Page 119 of Wild Card
“Shit, sorry.” He leaned in closer, examining it. “Is that…a hand of poker?”
“Yep. Pretty cool, right? I’ve been wanting it for a while.”
“Yeah.” He stared at it until I dropped my shirt, then shifted his gaze to my eyes. “I’m almost afraid to ask, but…”
“What?”
“You’re not still running those illegal gambling nights, right?”
“Well, actually?—”
“No, don’t tell me,” he said quickly. “Just know that I really don’t want to ever have to arrest you again, Ax. But I also have to do my job.”
“Yeah, I know you do. You always do the right thing.”
He frowned. “No, but I try.”
“And I don’t?”
He shook his head. “I’m not saying that. I’m saying…” He stepped in close, lowering his voice. “It would be very difficultfor me to do the right thing if it hurt you.” He licked his lips. “I don’t ever want to choose between you and the job.”
“You’d choose the job,” I said. “I know that.”
“Would I?” His smile was sardonic. “I don’t know. You’ve got me spinning.”
“I’m spinning too, you know,” I said, waving a hand toward the door. “I just passed up a free BJ from a hot tattoo artist.”
His face went tight, and his brows drew together beneath the fringe of dark hair falling over his forehead. “Angel?”
“Fox.”
His fist clenched at his side. The man looked about to blow. I grabbed his arm, keeping him close. “Didn’t you hear me? I didn’t do it. Because of you.”
He exhaled, eyes meeting mine. “Yeah?”
“You’re the only one. Isn’t that what you wanted to hear last night? Well, fuck, it’s true, man. Okay? You’re the only one.”
Dalton grasped my jaw and pressed a hard kiss to my lips. Right in the middle of the dang bar. There was a sharp whistle, a catcall and laughter, and one shout ofget a goddamned room.
“Sorry,” Dalton murmured. “Hope you’re okay with PDA.”
I snorted. “Do you even know me?”
“Right. You fuck in bathrooms.” His gaze flicked to the corner.
“Want to give that another go?” I asked invitingly.
His shoulders slumped. “Wish I could. I’m still on duty. Shouldn’t be here, but I saw your car out front and couldn’t resist seeing you.”
“You’re crazy about me,” I said.
“Yeah. Stark raving mad.” He chuckled. “But hey, you must be a little bonkers too, if you’re passing upFox.”
“I know, right? Gingers are hot.”
He swatted my ass. “Behave while I’m gone, Ax.”
“I’m not the behaving kind.”
