Page 64 of Enigma: The Complete Collection
Harlow smiles before sauntering toward the bakery counter. I grin back before returning my attention to the photo of the boys. It’s a good photo of them all. I can mentally picture the devastated faces of millions of women around the world when they read this article. It’s just a pity the report is only accurate for one of the three men photographed.
“Oh, before I forget, can I borrow your black pumps Friday night?” she asks, turning around to face me.
“Sure, no worries.” I waggle my eyebrows. “Do you have a romantic date with Cormack?”
Harlow only freezes for the quickest second, but it was enough for me to notice. She smirks before dashing to the counter. Her quick movements cause the dishware in her hands to clang together.
“Harlow?”
I follow her to the counter. Noticing no customers are waiting to be served, I shadow her to the kitchen located at the back of the bakery. She is washing dishes. Her anger is so paramount, she chips two plates during the process. I’ve never seen Harlow pissed. I’ll admit, she’s as scary as hell when she is mad.
I rush for her, easing her hurried movements with my hands. Her glossed-over green eyes apprehensively lift to mine. She swallows hard before telling me, “I’m going on a double date with Cormack Friday night.”
I eye her curiously. From the stories she’s been telling me the past two weeks, things are going great with her and Cormack, so I don’t understand her apprehension.
“We’re going with Isaac. I assumed his date was you. Obviously, my assumption was wrong considering the fact you don’t have any clue about Friday,” Harlow enlightens me.
I grit my teeth hard, fighting the urge to sob. Isaac marked my skin as a warning for other men to stay away, then not only does he continue to date, he throws it in my face by ensuring my friend witnesses his dates firsthand.
Harlow moves to her handbag stored on a wooden shelf. “I’ll cancel the date.”
I bolt toward her and snatch her phone out of her grasp.
“Don’t cancel,” I request. “Add another two people to the reservation.”
She eyes me curiously before the most mischievous grin etches on her mouth.
Returning her smile, I yank my phone out of my pocket.
“Hey, Regina, remember that hot detective you wanted to hook me up with? Can you see if he’s free Friday night?”
CHAPTER29
Damn!I underestimated Regina’s hotness radar. Glacier-blue eyes, straight and prominent nose, a razor-sharp jaw hidden under day-old stubble, all combined on a face that looks like it belongs on the cover ofGQmagazine. Although his blue suit doesn’t look nearly as expensive as the suits Isaac wears, it showcases his muscular physique well.
His eyes peruse my body just as vigorously as I appraised his. His glowing gaze glides over my freshly shaven legs, lingering on the indecent length of my skirt before filtering over the curves of my breasts. My breath snags when his intriguing gaze settles on my face. When he smiles, my heart freezes. Straight pearly white teeth and small dimples in the creases of his mouth add even more allure to his already rugged appeal.
“I might need to start paying more attention to Regina’s recommendations.”
His voice is thick and gruff as if he smokes a pack of cigarettes per day. I know he doesn’t, though, because I got his life history from Regina this morning. Ryan is twenty-eight years old. He’s been working at Ravenshoe Police Station since he left the police academy at the tender age of nineteen. He was promoted to detective three years ago. He’s unmarried, has no kids, and although he has no troubles attracting the ladies, Regina assures me he’s not a ladies’ man.
“Did you want to come in for a drink?”
Even though I originally planned to use Ryan to exact my revenge on Isaac, his incredibly gorgeous face has me reconsidering my initial approach.
Ryan smiles before glancing down at his watch. “With how dense the traffic is tonight, I don’t think we’ll have enough time for a drink, but I won’t say no to a nightcap later.” He returns his intense eyes to me.
Smiling, I grab my coat from the entryway table before closing my front door behind me. “I have a stringent three-date rule.”
“I’m free all week.” He gives me a sassy wink before offering me the crook of his arm.
The drive to the restaurant was pleasant. Our conversation flowed freely, and there was never any awkward silence. Although Ryan doesn’t know I work for the FBI, he has heard of my Uncle Tobias. He even shared a few stories with me about my uncle that I hadn’t heard before.
By the time we walk into the restaurant, I’m so immersed by Ryan, I’ve forgotten we’re meeting other guests until the restaurant hostess walks us to the table Isaac and his date are already seated at.
Isaac’s date is beautiful in a slutty type of way. Unsurprisingly, she’s blonde as that seems to be Isaac’s preferred choice of late. She’s wearing an elegant dress that cost more than I earn in a week. It’s just a pity she ordered it two sizes too small as her silicon breasts are threatening to spill out of the top of it at any moment.
Isaac glances up at me, our gazes colliding with palpable tension. He lowers his heated gaze down my body, loitering on my bare thighs longer than what could be classed as an acceptable glance. My ego awakens. I chose this dress with my four-inch-high stilettos as I knew it made my legs look like they went on for days and days. My outfit is the perfect cock-teasing ensemble.
