Page 223 of Deceit

Except for the one with an outline of a voluptuous woman. The bar owner either just bought it or keeps special maintenance on it.

I’m not sure what kind of mission Kai has to do tonight. All I’m aware of is that he needed me as eye candy.

And I can’t seem to stop thinking about how I should be with Bishop and making certain everything is set for when I take down Alexander.

Kai leans into me as I sit on my barstool and swirl my sweet and sour lazily. “I need you to do the bare minimum with talking. And I’m going to get a little more handsy with you, Ems, sorry.”

I nod and smile like he’s telling me something dirty for whoever might be looking.

The old bartender serving us allows his gaze to fall over in our direction every once in a while, and I don’t like how long it stays.

“Jamison,” a male voice extolls loudly. “You son of a bitch, I didn’t know you were going to be here.”

Kai must be knocked into because he bumps me before straightening his spine and turning to our new greeter. “Simon, good to see you.”

He moves so that I can view the burly middle-aged man with a bald head and grease-stained shirt. His chunky fingers wrap around the bottle of his beer when he asks, “And who’s this?”

His question is directed at Kai, but his brown eyes soak in my emerald green dress that hugs every one of my curves and shows off my right thigh from the long slit running up the side.

“My business,” Kai deadpans. “Did you bring it?”

Simon glances around the crowded bar like Kai announced it over a megaphone. “I did…but you’ll need to talk with me about this somewhere else.”

“I don’t like dark rooms.”

“And I don’t like you bringing uninvited guests to my party.” He returns his attention to me. “Especially if you don’t even share their name.”

“Because I don’t want you to get attached,” Kai retorts. “She’s only for tonight.” Kai leans in again and his lips graze my cheek. “Aren’t you, sweetheart?”

I bob my head and hold on to the gaze of the man that clearly looks like and isn’t afraid of trouble. Whatever he has twisting in his screwy little head of his, he better think twice about it.

“I’ll have it delivered to your office in the morning,” Simon advises, checking the amount of beer he has left. “There’s no shady shit allowed here. This is a meeting place and it’s been contaminated with undercover cops lately.”

I could almost snort at that. Try undercover government assassins.

“I’ll keep my eyes open for it.” Kai has turned his head from me, ignoring Simon, who is watching us intently. “What are the terms of a refund?”

“Forty-eight hours. Full refund.”

Kai’s hand comes up and presses into my stomach, but he’s gentle while he peppers kisses down from my cheek to my jawline. “Where do I return it?”

“Call me if you have a problem,” Simon insists instead, his eyes turning dark as he follows Kai’s movements.

He’s playing into Kai’s public display of affection and I have a creepy-crawly feeling that he’s getting off by it.

“Your number changes every other day,” Kai complains, then whispers for me only, “Make it look like you’re enjoying this. I need him occupied for another minute.”

“Here’s my business card.” He shoves his hand into the pocket of his slacks then winces. My nose scrunches at the immediate thought coursing through my head—his dick is hard and he touched it.

I turn my head to nestle my face into his neck. “Make this quick,” I mutter to mydate. “Because I’m going to beat this dude’s ass.”

“Take it,” Kai bellows out loud, abruptly releasing me to slide off my stool and be his bitch.

This will be the last favor I owe this guy.

Not only because he told me nothing walking in here, but I have the kids now. I can’t be doing this mission shit. It’s too dangerous.

Which means B723…

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