Page 28 of Cutter

“But what if the captain asks me?”

“He won’t. I’m sure of it. What happened to the careful detective who didn’t want to infiltrate a cop into an MC environment?”

Shit, he had her there. But she still had to press her point.

“Okay. I’ll promise this. I won’t expose myself. But if Captain Weaver orders me, I will.”

Cutter gave her a quirky smile. “I know he won’t. So that’s that.”

Oh, the man was such an arrogant know-it-all. He was infuriating. How had this happened? In a matter of minutes, they’d gone from a deliciously erotic interlude to their first argument.

Why couldn’t he understand how important this investigation was for her?

He’s worried about you. He wants you safe and unharmed. What’s so bad about that?

“You’re so sure of Captain Weaver.”

“If I were him, I’d want to keep my smartest and brightest detective safe. All right, enough of this conversation. Are you hungry?”

“Ravenous.”

“I’m in the mood for burgers. You?”

“Sure.”

“Okay. You stay put while I go to the store and get what we need. I’m cooking. You’re gonna love my burgers.”

“You don’t have to cook. We can go out. There’s a great burger joint close by.”

He shook his head. “See? There’s the problem. Until this thing is resolved, you and I can’t be seen together in public. As it is, I drove my truck here.”

“Why?”

“I prefer my Harley to get around, but it’s recognizable. People remember choppers. So I chose the truck. I’d love to take you on my bike, but not during the day. Maybe at night and with a hoodie under the helmet. Nails could be tailing me, and I won’t risk it.”

“Boo. Meanie.” She smacked her bare foot on the tile floor. “Emily wants a ride.”

Cutter kissed her nose. “Emily will have to wait until Daddy says it’s safe. And before I come back, I’m giving you a chore. Make sure your special closet is organized and your clothing is neat. If it isn’t, Daddy will make you fix everything in front of him.”

“Oh, Daddy. No fair.” She pouted.

“Too bad, little kitten.” He kissed her nose again and walked out.

Emily watched him go with an ache in her chest.

Lord, she wanted Cutter with everything in her. He was the Daddy of her dreams, her prayers come to life. She only hoped that her compulsion to prove herself by accomplishing an important arrest wouldn’t stand in the way of her more personal and intimate needs. The things that truly made her happy and satisfied with the woman she’d grown up to be. Because if she had to give up Cutter, a Daddy for a lifetime of fulfillment and joy, in exchange for an investigation, the investigation would lose.

“Good job.” Cutter spoke from behind her.

Emily squealed in surprise. The hanger with the quinceañera gown she held fell to the floor, making a small mound of tulle,satin, and brilliant beads. She’d been so focused on getting her clothes, shoes, and matching items in a proper order that she’d lost track of time and didn’t hear him come in.

“What’s this?” He picked up the fluffy gown with a bewildered expression.

“Just a dress.” Quickly, she snatched it before he got too interested and decided to give her precious piece a deeper examination.

“Not justa dress.” His brows gathered. “Come on, fess up. Tell me about it.”

Holding her cloud of tulle and satin to her chest, she studied him. Cutter was asking a direct question. Why not tell him the gown’s story? That she’d found it in a secondhand store, buried among others, and this one had called to her.

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