Page 47 of Dina's Favorite Mistake

“Our mom is a firecracker,” Lola agreed while jostling Jasper on her hip.

“If we call in the police, we can’t keep this quiet,” Dina continued. “It will be leaked to news outlets. It will get ugly fast and spiral out of our control.”

“She’s right,” Lola concurred. “We’ve only been able to keep that shootout quiet because it happened here, so close to our private property. Mama has power, and she uses it very rarely. She wouldn’t want us calling in the cavalry.”

“And if we’re wrong?” Steve asked pointedly.

“Then I take full responsibility for it,” Dina stated firmly. “It’s my decision.”

Steve didn’t like it. He didn’t like it one bit.

“I need to feed Jasper.” Lola smiled at her nephew who seemed to be reaching the end of his patience. “Come find me before you two leave the house and do something stupid.”

Any other time, Steve would have found that amusing. Right now, it struck him as ominous.

Alone with Dina, he tried to reason with her. “Dina, we really should loop in Morales at PFM. Carson at DEA, too.”

“Not yet,” Dina said, lifting her chin as if to dare him to disagree.

He blew out a noisy breath. “Fine.”

“You can stay here if you’re worried about your job.”

He grunted with annoyance. “I’m not worried about my job. I’m worried aboutyou. I’m worried about your mother and your family.”

“You probably should be worried about your job,” Dina remarked unhelpfully.

“Yes, probably,” he reluctantly agreed “but it’s too late for all that.”

“Why?”

“Because I promised myself I wouldn’t let anything happen to you or your family and I mean to keep that promise,” Steve vowed.

She reared back in shock. “Steve, you can’t risk your entire career for me.”

“Why not?” He closed the distance between them with two quick strides. Boldly, he placed his hands on her curvy hips and gazed down into her beautiful dark eyes. “You’re worth it.”

“I’m not,” she argued, whisper-soft.

“You are,” he insisted. “I can get a hundred different jobs, but there’s only oneyou.”

“Steve.” Her eyes glittered with emotion, and he surrendered to clawing need to taste her sweet mouth again. She yielded to his kiss, her lips pliable and soft, and he kissed her like it might be the last time. He wanted to mark her, to claim her. He wanted to make sure she believed every word he’d said.

Behind them, by the windows, Dina’s purse began to vibrate and rattle. She’d dropped it earlier while they kissed. They both groaned with frustration at the interruption.

“This house is cursed,” Dina muttered before sneaking another quick kiss. “If we’re ever going to get further than kissing, we’ll need to go somewhere else.”

“I have a hotel room that’s conveniently located across the street from your office,” Steve reminded her.

“You did,” she corrected, “before Ximena cleaned it out and brought everything here.”

“Which reminds me,” Steve said, snapping his fingers, “how did she get into the safe? How did she get my files?”

“I don’t know.” Dina’s brow furrowed. “Why? You don’t think she’s involved in any of this?”

“I don’t know her well enough to even guess.”

“Well, I do, and she’s not that type of person,” Dina assured him. “She’s a hard worker. If she got the files from the safe, she was being thorough. Nothing malicious.”

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