Page 2 of Case Closed
“Get up,” Taylor tells Frankie, but he’s already yanking him up from his seat. It happens so fast the chair topples backward.
“What? Hey, man.” Frankie finally glances up to get a full view of Taylor. Any other words he was about to sputter die on his tongue.
“Go. Or you won’t be walking out of this restaurant,” Taylor threatens, and all Frankie does is nod.
Taylor releases his hold on him, and the weasel bolts out of the restaurant. Once he’s gone, Taylor grabs the chair and sets it back in place before dropping down into it.
“Scout,” he says with a half-smile. “You look stunning as always.”
I stare at him, and he stares right back. Thankfully the server appears so I don’t have to lose this contest.
“Can I get you started with some drinks?” he asks.
“We’ll have a bottle of the Chateau Lafite, but we’re ready to order as well. She hasn’t had anything but coffee since breakfast.”
“Hey, I?—”
“Chips don’t count,” he says, cutting off my protest.
This man really does know everything. “We’ll both have the ribeye, medium rare. I’ll have the loaded baked potato, and my Scout will have the mashed potatoes, extra butter.” He hands the server the menus that he never bothered to open. “Also, the wedge with house dressing. It’s her favorite.”
“Coming right up.” The server takes the menus before hurrying off.
“Taylor, what are you doing here? I was on a date.”
“I’d be very careful if I were you. You’re on thin ice already, and those heels of yours aren’t helping.”
Chapter Two
TAYLOR
The server comes over with the bottle of wine and makes a whole production of opening it and pouring a sip into the glass. Scout is silent the whole time and pretends to be annoyed. She’s not annoyed I’m here; she’s annoyed my presence makes her wet.
“Sir?” The server presents me with the wine glass, but I nod to Scout. “My apologies. Ma’am?”
Scout keeps her eyes on me as she takes the glass from him and tastes the wine. “It’s perfect, thank you.”
While the server pours the wine, I don’t miss the way her tongue drags across her bottom lip. Or how she keeps crossing and uncrossing her legs under the table.
The second he’s gone, I reach under the table and grab the edge of her chair. “What are you doing?” she hisses as I slide it around the table and closer to me.
“You were too far away.”
“I was exactly where I wanted to be.” She huffs like she’s aggravated, but I see how she presses her thighs together.
“Liar.” I drape my arm over the back of her chair and lean close. “If you were exactly where you wanted to be, you’d be sitting on my face.”
Her eyes widen with shock, but I’m sick of her pretending she doesn't want me. I’ve made it clear from day one that I was willing to go the distance with her. Since then, she’s gone out of her way to either push me away or make me jealous.
“You can’t talk to me like that.” She raises her chin stubbornly, but I don’t miss the way her hands go to the hem of her dress like she’s thinking about pulling it up.
“I’ll make you a bet, Scout.” If there’s one thing I know for sure, it’s that she’s not going to back down from a challenge. “Take off your panties and show them to me. If they’re dry, I’ll get up from this table and let you have a nice dinner by yourself.” She swallows hard as I lean closer. “But if you’ve soaked through them, like I suspect you have, then you’re mine tonight.”
“This isn’t…” She looks around and lowers her voice. “I can’t exactly do it here with people around us.”
There’s a flash in her eyes like she’s won, but she should know me better than that. “I’d love nothing more than for you to let me check myself, but the ladies’ room is right there.” I nod to the door nearby, and her shoulders sag. “Unless you’re afraid of what your panties will tell me.”
Her spine straightens as she turns back to me, a defiant gleam in them. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
