Page 80 of Exposé

"Coming right up." Katrina eyed Nate with a smile, winking at me, and then plated our pastry. "Enjoy." She reached over the partition as Nate paid with cash, handing me two plates with the browned dessert.

"Thanks, Katrina. I'll see you around."

I moved out of line and he followed, taking his strudel from my hand.

"This will change your life. You'll see."

I bit into the golden brown, flaky pastry.

"I almost expected this to be a mini apple pie," Nate said around a mouth of food.

"No. This is a league all on its own."

"Is this almond?" He pointed to the brown spot in the filling.

"Walnuts... even better."

I bit into the pastry. The warm filling oozed out from the sides, coating the corners of my lips as I chewed and swallowed.

"You've missed a spot." Nate stepped forward and swiped his thumb over my mouth.

I glanced up, my reflection staring back at me through his damn glasses.

What was he thinking right now?

His thumb pressed against my lips, and they parted, letting my tongue dart against his skin, the twist of flavors a treat on its own.

"Ava?"

I snapped out of my gaze and jerked away from him, heat slapping my cheeks as though I'd been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.

Oh crap.

"I thought you weren't coming?"

"I, um... found some time."

Nate stepped closer. "Who's this?"

"Nate, this is Liam, Liam, Nate."

God, I'm a shitty person.

16

Nate

Detective Liam Buchanan stood with his arms across his broad chest, the brim of his black hat shadowing his narrowed eyes.

"Nice to meet you." I stretched out my hand and shook his. "Liam, was it?"

"Yeah." His jaw clenched as he squeezed my hand, then let it go. "I haven't seen you around before."

I shrugged, staring at him through my mirrored aviators. "I like to keep a low profile and stay off the police radar."

"How'd you know he was a cop?" Ava narrowed her eyes at me.

God, she's so suspicious.

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