Page 13 of Lust
Every person at the table stilled. Brigg’s widened his eyes, then held up his palms. “It’s not my wife.”
Houlahan, for some reason, patted down his front, as though searching for his wife in his shirt pockets. “Not mine.”
Tom raised a brow at Joe. “That your missus outside?”
Mrs?
Liza scowled at the door.
“Shit,” Joe mumbled. “Sorry, guys. I didn’t know she was coming.”
He scraped his hand through his hair before going to the door.
Liza caught more than one shared stare among the men at the table. They were as surprised as she at this development. She shouldn’t be. Joe had told her he had a girlfriend, a serious one, but somehow, she’d never really pictured the reality of it.
From the way Joe dragged his feet to the door, she would almost say he wasn’t ready for it either.
The players at the table tried to continue the game, but no one could miss the bright, bubbly whirlwind blond who pushed into the room carrying a crock-pot. She wore a vintage style flared skirt, a tight top that pushed her ample breasts up, and a ponytail that curled at the end. Bright red lipstick accentuated her thin-lipped pout. Liza looked down at her plain blouse and brushed a fallen piece of raspberry licorice to the floor.
“Oh, hello,” the newcomer said breathily to the boys at the table. Without skipping a beat, her eyes skated over Liza as though she was part of the furniture. “I didn’t realize Joe would have company.”
Joe walked stiffly beside her. “That’s because…” He thought better of what he was going to say and shook his head. “Tanya, you should have called.”
“Nonsense, sweetie. I just wanted to bring some nutritious food for you to eat. God knows you don’t feed yourself properly. I mean, look at this junk. Raspberry licorice for dinner?” She rolled her eyes, then helped herself to the cupboard where the plates were kept. “But there’s plenty for everyone.”
Liza slowly dropped the stick of red that had made its way to her mouth with an “Oh-my-God” face shared with the boys. When she looked up, Joe glared at her.
She jumped up to cover her bad manners. “Joe, aren’t you going to introduce us?”
“Tanya,” he said through gritted teeth. “This is the crew I used to work with at the CCPD. Guys, this is Tanya.”
What kind of introduction was that?
Tanya smiled at them all, a little too sweetly. Liza wiped her palms on her thighs and then strode into the kitchen where she could better assess the new arrival. Tanya’s jaw was tense, her nails were pointed, and her hair smelled like hairspray.
“Liza,” Joe warned under his breath, but she just shot him a tight smile.
“You’ve been dating this woman for two years, and that’s the introduction you give?”
“Two years?” Tanya’s laugh tinkled as her fond gaze landed on Joe. “That’s so sweet, honey, that you’re thinking of us long term.” She leveled a more serious expression on Liza. “It’s only been two months, but I feel like it’s been forever too. Next stop, marriage, right?”
She patted Joe sweetly on the jaw. He refused to meet Liza’s gaze.
Two months?
“What did you say your name was again?” Tanya asked, blinking innocently.
She’d heard Joe speak before, surely. He was never good at whispering.
“Liza,” she replied sharply.
“Oh.” Tanya stilled. Her posture shifted from bubbly to vixen. Liza wouldn’t be surprised if those pointed nails distended into claws. “You’retheLiza.”
It took all of her resolve not to slap the woman and Joe with a tone and comment like that. She straightened her shoulders and lifted her chin.
“Can’t stop talking about me, hey, Luciano?” she smirked.
His eyes turned to slits.
