Page 13 of Oath
His bland expression was less than helpful. “Told you not to ditch out on her this morning.”
Really? AnI told you so?
“Grace Black,” she said as she introduced herself to the dancer and I didn’t groan, I really didn’t. “I know you,” she continued. “You’re Emersyn Sharpe.”
“Goddammit, Gracie,” Alphabet said, though his crooked grin held a lot more amusement than irritation.
“You’re a dick,” I informed him under my breath.
“A dick she isn’t pissed at.” Alphabet clapped me on the shoulder. “How sad for you.”
“Ignore them,” Gracie said with determination. “I intend to.”
To her credit, Doc’s dancer seemed to study her for a moment before she shook her hand. They weren’t even five full feet away so it was hard to miss any nuance.
“Nice to meet you.” Emersyn shot me a wary look before she released Grace’s hand and resumed the “walk” she’d come out here to have.
Grace fell right into step with her, because of course she did. “Sorry to stage a raid on your—what exactly are we doing?” The openness in her question, and the genuine warmth was like an itch on the inside of my brain. The shift in positions also gave me a fantastic view of her ass which was beautifully shaped by the jeans she was wearing.
Jeans and—why was she inheels? They weren’t particularly tall heels, but still.
“Walking,” Emersyn told her. “And I don’t mind. I already had company.” Well, company was better than labeling me the watchdog that I was. “I’m sorry if we met before or if I should know you. You look familiar, but…”
“Why did you bring her?” I shot Alphabet a look, every single nerve on alert now that she wasalsopresent. Because it meant if a threat showed up, we had to protect both of them. If it came down to Doc’s lady or ours—no, we didn’t let it come down to that. It was theotherreason we kept her from being here. “We discussed this.” No way Bones signed off on this little jaunt.
“We haven’t really met,” Grace answer, her voice drifting back to tease me. The long braid she’d pulled her hair into highlighted her delicate cheekbones and just made her look evenmore fragile if that was possible. “Well, we met briefly when we got here, but that was before the funeral, and it’s been a little busy.”
A very brief meeting while we made a united front for Doc and kept his—and by extension the Vandals and his girl—covered.
“I recognized you because I’ve been to one of your shows.” The wistful note in Gracie’s voice intensified the itch in my brain. “And I probably look familiar because I did the campaign for Enchanté last year.”
“You’re a model,” Emersyn said unhurriedly. “I never knew your name—sorry.”
Rubbing a hand over my face, I dug my phone out of my pocket, but caught Alphabet typing on his. When I raised my brows in silent inquiry, was he pinging Doc? Alphabet nodded. If Doc could secure his girl, we could take care of ours.
“It’s fine. It’s the face that sold.” Gracie just shrugged. I never forgot her face, but I had learned her name. “I guess you’re not performing anymore?”
“Taking a break.” The girls weren’t really sharing much and that still seemed like too much for either of them at the moment. “I’m guessing you’re not modeling?”
“No, at least not right now. I might go home—eventually.”
Might go home?I didn’t miss the frown on Alphabet’s face. That was news to him.
“Nonetheless, I want to find my sister, and these brutes are certain someone is looking for me.” Despite her use of “brutes,” there was still affection in her voice that made me sigh. She wasn’t pushing us to wrap this up.
There was also no denying that she was in a holding pattern.
“I’m sorry,” Doc’s dancer said. “Where is your sister?”
"I think she was taken by the same type of people who took?—”
“Little Bit,” Doc said, the interruption stopping both women. The dancer spun and she locked her stare on Alphabet briefly before looking to where Doc approached. “Can we talk?”
“You okay if I step away?” Emersyn asked. It really wasn’t an unfair question considering the icy lasers Grace fired our way.
“I’ll be fine,” she said. “It was nice to meet you again. Maybenexttime, some people can mind their own business and let us walk.”
“You are our business, sweet cheeks,” I told her, a little over the attitude. I got it. She was pissed. I could take the lumps,afterwe made sure it was safe. “And so is the little dancer. Now stop proving how difficult you can be, and let these two go talk.”
