Page 28 of Marked

“No,” Jack takes my keys from me and slides into the driver’s seat of my truck, driving the beast so my feet don’t suffer further.

“What do you mean ‘no’?” I repeat.

He grins at me. “Did you forget? We have a date.”

“Ah fuck,” I toss my head back against the headrest, ignoring the little flutters in my stomach that he remembered. Hell, I’m impressed that he even still wants to go with me looking like a mummy. “You still really want to go somewhere?”

“Yes, you’re not getting out of this so easily.” He puts the truck in reverse and looks at me expectantly.

“Easily?” I echo in disbelief. “Did you see my feet?”

“I did, which is why I’m changing the venue for our dinner.” He raises a brow at me when I try to protest. “You’re not winning this, Valkyrie. So, buckle up and behave.”

“Yes, sir,” I mumble sarcastically as I clip in my seatbelt.

“Good girl.” Jack nods approvingly before backing out of the parking space.

My stupid insides flip and twirl at his praise once again. I’m so, so fucked.

“You clever bastard,” I praise, kicking my flats off and resting my heels on the dashboard.

Jack grins as he rolls up the sleeves of his dress shirt, hiding my blood from the waitress. “I’ll admit that a Sonic isn’t what I had in mind for our date, but given your feet, I figured food delivered to the truck is the closest to a restaurant.”

I can’t help but smile. “I don’t need a fancy restaurant. A burger and a shake will win me over any day.”

“I thought enchiladas were the way to your heart?” he teased.

Shaking my head, I correct him, “Food is the way to my heart, Detective.”

He laughs, and the sound of it makes me smile. “Good. I like a woman who isn’t afraid to eat.”

I wave my hand at him. “I spent too many years worrying about my weight. Sometimes the insecurities still creep up on me, but for the most part, I’m a lot better with it.”

A growl rumbles in his chest, making me look at him. I blush at the damn near hungry look in his eyes. “You have nothing to be insecure about, Valkyrie. I like what I see very much.” The blush burns down my neck and spreads across my chest.

“T-that’s very forward of you.” Did I just fucking stutter? What am I, twelve?

He blinks and looks away from me, the steering wheel suddenly very interesting. “You’re right. That was way over the line. I’m not used to filtering what I say.”

“I noticed that,” I muse. “I’m not going to lie, sometimes your blunt straightforwardness infuriates me, but it’s also very refreshing. You don’t sugarcoat shit and make it very clear where you stand on things. I like that.” I purse my lips before shooting him a sly smile. “And I also very much like how you look.”

He turns those storm-colored eyes on me, and once again, the look makes heat flare in my chest. “Good.”

I lick my lips, ready to shoot back a witty response, but a knock on my window makes me jump. When I turn to look, I’m stunned to see a pissed Seth standing there. I fumble with the buttons on my door until I finally find the one that rolls down the window. “Seth?”

“Hello Val,” he purrs, but the underlying note is tense. “And who do we have here? I thought you didn’t do dates?”

Wow, talk about awkward. I’m about to tell him as such before Jack cuts in, leaning towards the steering wheel so he can be seen better. Or is he getting a better look at Seth?

“Jack Khoury,” he says, not offering his hand. “You?” Tension crackles between them and it’s almost suffocating.

“Seth Adel.” He gives Jack an unimpressed once over before returning his attention back to me. “Well?”

Oh, hell no. “Not that it’s any of your fucking business, but he’s my partner.”

“Bed partner? Or professional?” he presses.

My hackles rise. “What the actual fuck, Seth? Who do you think you are, asking something like that? Regardless of what the answer is, it’s none of your business!”

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