Page 159 of Hot Cops

Before she could respond, the door to her apartment slid open. Justin and Ned walked in. Chloe tried to push Blake away, but he held fast.

“Let go of me,” she muttered when she caught her older brother’s dark look.

“You heard her,” Justin said, his fists clenched. Great. Nothing like adding embarrassment to mistake.

She’d been wrong to think she could open the door a crack for Blake and not expect him to push it wide and walk in.

Justin’s gaze took in her messy hair and Blake’s open shirt, his scowl growing. It was far too obvious what had taken place here.

Time for distraction. She shrugged out of Blake’s arms, flushing hotly when he reached down to zip up his jeans, not bothering to hide the action from her brother and his business partner. “What are you doing here, Justin?”

“You and Ned have an appointment to discuss the calendar, remember? We had a work meeting on this side of town, so I rode with him, figured I’d chill on your couch while the two of you worked out a plan for Ned’s pose.”

Ned grinned, obviously sensing her desire to diffuse the volatile situation. “He was planning to be a pain in the ass, making me regret volunteering to do this damn thing. If it had been anyone other than Mama Lewis asking, I would have said no.”

Chloe smiled gratefully. “I’m sorry. I forgot about the meeting. Give me a second to…” To what? What was she supposed to do now? Blake didn’t look like he was going to go peacefully.

Justin crossed his arms, letting her know he was going to watch her every move. She shot him a dirty look, then turned to Blake.

“I really do need to get back to work.”

“What are you doing for dinner tomorrow night?”

She rolled her eyes. He was like a dog with a bone. “Listen, Blake. We tried the relationship thing once and it failed…miserably.”

“We were kids, Chloe. That hardly counts as a serious attempt.”

He was right, but that didn’t mean the way things ended hadn’t hurt. A lot. “I’m nothing like the girl I used to be.”

“So we’ll go out for dinner, get reacquainted.”

“Looks like you already did that,” Justin muttered.

She turned around. “Dammit, Justin. Mind your own business.”

Blake buttoned his shirt. He leaned closer, keeping his ultimatum quiet enough only she could hear it. “I’ll go as soon as you agree to dinner.”

“That’s blackmail,” she whispered.

He didn’t reply. Just gave her that wicked, bad-boy grin that always got her into trouble.

“Fine. But just dinner. Nothing else—not a movie or dancing or coffee at my place afterwards. And I’m meeting you at the restaurant. No riding together.”

Blake looked like he might argue, but she raised her hand to cut him off. “Those are my conditions. Take it or leave it.”

“Fine. I’ll call you later with the details.”

She shook her head. “Just text me.” Until she gathered her wits about her, she wasn’t about to get roped into another conversation with him. Texting was safer.

Blake nodded, then kissed her, the touch too fucking familiar and sexy when his tongue brushed hers.

She half-heartedly pushed at his shoulders. She was about to get the mother of all ass-chewings from her brother. Of course, that was a given. So…she might as well get her money’s worth. She felt Blake’s brief spark of surprise when her tongue entered his mouth and she gave his ass a quick squeeze before she stepped away.

“Goodbye, Blake,” she said, proud of the strength in her voice.

He grinned. “I’ll talk to you later.”

Justin didn’t bother to step out of the way as Blake left. The two men faced each other like adversaries on the battlefield and for a moment, Chloe thought she might have let her guard down prematurely.

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