Page 32 of Don't Lie To Me

When we are both finished, I stand to leave, knowing I have to face Romeo and my staff back at The Raven’s Nest. Onyx is right, I feel better after eating, even if I don’t want to face the rest of today.

“Trouble.” He stops me with a hand to my side. “Things won’t be weird between us now?”

“Nope, why would they be? You made it clear where we stand. I’m a job for you, that’s all.”

“You’re infuriating.”

“So are you,” I throw back at him. Yeah, things will be normal between us, but that is the last thing I want.

He releases me, and I walk away from him. Heading through the door of the café, a sadness settling over me. I’m so distracted I don’t even notice the man right in front of me and run straight into a brick wall of a human.

“Sorry,” I splutter, glancing up to see a familiar face. For fuck’s sake, is today messing with me? How am I quite literally bumping into Detective Wilder again?

His hand rests on my shoulder, stopping me from going over. His eyes settle on mine. “Are you okay?” comes his deep voice. It washes over me like a blanket, all warm and comforting.

“Yeah, I just wasn’t watching where I was going. Sorry again.” I offer a tight smile, pulling out ofhis grip on me.

Onyx stands beside me, muscles tense, and I feel his burning glare on Reef as the two of them assess each other, the air crackling with tension.

Reef’s eyes linger on him for a beat longer then come to me, a half-smile tugging at his lips. “I’m actually glad we ran into each other.”

“You are? Why?”

“This morning got out of hand; I was out of line.”

“Okay,” I say sarcastically, not sure what he wants me to do with that.

His green eyes sparkle, and his lips twist into a hot-as-fuck smile. This dude might be a cop, but he’s gorgeous. “Let me make it up to you with dinner tonight?”

“What?” I snap, confused.

Again, he looks at Onyx then his eyes come back to me. “I want to take you out for a meal to make up for my behavior.” He spells it out for me, I’m sure because I’m staring back at him confused as hell.

“You were just doing your job. And we both know I can’t be seen having a meal with a cop.”

“So, it’s not a no.”

I can’t help but smirk back at him, my cheeks coloring. “It’s a this is a really bad idea for both of us.”

“I’ll pick you up at seven then. From the club?” he pushes, his smile way too charming.

I laugh. Is this guy for real? “I can’t go to dinner with you.” I go to walk away.

“See you at seven, wildcat. Be ready for me.”

Fuck, something in the way he says his nickname for me makes my insides light up. I look back over my shoulder, not able to help thesmile that crosses my face when our eyes meet. “I’m not going out with you, Detective.”

“We’ll see,” he says with way too much confidence for a man in his position. He is the enemy; he and his friends would destroy my business given half a chance. But I already know, if he turns up, I’ll leave with him because I’m so fascinated.

“Don’t even think about it, trouble,” Onyx grumbles when he sees my stupid grin.

I glance back at Onyx as we walk toward the car. “Why not? You going to stop me?” I ask, already knowing the answer. He won’t, but he might tell my brothers.

His glare turns deadly.

“Then I guess we will just have to see what kind of mood I’m in when he shows up at the club tonight. I could do with a proper date, with a nice guy.” I smile happily to myself. Detective Wilder’s timing couldn’t be better. Onyx turns me down and he’s right there to show him what he’s missing out on.

A growl comes from his lips. “He would fuck you over given half a chance and you know it.”

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