Page 59 of Trigger

Heshook his head, looking grim. “No. It was me.”

Changethe subject.

“Notto sound presumptuous,” I murmured, stretching my legs. “Do you think I wouldhave a shot with Vic if you weren’t in the picture?”

He letout an incredulous laugh. “Pardon?”

Actually,I suspected Vicky wasn’t my biggest fan, but I wanted to steer the conversationaway from the painful subjects.

“Nooffense, but I’m smarter than you—” I said, when he cut in.

“Nonetaken, but you’re not.”

“I’m abetter detective.”

“Inyour dreams, and even that’s far-fetched.”

“I’mbetter looking.”

“Weboth know that’s not true.”

“I’mstronger.”

Hemade a face. “Debatable.”

“No,it’s not,mon cœur.”

He glancedat me over his shoulders, frowning. “What does that mean?”

“Itmeans dude.”

“You’relying.”

Igrinned. “Prove it.”

“Idon’t have to prove anything to you, but just so that you know, I’ll google it.If it’s a curse, you’ll regret it.”

“Why?What will you do to me, Dominic?”

“Iwill cook for you, Tye.”

Whenwe both burst into laughter, I placed a big, wet kiss on his scruffy cheek,because to hell with it. We were bonding. He tried to jab me in the ribs withhis elbow, but I dodged it thanks to the black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu I’dattained a few years back.

“Yuck,”Carter grumbled, wiping his face, as I chuckled and wrapped my arms around hiswaist.

“Stoprolling those pretty green eyes of yours,” I said, resting my chin on hisshoulder. “I know you’re not mad at me.”

I wasfull-on hugging him now, but he didn’t seem to mind.

“Pot,kettle, black,” he retorted. “Your eyes are changing color all the time. It’sdriving me crazy.”

“Don’ttell me that’s the only thing that drives you crazy about me.”

“No.This, too.”

Hespun to face me and took off my hair tie, then catapulted it over thebalcony.

“Whatthe fuck?” I exclaimed, shocked.

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