Page 37 of Don't Lie To Me

Reef holds a hand out to help me out of the car. I’m grateful, as my little black dress is tight around my hips and not easy to get out of my car with it on. “You’re smoking hot in this dress, wildcat.” Reef’s hand wraps around my back, settling at my waist gently.

I look him over in his crisp white button-up and slacks. “You don’t look so bad yourself, Detective Hot Stuff.”

He chuckles, a warm, friendly sound, and we walk into the restaurant, the atmosphere feeling effortlessly comfortable between us. Once inside, we’re shown to a table that looks out over the street, and I can’t help but wonder if Onyx had the booking changed so he could keep an eye on us. His eyes meet mine, and I know he did. Something in the dark way he looks at me lights me up inside. It’s so sick howbadly I want his eyes on me. How desperate I am to make him jealous. If I keep pushing him, he might just tip over the edge and finally give me what I crave so desperately: him.

We order our food and sip on wine as we wait for our meal to arrive. The atmosphere is so different from last night. So comfortable. Where Romeo had me on edge wondering what he would do next, Reef makes me feel at home and relaxed for the first time in days.

When my eyes don’t leave his face, he smiles at me warmly. “I don’t want to talk shop, but I’m so intrigued by you. How did you end up running that club?”

I raise a brow, wondering if he did have an ulterior motive for this date. “Do you mean because I’m a chick?”

“I guess, it’s not what I expected.”

I shrug it off, knowing it’s not what anyone expects. “The previous owner died suddenly, and I was the best person for the job. That club has been in the family for generations, I grew up in it. And as much as I love my brothers, they couldn’t run an establishment of that size if their lives depended on it. So, I took charge.”

Reef can’t hide the horror from his face. “You grew up in a gentlemen’s club? There is more to your story, I can tell.”

I sigh heavily, knowing what it must look like to an outsider. “Sure there is, but if I told you the rest, I would have to kill you.” My eyes meet his again, my lips twitching up at the sides into a cruel smirk. Just so he knows I’m half serious.

He chuckles as if I’m joking. I’m not. But I smirk back at him anyway. “I read your case file, but it was surprisingly empty when you and I both know that what the Iron Strykers are involved in isn’t legal. How have you all coveredit up so long?”

My back straightens. “Did you ask me on a date to get the scoop on me and my brothers, take some intel back to your boss, earn the new kid a pat on the back?” I snap back, knowing how bitchy I sound.

He reaches across the table, taking my hand in his, instantly soothing me. “I asked you on a date because I’m utterly fascinated by you and was from the moment I saw you behind your bar.” He stares back at me, and I see the lust in his eyes. I feel it, swirling between us. I can’t explain what it is with him. I shouldn’t trust him, I shouldn’t even be here with him. But I can’t walk away either.

“Anything you can get on me will help build your case though, right? Sorry, honey, tonight is purely pleasure for me, no business talk.”

“No business talk, got it.” He smirks back. His foot brushes the side of mine, a strange thrill running right through me. I know he feels it too.

Our meals arrive. I ordered the eggplant parmigiana as it’s my favorite, and I didn’t get to enjoy it last night. I’m hoping tonight will be different. And Reef is having the steak just like Romeo did; there is something a little creepy about that. They couldn’t be more opposite, so is it a coincidence or does he know we came here and had these exact meals? We both start on our food, the silence comfortable as we eat, but my mind is spinning, trying to work this guy out. I’m insanely attracted to him, but there are warning bells constantly going off in my head as well.

I enjoy every mouthful of my meal, feeling like I haven’t eaten properly in days.

“You didn’t like that at all,” he comments.

“It’s my favorite.”

“You a vegetarian?” he asks, cutting into his steak and placing another piece in his mouth.

“Yeah, from the moment I found out animals were the same things we had on our plates as food, I just couldn’t do it. Syd was an asshole about it, but my mother was more supportive.” I collect my glass of wine, swirling the liquid in the glass before taking a large gulp.

“Now I feel bad for ordering the steak.” He chuckles, having a drink as well. “Who’s Syd?”

“The asshole I took over the club from.” If he’s done his research on me, he knows who Sydney Stryker is. Every cop in this town did when he was alive. If you weren’t on his payroll, you stayed the fuck out of his way if you didn’t want to end up a dead piggy. That’s what he used to say, anyway. I have come to learn he was more talk than anything, full of shit and hot air.

“Your dad?” he asks.

“I wouldn’t call him that. You have to acknowledge your kid and be present in their life to be a dad. Syd found out I wasn’t a boy and that was it. I was no use to him.” I say the words without a hint of sadness. My life was better without him in it. I still have no idea what my mother saw in him or why she stayed with him for so long, but maybe it was more complicated than that. Maybe she was trapped there, with her five kids.

He looks disgusted on my behalf. “He would be surprised to see the incredible woman you have become then, the business you have created.”

“Flattery will get you everywhere, Detective. But no, he would be rolling over in his grave. He really couldn’t stand me. If he wasn’t already dead, it would kill him to know what I did to his shit-heap of a business.” I see the way Reef studies me. I have said too much, and I need to shut the fuck up before I actually tell him something I shouldn’t. Is this how he gets info out of the criminals he’s interrogating? Makes them feel all comfortable with his charismatic charm thenslowly they open up to him. “What about your family?” I ask, trying to shift the subject off me.

“Not much to report. I haven’t seen my parents in years.” He brushes me off, but I see the hurt he’s trying to mask.

“Since you moved from California to New York?” I push, needing to know more.

I see him shut down on me. He wants me to share, but he’s not so willing. What is he hiding? “I didn’t have the best upbringing, Sloane. My parents aren’t a part of my life I want to revisit.”

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