shit, too.”
“I just don’t—”
“Look.” Logan’s expression turns serious and he leans forward, elbows on his desk. “I’m not really asking. I need you to do this. The whole plan I’ve been working on for a month hinges on it.”
“Kit’s single and I know he’d do it.”
“It has to be you. You’re the only one I know and trust.”
“Fuck.” I scowl at him. “You’re gonna owe me for the rest of your life.”
He stands. “Let’s go. I’ll introduce you to Rey.”
“What, right now? She’s here?”
“Yep. Hope you’re wearing deodorant. You’re about to meet your fake girlfriend.”
My heart pounds the way it does a split second before an opponent takes a shot. When I see it coming, but it hasn’t happened yet.
“Do you know if she has any interest in me doing this?” I ask, standing.
Logan scoffs and says, “It’s not about interest for her. She’s a professional. She could pretend to be into a troll if she needed to for a case.”
“That’s reassuring,” I mutter.
My brother leads the way down a hallway, around a corner and then down another hallway. He stops in front of a door, glances at me and then opens it.