Page 16 of Diamonds & Deception

“Party pooper.”

“I learned from the best.” Trey lifts his chin at me. “If Drake ever gets out of line, come find me.”

“I guess I’ll see you atThe Clubon Friday night. I’ll be there with Avery and her friends.”

He smirks at Drake, then leaves.

“You’re going toThe Club?”

“Yeah. It was nice of Avery to invite me to tag along.”

“I wish I wasn’t working.” He nuzzles my ear and places a kiss behind it. “Come on. I’ll buy us another round, then we’ll play darts.”

“I’ve never played before.”

“Excellent. You’ll be easy to hustle.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Iended up having morefun on Monday night than I expected. It could have been the four beers in my system, or it could have been Drake standing behind me, guiding me in the game of darts.

We joked, we flirted, we kissed. A lot. There was a lot of kissing. I’ve never been a big fan of making out in public, and I wouldn’t think a man like Drake would be either, but we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.

I was pretty sure he was going to invite himself into my apartment—Lenora’s apartment—but he kissed me on the front steps of the building instead and told me about his latest mathematical equation.

“I’m close.Realclose to figuring out how many dates, how many kisses it will take to get you naked.”

I could have told him I was ready then, but I didn’t. I wasn’t. I had to think of Carly but sleeping with Drakewasthinking about her. It was all part of the plan. I just hadn’t expected to be so... happy about it.

He’s too sweet to be involved with a murder. I’m a pretty good judge of character, and I just don’t see it. Of course, it could be my neglected girly parts talking, or it could be the way his dimple deepens when he’s flirting with me.

Drake may not be directly tied to the murder—at least, that’s what I want to believe—but he’s close to the person who is. Building a circle of trust will get me those answers.

“When you have it figured out, will you let me know?” I curl my hands around his neck and pull him in for a deeper kiss.

“You’ll be the first to know,” he growls before ravishing my mouth.

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