Page 161 of Wilde and Deadly

Davey’s stomach dropped, and he barely resisted the urge to shield his balls. “Oh, fuck.”

Rowan laughed, the sound soft and teasing. She reached out, brushing her fingers over his arm. “I’m kidding. Mostly.”

“Mostly?” he muttered under his breath.

Before he could talk himself out of it, she grabbed his hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. “Relax, Davey. It’s just my dad.”

“Yeah? Then why do I feel like I’m walking into my execution?”

She just laughed, pushed open the door to his office, and stepped aside, letting him walk in first.

Davey froze.

Oh, shit.

He’d been preparing himself for Gabe Bristow’s infamous death glare. He had not been preparing for this meeting to take place in his damn office.

Or for Gabe Bristow to be standing in front of the same desk Davey had very recently?—

Jesus Christ.

His face went scorching hot before he could stop it.

Rowan knew. He could tell by the way her lips twitched, by the barely concealed amusement in her hazel eyes. She was enjoying this.

Meanwhile, Gabe was staring at him. Arms crossed, stance deceptively casual but radiating authority. His gold eyes locked onto Davey, sizing him up in a single glance.

Behind him, Audrey sat perched on the edge of the desk—the desk—her gray hair streaked with wild shades of teal and purple, her smile warm.

Next to her sat Rue, who was a carbon copy of their mother.

And then there was Gabe. Still staring.

Davey resisted the urge to gulp. He’d faced down armed enemies, infiltrated hostile territories, and survived things most men couldn’t fathom?—

But the steely gaze of Rowan’s father? That was something else entirely.

Gabe didn’t say anything. He just kept looking at him. Like he was trying to decide how many different ways he could kill him.

Audrey tilted her head, watching Davey’s sudden shift in color. Then her gaze flicked to the desk.

Something clicked.

Her lips twitched.

Oh, fuck no.

“Everything all right, Davey?” she asked sweetly.

Rue’s gaze followed hers. She looked at the desk. Then at Rowan. Then back at Davey.

And then she grinned like the little menace she was.

“Oh my God. Did you two—” she pointed at the desk, then back at them, “—on the desk?”

Davey choked on air.

Gabe’s expression turned lethal. “What.”

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