Page 30 of Lust
Joe squinted at it.
A man’s metal was tested by the way he shook hands. Limp and sweaty, or hard and firm. Did he lock eyes, or look away? Did he dominate, or submit?
Joe grasped Parker’s outstretched hand—firm, calloused, warm—surprising.
“It’s good to be back,” Joe replied.
Parker held Joe’s grip, stared, and then bared a toothy grin that looked more like a warning snarl from an apex predator. Parker let go first and then turned to Liza.
“I’m needed back at the office. When I get home, we’ll talk.”
Joe watched Parker stride away. The man never once looked back. Predators rarely did.
But they should.
“Joe.” Liza’s voice drew his attention back to her. “What do you want to eat?”
She sat down in Parker’s vacated seat, which left a spot next to Sloan, or Bailey. He chose Bailey.
She smiled warmly and handed him a menu. While he perused, menial conversation picked up at the table. After he’d ordered a fillet steak, and the waiter left, he turned to Bailey who’d been waiting to talk.
“You’re a Fed, right?” she asked.
He nodded.
She pointed at herself. “Ex CIA.”
“Right,” he said as if he didn’t know. “And how did you fall in with this lot?”
She rolled her eyes. “I made the mistake of falling in love with Tony.”
“Mistake?”
She laughed. “Only because we can’t seem to stay away from each other. He’s not here. He’s volunteering at a half-way house right now. What about you? How do you know Liza? Through work?”
“You don’t know?” he asked.
“He used to pull Liza’s pigtails,” Sloan interjected.
“I didn’t,” he scoffed.
“Yeah, you did. Never pulled mine, though.” She waggled her brows.
He shook his head, cheeks heating despite him willing them not to.
Sloan laughed. “Little Joey liked her. Just admit it.”
A thump under the table. Cutlery jumped and tinkled. Sloan’s eyes narrowed and shot to Liza.
“Ow,” Sloan said through her teeth.
Liza glared back.
“What?” Sloan lifted her palms. “I don’t need my—”
Another thump.
Mary cleared her throat. “Behave, children.”
