Page 112 of Unseen Danger

Her eyes widened slightly. Then her lips pressed together and shifted to the side with what looked like disappointment. “I’d like that.”

He heard a but coming.

“But I need to go home to my dogs. Get them fed and bring Alvarez back with me for patrol.” The reluctance in her voice kept her response from feeling like a rejection. She didn’t seem to want to decline any more than he wanted her to. “Probably should get some sleep, too.”

She shifted away slightly but turned her head and body more toward him as if she wanted to see him better. “You remember how you said you could help out with my sister’s move on Saturday?”

He moved his fingers to caress the small shoulder still cupped in his hand. “Yes. Looking forward to it.” Did she think he wasn’t going to show?

“Cool.” She glanced away, her tongue sliding over her lips. “How would you like to go to Cora’s wedding with me later in the afternoon?”

She brought her attention back to his face, probably just in time to see the surprise he tried to hide. And the pleasure that rolled through him. Was she asking him to be her date for a wedding?

“The girls keep telling me to bring someone. But if you don’t—”

“I’d be honored.” The grin that split his face from ear to ear likely looked as goofy as it felt. But he didn’t care. Nevaeh had just invited him to be her date. “Anything in particular you want me to wear?”

“The wedding’s super formal.” She skimmed him with her brown eyes. “You got a tux?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“That’ll be somethin’ to see.” The way she let the words roll off her tongue sent a thrill through his veins.

Good thing she was about to leave right now. Because he seemed to be losing a bit more of his self-control with every minute she lingered. And that wouldn’t do either of them any good.

He reluctantly pulled his arm away and stood. Then he turned to her and extended his hand.

“Aren’t you the gentlemen?” She smiled before slipping her small fingers into his palm.

He aimed to be. But with the space between them came more clarity to his mind. What was he doing? Flirting with her, holding her on the sofa. Agreeing to go to the wedding.

He hadn’t actually declared intentions he shouldn’t. Not verbally anyway. But had his actions conveyed more than he could promise?

He pushed the doubts and questions to the background of his conscience as he escorted Nevaeh out of the house and to her pickup outside.

Only as she drove away did he let his thoughts turn toward the two messes he needed to untangle. His increasing attraction to Nevaeh, and the other little thing of someone threatening to murder his client.

Nevaeh had never felt more confident. At least not in the last six years. She moved through the darkness of D-Chop’s estate with Alvarez, the lyrics and beat from one of the rapper’s earliest recordings timing with her steps in her mind.

She’d break into a dance move, but that wouldn’t exactly be professional. She snickered at the thought.

“Excuse me?” Jazz’s amused voice sounded in Nevaeh’s ear over coms.

“Oops.” Nevaeh laughed. “Sorry.” Must’ve left it open. At least she was on the channel she and Jazz used privately when they wanted to chat without the new security guy hearing.

“Somebody’s in a good mood. Are you ever going to tell me what happened between you and Branson today?”

Nevaeh grinned as she angled her path to head toward the outbuilding at the rear of the grounds. “What makes you think anything had to happen?”

“Because I haven’t seen you this giddy since Gary Benson asked you to prom.”

Another laugh tumbled from Nevaeh’s lips.

“Scratch that. I’ve never seen you like this.” The smile was obvious in Jazz’s voice. “Did Branson ask you out?”

“Kind of.”

“What do you mean, ‘kind of’? Don’t tell me a guy like Branson would do the backhanded invite to avoid rejection? He has to have more guts than that.”

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