Page 107 of Tell Me Lies

Emily couldn’t help but giggle, seeing as she told him regularly.

“Can I tempt you to come home?” Dalton asked.

“Yes.”

He took hold of her hand, and led her out of the rescue. She closed the door, locking it. Two of Dalton’s men were inside, and he insisted they were locked in. They had bathrooms and a place to sit and rest. Plenty of security cameras had been installed, and according to Dalton, the means for staying safe.

She never thought she would be so relieved that Dalton crossed the lines of legality in his life, but she was. He was willing to do whatever it took to keep the dogs safe, and that was more than good enough for her.

They climbed into the car, and Emily couldn’t help but take one last lingering look around to see if there was anyone waiting or lurking.

Dalton drove them home, and the moment she stepped through the doors, she was met with the most amazing scents. She was pretty sure there were tomatoes, possibly garlic, and some beef.

“What is that?” Emily asked.

Dalton looked a little smug as he made his way into the kitchen, and there on the counter was a slow cooker. “I did some research and found this amazing slow-cooker beef recipe, with onions, carrots, garlic, herbs, and of course beef.”

He took the lid off, and she watched as he put a spoon inside and stirred. The smells were incredible.

“I didn’t even know you knew how to cook.”

“I didn’t either, but it would seem, when it comes to you, I’m willing to try anything.” He winked at her and she couldn’t help but smile.

“What are we having it with?” Emily asked, to which Dalton scrunched up his face.

Dalton clicked his fingers and spun around, going toward the bread storage box, and came back with a bag of crusty rolls.

“Dinner is served.”

“Who would have thought Dalton Moore could be domesticated?” Emily said.

He wagged his finger at her. “No, not domesticated for anyone but you.”

She placed a hand over her heart with a gasp. “All of this special treatment, for me? I don’t know how I’ll be able to handle myself.”

“I’ll show you exactly how to handle yourself.”

The deep baritone of his voice meant he was thinking of something completely dirty, and she couldn’t help but feel her body respond.

It was surreal how her and Dalton had turned out. They hadn’t talked about marriage or the future, but she knew there was no one else she wanted. He was the man for her.

She watched as Dalton served them both two large bowls of sauce, and they were about to go into the dining room when her cell phone began to ring.

It was the ringtone of a bark, which told her the animal shelter was calling, which was odd. She put her bowl down, and without a second thought, she answered the call.

****

Dalton wasn’t happy.

He’d read somewhere, possibly online, or a stupid magazine, that women were impressed by a man who could cook. So, today had been a slow workday, and he intended to show Emily his softer side, which never came out to play. Never. Not for anyone but her.

She’d seen his mean side, admittedly, not to its full extreme. He had always held back, because he always had feelings for Emily.

Dalton needed to bind Emily to his side, to keep her close, because he didn’t want to be with anyone else, nor did he want to lose her. He’d already tried to be selfless, and now that she’d come back to him, he wasn’t ever going to let her go. So, cooking her a meal had sounded great.

But now someone was ruining his plans, and he was pissed off. His men were not answering. Whoever had called to tell Emily to have the money ready or they’d torch the rescue, had just become his number one enemy.

“You can’t go with me,” Emily said.

---