Page 118 of Exposé

The whole story relies on it.

Or does it?

Grimacing, I turned in my seat and faced him. "I'm ready, but dammit..." I drew in a shaking breath, my hands matching the staccato. "We need to do it today."

He placed his hand over mine, his warmth swimming down my veins. "Then make the call."

What if he changed the code?

Or moved things out already?

I grabbed my phone out of my lap and dialed, my frantic heart echoing in every nerve.

"Mayor Haynes' office, this is Margaret. How can I help you?"

Oh my God, this is happening.

"Hi," my voice cracked, and I tried again. "Hi, it's Ava Thatcher. I had a meeting with the Mayor a few days ago, and I was hoping I could ask him a follow-up question. Is he available today at twelve or one o'clock?"

"Mayor Haynes is attending a luncheon that's blocked out his schedule for most of today. He's booked for the next three weeks, but I can squeeze you in around the end of the month."

Perfect.

"Anytime is fine." I gave Nate a thumbs-up as his thumbs flew over the screen on his phone.

"How about two o'clock on the eleventh?"

"That'll work, thank you." I ended the call and turned to Nate, my smile broad with triumph, a small spark of adrenaline already flickering in my chest. “He’s at a luncheon today. That’s our window.”

Nate leaned against the car door, his leather jacket creaking softly as he pocketed his phone and crossed his arms. His eyes flicked to his watch, the sun catching the silver face, causing a reflection on the car's worn ceiling. “It’s already noon. Think he’s still hanging around?”

“Doubt it.” I scanned the building, my stomach tightening at the thought of being spotted. “But I’d rather give it a little longerbefore going in. If he catches me, it’ll be nothing but questions, and I’m not in the mood to come up with excuses.”

Nate rubbed his hands together with a slow smirk, his knuckles cracking. “You sure you’re not enjoying this?”

I crossed my arms, narrowing my eyes as I tilted my head, though it did little to mask the way his words settled in my chest like a slow-burning ember. “I’m starting to think you like it a little too much.”

He leaned in, his gaze sharp, predatory, and impossibly soft all at once. “Relax, Thatcher. I’ve got you.”

A shiver rolled down my spine, unbidden and unwelcome.

The way he said it—low, deliberate, dripping with certainty—made something flicker inside me, something I wanted to ignore but couldn’t. It wasn’t just the words—it was the way he looked at me like I was something worth guarding, worth breaking rules for.

The air between us grew heavy, every unspoken promise coiling tighter.

Do I push him away?

It's too much.

Why is it so hot all of a sudden?

I rubbed my hands together, the sweat pooling in the creases. “You’ve got all the charm of a devil on my shoulder.” Pulling my gaze away from his intoxicating eyes, I studied the front of the building.

Nate’s brow arched. "I'm taking that as a compliment."

I snorted a laugh. "Take it how you will."Because the devil is charming, but in the end, he's still the king of lies.

Twenty minutes after noon flipped on the car's dash, Nate clapped his hands together. "Here we go."

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