Page 38 of My Vigilante Valentine

I lifted the lid, and the smell hit me like a punch, sharp and rancid. I pulled my gloves from my pocket and slid them on with a sigh.

“Hero work.” Luna’s nose wrinkled in a way that shouldn’t have been cute but definitely was. “Soglamorous.”

I ignored her, spotting the phone wedged between a greasy pizza box and what I sincerely hoped wasn’t a used diaper.

I grabbed it with a gloved hand, holding it up. “Got it.”

Luna gave me a satisfied chin-lift. “You’re welcome.”

I tried to roll my eyes, but it probably didn’t land right since I couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at my lips.

We headed back to the truck, and after I ditched the swords in the backseat and we climbed in, I dropped the phone onto the center console like it was some kind of trophy.

Luna looked way too pleased with herself for someone who’d nearly blown the whole operation. She propped her elbow on the windowsill, resting her chin in her hand as she watched me.

I started the engine, more to have something to do with my hands than because I planned on driving anywhere right away. The rumble filled the cabin of the truck, a low growl that matched the one I felt building deep in my chest.

“You shouldn’t have followed me,” I said gruffly, not looking at her.

“Once again, if I hadn’t, you wouldn’t have had the opportunity to dumpster dive for that phone. You smell great, by the way.”

I shot her a glare sharp enough to peel paint.

But she just smiled, leaning back in her seat like she hadn’t almost gotten us caught—or worse, gotten herselfhurt.

I gripped the steering wheel, banishing the thought.

That wasn’t what happened, and as freaked out as I’d been when she’d first made her presence known in the most obnoxious way possible… two good things came out of it.

One, the phone.

And two, I’d held her in my arms.

I was self-aware enough to know how much I’d enjoyed it—regardless of the circumstances—so I wouldn’t pretend otherwise.

“…You did good.” The words felt like sandpaper on my tongue.

She lit up again. “Wow. I didn’t realize compliments were part of the job perks. So many in such a short time. Should I expect this to continue, or is it just because I’m the new girl?”

I couldn’t help it—my mouth twitched, almost a smile, but not quite.

She noticed, of course.

She noticed everything.

“You know,” she said, turning to face me, “that little smirk on the heels of a compliment just reminded me of something interesting.”

“Oh, yeah? What’s that?”

“Well, I got this mysterious, backhanded compliment in my compliment jar… Said something about the atmosphere at the shop being annoyingly enjoyable. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?”

I snorted, shaking my head. “Nope.”

She raised an eyebrow, unconvinced. “So, it wasn’t you?”

“Wasn’t me.”

“Is lying going to be a recurring thing with you, too?”

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