They were the toughest MPs she’d ever known. They took no crap but were fair. And she had become one of the most feared dog handlers because she had “Baby.” No one messed with Baby. No one came near Baby. No one looked Baby in the eye. No one but her. Dez had earned their respect by expertly taking care of four drunken sailors her third night on duty. Not hard when Baby had one of their throats in her maw.

The four of them served together for over a year until reassignment to different bases. Dez stayed in the Marines for only another two years after that. Then she came back to the city of her birth and became what she always wanted to be. A New York City cop. Five years ago, she walked into one of her favorite Irish bars and right into the middle of a bar fight. She and her partner at the time broke up the fight even though they were both off duty. When the proverbial smoke cleared she came face to face with her past.

Kind of like the day before when she saw Mace again. Only she just wanted to have a beer with the guys and catch up with old times. With Mace, she didn’t want to do anything but sit on his face.

“You look awfully nice today.”

Of all the people she would expect to notice the cleavage she decided to show in anticipation of her dinner later that night with Mace, Sal was the last of them. It always seemed like he didn’t pay attention to much, like he existed in his own world. Yet, every few months or so, he surprised her by revealing that nothing really got past him.

“You’re right,” Vinny agreed. “She has on her good black jeans and her low-cut slut top.” She glared at Vinny and took her feet off his lap.

“Showing some healthy tit action,” Jimmy unnecessarily added.

“I am not!”

The three men laughed while Dez’s face turned red.

“So what’s the deal, MacDermot? I know you didn’t dress up like this for us. You hate this season, so you’re not feeling merry. And you’re off duty since your unfortunate run-in with the rich and the powerful.”

Dez waited until the waiter left her coffee and pastry and walked away. “Well…I have a date tonight.”

The way they gaped at her was what she found so insulting. “I’m not lying.”

“No. But are you delusional?”

“Blow me!”

“Whoa!” All three men reared back, and she inwardly groaned at the return of the foul-mouthed Bronx girl she had been. Damn Mace!

Vinny held his hands up, palms out. “Calm down, woman. You know we’re kidding.”

“No, you’re not. And you’re paying for my éclair.”

Jimmy stared at her and Dez knew why he didn’t spend a lot of time alone. She did really have the most gorgeous male friends. Although they were a little…different. Sal lived in his own world. Vinny brought beingan egotistical prick to a brand-new high or low depending on your perspective. And Jimmy always seemed angry. She never saw him smile with anyone but the three of them. He probably came out of his mother’s womb with that scowl permanently plastered to his gorgeous face. Sometimes she wondered if smiling might actually be painful for him.

“So who is he?”

“He’s actually an old friend of mine. Just got back into town.” She sipped her coffee, then said while staring into the coffee mug, “He’s Navy.”

Dez ducked the balled-up napkins thrown at her.

“Have you no shame?” Jimmy sighed.

“Oh, shut up.”

The men took chunks of her éclair. “So who is this Navy guy?”

Dez swallowed at Jimmy’s question. “Uh…Mason Llewellyn.”

The silence that followed…kind of painful. Finally, Dez couldn’t take it anymore. “What?”

Vinny barely smothered a laugh. “You expect us to believe you’re dating a Llewellyn?”

“I’m not dating a Llewellyn. We went to school together. I told you about him.”

“You went to school with a Llewellyn?”

“Well,” Jimmy cut in, “I went to school with a Rockefeller. Of the Brooklyn Rockefellers.”

Dez gazed down at her empty plate. They’d completely demolished her éclair. She inwardly sighed. Of course they didn’t believe her. Why would anyone think Dez MacDermot would know, much less date, a Llewellyn? Especially one as tasty as Mace?

“She did tell us about him. They went to the Cathedral School together. He was her first big crush. A cute little guy who couldn’t control his hair.” The three of them gaped at Sal. “What?”

Dez pushed the empty plate away. “I’m always surprised when I realize you were actually listening to me.”

“I listen. I just don’t say anything unless necessary.” He shrugged. “It felt necessary.”

Jimmy leaned back, and Dez winced as the chair creaked loudly. All that muscle on one man often seemed kind of inhuman. Not a lot of chairs held him easily. “I’m not sure I’m comfortable with you going out with a Llewellyn.”

Startled, Dez looked at her friend. He’s not comfortable?

“I agree with you, Jim. I’m not sure you should go through with this.” Now Dez turned her eyes on Vinny.

“Have you both lost your minds?”

“I mean, who is this guy?”

“And when exactly was the last time you saw him?”

“You know, I’d expect this crap from Bukowski, but not from you guys.”

“Bukowski’s uncomfortable with this too, huh?”