Page 35 of Devious Lies

I pause. It’s a good question. An interesting one. But I wasn’t expecting it.

Maria mistakes my silence for anger, and she starts apologizing right away.

“Oh God, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry. It’s none of my business. Shit. I shouldn’t have asked you that. I am so sorry,” she says, and she’s wringing her hands on her lap.

I stop at a red light, and I turn to face her, covering her hands with one of mine.

“Baby Girl, you can ask me anything, okay? I just wasn’t ready to answer the question,” I explain, and like I want her to, she settles.

“No, you don’t have to answer that. I need to mind my own business.”

She huffs, looking at our entwined hands.

I don’t miss the tremble that rolls through her. And fuck, it’s like it goes straight to my dick.

“To answer your question,” I say as the light turns green and I’m forced to use both hands to shift into gear, “Angel, Nico, and I are the original members of the Vipers. But a snake has got to have one head, or it will tear itself apart going in different directions. Nico is the right man for the job.”

Now, it’s her turn to be silent. I sneak a glance and I catch her expression.

It’s contemplative.

Thoughtful.

Once again, this woman surprises me.

But right then, I have no idea how many more surprises she has in store for me.

CHAPTER ELEVEN-MARIA

My eyes widen as Luc pulls inside an underground garage.

I expected him to live in the same condominium complex where I visited Anna with Giselle earlier this week.

But he doesn’t.

“Wait there.”

I don’t understand until I see him striding around the front of the car, holding his hand up to stop a man in black, a parking attendant perhaps, from touching the passenger door.

“I got it,” he murmurs and pulls open my door.

Luc offers his hand and I pause just staring at his long fingers.

Holy. Shit.

Who knew a man’s hands could be so erotic?

“You coming, Baby Girl?”

My gaze flicks up to his, and I know the second he sees the double entendre click inside my brain.

Luc smirks and licks his lips before it turns into a heated smile.

No, Luc, I’m not coming. Not yet. But with any luck I will be.

I nod and clear my throat, taking his hand as he helps me out of the car.

Those fighter jets are back, and I’m so busy concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, I’m quiet the whole way across the garage, which I realize houses two more cars and that’s it, to what looks like an elevator door.

---