Officer Lou Hernandez is surprised when he's asked to help Gideon Monahan catch an art forger. He's not too happy, however, when he meets the man he'll be working with. Lou thinks Rory Kinley is a supercilious pain in the ass. Rory, on the other hand, sees no reason why Lou has been brought into this. After all, he's just a cop, albeit one who is good at going undercover.<br><br>The art forger they're after -- Nate Hanks -- cons collectors, saying he has an undiscovered painting by a famous artist. He's killed one of his marks already to keep from being caught.<br><br>Lou and Rory will have to set aside their differences as they set up a sting to stop Hanks. When they do, they discover they may not be as incompatible as they thought. The question becomes, will their growing feelings survive what's to come -- or be destroyed in the process?

It Takes a Forger

The night finally ended, much to Lou and Rory’s relief. As they tallied up the receipts for the sales and entered them in the ledger, Clay came into the office. “You two look beat. Welcome to the wonderful world of a gallery openings. Be glad it’s the only one you’ll probably be doing—if Hanks takes the bait, one way or another.”


Lou shot a glance at Rory and smiled, causing Quint—who had finally put in an appearance—to say, “You’re not planning on adding other artists soon and doing this again, are you?”


“I suppose we could,” Lou replied quickly, not wanting anyone to know what he and Rory might be planning. “That is, if Hanks doesn’t respond to what went on tonight. Since he didn’t show up—”


“That we’re aware of,” Clay put in. “There were times when the rooms were packed with attendees. He could have slipped in and out with no one the wiser.”


Chapter 23