Page 1 of Case Closed
Chapter One
SCOUT
Desperate times call for desperate measures, which is why I’m on my way to a first date with a man I found on a dating app. I’ve never tried one before, but again, I’m in desperate need of a second date. One that has the guy coming with me to my work's Halloween party.
My cousin is one of the partners at the law firm, but his wife is really the one throwing it. Halloween is her favorite holiday, and I get it. It’s fun to dress up, and you can be anyone you want. I have to go, not only because I run a big part of the law firm's daily ins and outs, but also because I love my cousin’s new wife, Abbie.
In fact, I'm the reason they met and are now together. I remind them of this only about once a week. That's really not much since I see them both almost every day.
I run my hands down the front of my dress, making sure there aren't any wrinkles. I'm coming straight from work, so I didn’t bother changing. Since I hold down the front desk at the firm, I'm always dressed up. But who am I kidding? If I could sleep in heels, I would. I’ve never shied away from my height; I'm tall, and the heels only make me that much taller.
I pull out my phone to double-check the details. I can be type A and rigid at times, and I know that about myself. I also know that I can’t change it. It’s who I am, and most men find me prickly. That’s why I never dated much. It was always one bad date after another. It never used to bother me. I was content, or maybe that’s what I’ve been telling myself.
Watching everyone around me fall in love is making me question it. That has to be the reason I’m so freaking attracted to Taylor. He’s the firm’s go-to man for anything and everything. If you want information, he’ll find it one way or another. I don’t think he cares if it's legal or not.
I respect that, and it’s wildly impressive. Hell, everything about him is, but Taylor isn't the man for me. He's too everything. Too tall, too handsome, too smart, and most of all too domineering. The man doesn't have to say a word and my body responds. His presence makes me have this weird need to please him. I have the strangest urge to sit on his lap as if it were my throne.
Yeah, no thanks.
It's those kinds of thoughts that are going to get me in trouble. Taylor is the kind of man that will break me. I need someone who is calm, maybe even passive. The type I can't fall madly in love with because that isn't in the cards for me. Once upon a time, I watched my mother fall head over heels for a man. Then it was one after another. It made her a mess, and if there’s one thing in life I hate, it’s messes.
I need a boring kind of love. So that’s why I am here tonight. I know this guy isn't the one, but he’s safe and could be useful. If I take a date with me to the Halloween party, then Taylor might back off.
I use my phone to check my hair and makeup. I should have done a touch-up before I left the office, but what was the point? I'll have dinner and make small talk, then invite him to the Halloween party. Easy enough.
“Good evening,” the hostess greets me when I enter the restaurant.
“Evening,” I say, returning her smile. “I’m meeting Frankie Witt.”
“Yes, he is already here. Follow me.” She grabs one of the menus before leading me through the restaurant. I spot Frankie before we get to the table, and when he sees me, he stands and pulls out my chair for me.
“You’re prettier than your pictures." He says it while slightly pursing his lips, making me not fully believe him. “But you’re a lot taller than I expected.”
This isn't said as though it's a good thing. It’s on the tip of my tongue to tell him he’s a lot shorter than I expected, but I keep myself in check. I force a smile because he doesn’t appear anything like his pictures, but I can’t be mad about it. I’m aware that I’m kind of using him for a date.
The hostess hands me the menu before telling us the server will be with us shortly.
“You know,” Frankie says as he flips open the menu, “I love a good restaurant in the lobby of a hotel.”
He smirks, and any guilt I felt over using him is washed away. Frankie is only in this to get between my legs. How interesting, since he doesn’t seem to care for my long legs.
“I have a two-date rule,” I lie.
That perks him up. He even sits up straighter to puff out his chest. A chest that is no comparison to Taylor's. In fact, my mind is comparing everything about him to Taylor.
“Is that so?” He licks his lips. Gross. What if he tries to kiss me with that mouth? “Should we go ahead and plan that one now?” Frankie gives me a creepy smile that makes me wonder if it ever actually works for him.
“Why don’t we…” My heart drops while my stomach flutters with excitement. I can’t remember what I was going to say because I’ve locked eyes with Taylor.
He’s across the restaurant in a classic all-black suit that I’m willing to bet was made just for him. His long strides have him moving quickly in my direction. Taylor is big, the kind of big that makes me feel small and delicate when I stand next to him.
For a brief moment I wonder if he’s here on a date himself. The thought does things to me that I’m not going to touch on. I’m so not letting my brain go there.
It doesn’t matter, though, because it only takes half a second to know he’s headed straight for me. The pissed-off expression and hard lines etched in his handsome face have me pressing my thighs together. One look from him and I’m reminded why I have to stay away from him.
“Scout,” I hear Frankie say, snapping my attention back to him. “That name is strange. Isn’t it a boy's name?” I love my name, mostly because it’s a fuck you to my sperm donor father because he wanted me to be a boy.
Even though I know he’s coming, I jump when Taylor’s hand comes down hard on Frankie’s shoulder. Frankie sinks farther into his chair as he lets out a yelp.
