Page 22 of Forbidden Secrets
He chuckled softly and shook his head, then opened his email app.He deleted a few spam messages before tapping on one from Imani Bentil, his boss at the bureau.Reading the email, he could hear the West African cadence of her voice in his head.
She thanked him again for delivering the target letters and said she’d enjoyed working with him.Wished him well in his new chapter.
This morning, with his separation paperwork finalized, his time with the Bureau was officially over.He wasn’t sure how he felt about it.Maybe a little regret.He’d liked the people.Liked fighting for something that mattered.
But the bureaucracy?That he wouldn’t miss.He still planned to chase justice, but with fewer layers of red tape in the way.
Gage contemplated what was bugging him about Bradford.His interest in Melanie set off something in his gut.A trigger warning, loud and insistent.Something was off.
Maybe Melanie didn’t think of it as a date, but Bradford sure as hell did.And it wasn’t only that.
It wasn’t hard to see why he’d be interested.She had spine, a face that intrigued, and then there were those curves.Tonight she’d done something to make her eyes look mysterious that boosted her from knockout to sexy siren.Add the red lipstick and Gage was wrecked.Call him weak, but that shade short-circuited his brain.
And it wasn’t only about looks.
When they were together, something between them sparked.Then there was the way she lit up around Addy that showed her utter delight with her child.Melanie possessed an inherent goodness that set all his protective instincts humming.
What the hell was she doing with Bradford?She didn’t seem the kind to be impressed by a bank president or political candidate.At least Gage hoped not.But if it wasn’t a date, why meet him at a bar on a Friday night?
He didn’t have the answer.And that unsettled him more than he wanted to admit.
Gage settled in, nursing his beer to make it last.He’d hang out and make sure there were no problems.
Not that it was any hardship, especially when Shane came in with his wife.That his best friend was not only married but had a kid was a kick in the ass.
Emery spotted him and grabbed Shane’s hand to pull him with her to the bench seat across from Gage.
“Hey, pal, I’m so glad to see you.We didn’t expect you here.”
Emery wasn’t subtle in her efforts to get him out more.Everyone having babies had changed how their people got together, though.With the vast quantity of paraphernalia needed when going out with the tiny humans, it was easier for the group to get together at the ranch or Cider Mill Farm.
“What’d you do with the short one?”
“Harding’s got Violet tonight.”Emery sent her husband a worried look.“Do you think we should call to check if everything’s all right?”
“Darlin’, she’s fine.Harding’s got your number, my number, Delaney and Cam’s numbers.He’s got a dozen numbers to call if he needs help.You know he likes nothing better than to sit in the rocking chair and rock our girl to sleep.”
“Right.She’s fine.I know she’s fine, but what if she wants me and I’m not there?”Emery held up a hand.“Don’t answer that.I know I’m being crazy.She’s a well-loved child, and with my parents coming tomorrow morning for a visit, between them and Harding we’ll be lucky to even get to hold her.”
Shane dropped an arm around her shoulders and whispered something in her ear that had her smiling.
While they chatted, Gage kept tabs on the couple across the room.The waiter arrived, and Melanie shook her head.Chase leaned in, clearly pressing the issue, but she held her ground.Hands up, firm.
Accept it, pal.She doesn’t want dinner with you.
The waiter left and Melanie leaned forward.She emphasized with her hands as she talked.Bradford’s posture changed.Arms crossed.Chin down.Closed off.
“You’re keeping a close eye on your new neighbor,” Shane noted, grinning.
“Bradford’s an asshole.”
“Agreed.That the only reason you’ve got your eye on Mel?”
“It’s enough of one.”
“Oh,” Emery chimed in.“Shane told me what happened to Melanie.It’s brave of her to move back to Sisters.I can’t wait to meet her.”
The waiter circled to their table.Gage ordered sliders and fries with a Coke.He raised a brow at Shane and Emery.“It won’t hurt my feelings if you two want to get your own table for date night.”
