Page 58 of Nemesis

Her eyes round. “Artemis drinks for free?—”

“So charge him double,” I order, leaning back and crossing my arms. To him, I say, “This isn’t impressing me.”

“What do you drink?”

Answering him, giving him any information at all, seems dangerous. My gaze drops to the highball glass in front of him. It’s got a sip left in it, the liquid looking slightly tinted. Maybe whiskey, diluted with ice…

“It’s a Manhattan.”

“I didn’t ask,” I reply.

He lifts a shoulder.

“So if you’re not here to get me to find Reese, then why?”

His gaze roves from my face down…down. I swallow. Myassets, for lack of a better term, are more of a hinderance than anything. Or an insecurity, I guess. I wear clothing that shows off my breasts and hips, I don’t make an attempt to hide it, and yet I hate when it gains me unwanted attention.

“Can’t I just want to talk to a pretty girl?”

“No,” I blurt out. “Not when you’re here under suspicious circumstances.”

He snorts. “Okay, Tem.”

“You can’t call me that.”

“You’re right. We’re going to be more than friends.”

I shake my head. Of all the things I should be doing, sitting here entertaining this is low on my list of priorities. And yet, I find that I don’t want to leave. I’m curious about him, and he’s being forthcoming for once.

Of all the mysteries right now, this one seems the easiest to pick apart.

“You find that funny?”

“I find it funny that you’re trying to hit on me.”

And yet…

My face slowly heats the longer he stares at me. Because it isn’t probing or inquisitive, it’s hot. A smolder like none other I’ve encountered, and irrational fucking butterflies flutter in my chest.

He’s handsome. I noted as much before, his roguish charm helping him out in that regard. It’s the confidence, too. He doesn’t give a shit if I reject him—it just makes him try harder.

It’s not fair.

“Where’s your guard dog today?” His voice is pitched low.

Saint.

I wince, all the heat falling away from me, the walls around me stacking back up again. He almost had me for a minute there.

“My brother was a Hell Hound.” I keep my tone mild.

“And?”

“The new recruits were all so curious about him and his friends. Guess who they came to for information?” I meet his dark gaze. “They’d flirt. They’d make me think the conversation was about me. And then they’d reveal their intentions.”

His lips flatten. Just for a second. Then, “Let’s dance.”

I don’t want to dance with him.

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