Page 64 of Wild Card
His gaze flicked up to my face. Goddamn. That wasnotbetter. His heated stare blasted into me, making my heart miss a beat. I was supposed to be running this little game, not faltering under the intensity of Dalton’s lust.
I turned forward, watching Gray’s back as we approached the table.
Allison and Matteo sat together, Emory beside them, and the empty chair for Gray to his right.
Gray retook his seat, slinging his left arm over Emory’s shoulder.
“Thanks for making time to talk to us, Ms. Prince,” Dalton said as he took the seat beside me. “This is an interesting place to have a meeting.”
She laughed. “I know. Sorry. I’ve just been slammed at the office, so I couldn’t really fit you in during business hours. We were going to just hit the sports bar, but I heard Sassy Solo was performing last minute and didn’t want to miss it.”
I leaned forward to better see her on the other side of Gray and Emory. “If you don’t have time for this, you really don’t have to worry about it.”
“Oh, no. I always make time to help my friends.”
“But you barely know me.” I glanced toward Dalton. “Unless you two?—”
“No,” he said. “Though I’ve met her father on the job, obviously.”
“Any friend of Emory’s is a friend of mine,” Allison said, shooting me a warm smile. “Besides, you all helped Matteo when he needed it. I’d never forget that.”
“Oh. Well, thanks,” I said awkwardly.
Holden had hired Matteo at the auto shop. I didn’t really have much to do with that decision. But if Allison wanted to help me as a result, I wouldn’t turn her down.
“And my dad’s said nothing but good things about you, Deputy Harvey,” Allison continued. “He thinks you should be our next sheriff.”
My eyebrows shot up, but Dalton didn’t look surprised by that announcement. He didn’t look happy about it either. Huh. Weird.
“So, not to be all business,” Dalton said, “but the show will start soon. Did you find anything that would help the animal shelter with their strained resources?”
“Yes and no,” Allison said. “I can’t help the shelter much. It doesn’t meet the terms for our community grants because it gets taxpayer funding. So I had to think out of the box a little.”
A ginger-haired, freckled server stopped next to our table. He was rocking a tight T-shirt with Glitter Balls written in sparkly text, with two disco balls suspended between the words in a suggestive manner. He also wore tight shorts that left little to the imagination.
“How about I get you all some drinks before the show starts?” He tapped the laminated drink menu on the table. “We’ve got some great specials tonight. I recommend the Rum Job or the Pink Banana.”
He ran a tongue over his lips, then shot a searing look at Dalton. “Either one would taste awfully sweet on your tongue, honey.”
“The only one tasting his tongue tonight will be me,honey.”
“Well, let me know if you decide to share,” he purred, gaze flicking over me. “Now, what are we getting you all to drink?”
Dalton cleared his throat. “I’ll take a water.”
The ginger pouted. “Boring, but okay.”
“Tequila for me,” I said. “Beer chaser.”
The ginger shifted from flirt to server mode, taking down our orders. Emory asked for a Glitterbomb, whatever that was, and Allison and Matteo both ordered a Rum Job. Gray played along,ordering a Pink Banana, which was apparently some kind of daiquiri-piña colada mix with strawberries blended in.
As soon as the server was done, he turned to Allison. “We don’t want to take up too much of your time.”
“Oh, don’t worry about it,” Allison said. “We have a little while till the show starts.”
Dalton looked almost disappointed at that. He was eager to get down to business—probably so he could get out of here—but I wasn’t about to let him run out on our little agreement in the car.
I was fucking that man tonight. Maybe then he’d finally be like every other conquest, and I could move the fuck on. I didn’t like the way he constantly tugged at my focus, dragging my eyes and my ears—even my nerves—his way every time he moved. My skin practically begged for his arm to brush mine, and that was just ridiculous.
