Page 44 of Bad Guys Need Love Too

That’s when she shocked him stupid by grabbing his face between her tiny hands, yanking him closer, and kissing the hell out of him. When she pulled back, they were both breathing hardand his thoughts were as scrambled as the eggs he’d had with breakfast.

He rested his forehead against hers. “What wasthatfor?”

“For always watching out for me, but never treating me like I’m weak or stupid.”

“You’re the strongest, smartest person I’ve ever met. I love you, Lark.”

She opened her mouth, and based on the look in her eyes, he thought maybe she was feeling the same way about him. Maybe she?—

Tenley cleared her throat. “This is all sweet and whatever, but can we get this show on the road? I have shit to do tonight.”

Andsplatwent the moment.

“Thanks, Tenley,” he muttered. “As always, your timing blows.”

“Yeah, you’re not the first to tell me that,” Tenley admitted.

Despite all the assurances she’d just given Ren, Lark’s stomach and heart seemed to be vying for space in her throat as she walked into Neal’s law firm.

Being bait sucked.

And the idea of planting spy technology made her edgy, too. How did Tenley and Ren do this stuff all the time?

Still, if she’d been forced to stay with Ren a moment longer, she was afraid she might’ve said something she shouldn’t. Becausesurely, he’d been right. Blurting love declarations after only a few days with a man was a bad idea, right?

It had to be. Experts always said you shouldn’t make big life decisions when you were hungry, tired, sick, or experiencing any other kind of big change. And Lark was reasonably certain death threats counted as a big change for a mild-mannered florist.

She took a big breath as she made her way towards Neal’s office.

Lark had always hated this office. It was so…soulless. All the muted colors and modern furnishings reminded her of a high-end dental office. She’d always told Neal he should decorate his office with a little more color and warmth. Give it a look that might help clients feel more at home. He’d laughed her off, of course. Corporate clients didn’t want a lawyer who made them feel welcome. Not for what they charged hourly. She supposed she’d give him that one. If Neal’s oversized, overpriced Hooker desk set made his clients happy, who was she to judge?

Neal’s assistant, Isla, glanced up from her computer screen, nose wrinkling as if she’d just gotten a big whiff of sour milk as her eyes raked over Lark. “What areyoudoing here?”

Well, apparently Isla was aware of the breakup. Because while they’d never been besties, Lark had never felt this level of animosity from Neal’s assistant when she’d stopped by for any reason.

Isla looked sharp. That was all Lark could think of when she saw her. She looked like you could cut yourself on her if you accidentally bumped into her. The hairspray-shellacked, straight-as-a-pin, chestnut bob, the pretty-but-weirdly-angular face, the winged eyeliner, the curve-less body, the impractical stilettos and pencil skirt…everything was pointy.

And the look she was giving Lark? Well, that was the pointiest of all.

“There’s no pets allowed in here,” Isla said, giving Dammit George a disdainful look that made Lark hope he took a crap right there in front of her desk. But he’d never do something like that. He was far too gentlemanly.

“He’s a service dog.”

Isla sniffed. “Does he alert you to when you’re being a giant bitch? Because clearly, he’s failing at his job.”

Lark gritted her teeth.Be the bigger person. She gestured to the box of Neal’s crap under her arm. “I just have a few of Neal’s things I wanted to return.”

“Is his heart in there, too?” Isla asked with a nasty sneer. “Because givingthatback is the least you can do.”

“Oh, you could definitely do less,” Ren commented through her comm earrings. “Don’t let her guilt you.”

There was a time when Isla’s comment would’ve made Lark feel crippling guilt. But those days were behind her. She refused to feel bad about ending a relationship with a man she didn’t love. If anything, she’d done Neal a favor. Now, he was free to pursue someone who appreciated everything he had to offer.

She couldn’t think of anything he had to offer at the moment, but surelysomeonewould value him.

“I never set out to hurt Neal,” Lark said. “Can I leave this box with you, Isla?”

She crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes on Lark. “Why should I do anything to help you? You destroyed thatman. He hasn’t been in to work in days, and the last time hewashere, he was a freakin’ mess. Whatever is in that box could make him spiral again.”

---