BountyHunterpart8

Maria DeLuca stepped into the store front office not really by choice, but by urgency. Biting the bullet and asking for help was not something she was used to doing, ever. Doing it this time was only a matter of principle. She knew with easy comfort she could do it alone, she had tracked down more hardened criminals than Liz Parker; but alone would take more time. And Liz had made it personal.

She took a step towards Michael Guerin and wondered how it could be so damn hot inside the office; then she realized it was just her. She took of her sunglasses and looked at the offending man and a stunningly beautiful woman who came to stand next to him.

Great, a girlfriend.

She shook her head and licked her lips taking in the comfort factor of the two strangers in front of her and her own stupidity.

"Hi." Maria stepped a little closer to them. "Nice desk," she ran her hand along the length of teakwood.
"Thank you." Isabel beamed and casually kicked Michael in the shin.

"Maria DeLuca," Michael said her name slowly and waited for her to look at him before extending his arm towards Isabel. "This is Isabel Evans, my partner. Isabel, the infamous Maria DeLuca."

Isabel extended her hand to the smaller blond woman in front of her. "Nice to meet you," she smiled brilliantly clasping Maria's hand. "You have an impressive record."

Maria blushed and wondered when she had gotten so shy and if it had anything to do with the man in front of her who seemed to be drinking her in. Maybe Isabel wasn't his girlfriend. "Thank you."

"Yeah Iz," Michael nodded. "But remember, Maria and I? We're not friends, we're not partners and we're not a cop-buddy movie. We will not go out for a drink and talk about work." Michael smiled tight-lipped at Maria and nodded once. "Right?"

"Right," Maria said the word slowly and wondered how in the hell she could have gotten herself into such a mess.

"So, did you find her already? Liz, I mean." Michael crossed his arms over his chest and wondered why he was being such an ass. It was part of his nature to act that way, but he had the feeling it was going to run a little higher with Maria DeLuca.

"Michael." Isabel warned him with her tone. "You'll have to excuse my partner, he's the captain of the jackass committee."

"And I'm looking for a co-captain," Michael shot back at her. "Interested?"

Maria smiled in spite of herself and almost laughed. They were comical, if nothing else, she gained a moment of humor from coming here. A moment of humor before a mountain of humility.

Isabel rolled her eyes. "So, what can we do for you?"

Maria took a deep breath and sat down in front of the desk. She watched as Isabel sat across from her and then felt the heat radiating off Michael as he sat next to her. "Well, earlier today I may have come across a little�"

"Bitchy?" Michael supplied and then yelped when Isabel's boot made contact with his shin for a second time.

Maria turned her head and faced him. "Something like that."

Michael smiled and looked across the desk to his partner and nodded. "See, I was right."

"And now this is the part where you tell me that you came across like a..." She looked at Isabel for help, already sensing a bond with the woman.

"Jackass," Isabel grinned.

"Right, a jackass." Maria laughed.

"This is bullshit," Michael shook his head. "I will not sit here and have you two tag team me. Forget it."

"Okay, I'm sorry." Maria suppressed a grin. "Let's start over. Hi, I'm Maria DeLuca."

"Not playing," Michael turned his head.

"Michael." Isabel warned him again.

"This is stupid, why are you here?"

Maria took another deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I might need some help."

"From me?" Michael asked feigning mock surprise. "Maybe after my birthday, remember, maybe I'll get some skill wrapped up in a pretty box with a giant loopy bow on it."

Maria hated it when her words were thrown back at her, even if she deserved it. She stood and extended her hand to Isabel, who shook it firmly. "Okay, sorry to bother you and I'll be on my way."

"Maria, wait." Isabel stood and glared down at her partner.

"No," Maria held her hands up. "It's okay. I see where I made mistake already." She glanced at Michael and raised her eyebrows before walking to and then out the front door.

"I can't believe you were so rude," Isabel sat back in her chair in a huff. "Seriously. What is your problem?"

Michael wasn't looking at Isabel, he was watching Maria DeLuca as she got into her jeep and pulled the rubberband from her hair. "What?" He snapped and turned back around. "What?"

"God Michael, I've never seen you like this." Isabel tapped a pen against her teeth.

"Like what?" His eyes narrowed.

"So flustered around a woman, she really got to you, didn't she?"

Michael didn't answer. It was one thing to admit it to himself, it was another altogether to admit it out loud. Especially to Isabel Evans.

TBC