Page 73 of Wicked Lies

“Why did you let me drink all that tequila last night?” She massaged her temples and eased herself into the kitchen chair.

“There was no stopping you. You and Isabelle kept pounding them down.” He handed her two Advil. “Take these, and then you need to eat.”

She wrinkled her nose at the bagel and cream cheese he’d fixed her, complete with a napkin and a steaming cup of coffee.

“This was sweet of you, but I don’t think I can eat.”

“Try. It’ll make you feel better.” He nudged a bowl of sugar packets toward her. “If it’s not enough, we could raid a sugar factory.”

She grinned at his teasing and tore the bagel apart. “I think I might have done or said some things last night—”

“You did.”

She tugged her hand through her tousled hair and moaned. “How bad?”

“After I pried you off the top of the bar . . .”

Her eyes grew wide.

“And insisted you put your clothes on . . .”

Her choking gasps made him take pity on her.

“I’m kidding. Although I will agree that I was the hottest guy there, and I have the biggest . . .”

She threw up her hands and pleaded. “Please, stop.”

“I was gonna say brain.” Nick laughed with her.

Large pellets of water slapped against the glass and ricocheted off the skylights.

Cheryl jumped when a loud clap of thunder rattled through the room. “Not good for the head.” She moaned.

“Why do you keep staring at me?” She furrowed her brow.

He opened his mouth, and his heart skipped. If he didn’t say something, he would explode from sheer nerves.

“Cheryl, I want . . .” No, bad beginning. “Cheryl, . . .” What the fuck was the matter with him?Just say it, asshole.“Cheryl, I . . .”

His cell phone buzzed. Happy for the distraction, he fished it out of his pocket. “What’s up?”

“How’s it going down there?” Samson asked.

“Firming up our connections down here and making sure everyone knows about our New York club. The more people who are aware, the better.” Nick kept the incident with the cops to himself. No sense in making Samson more nervous. “How’s everything else up there?”

“Quiet. Nothing from Frank.”

“How about Jax?” Nick leaned against the arm of the couch. “He calm down any?”

“Haven’t heard from him yet today. Probably laid up with that redhead.”

“When I get home, we’re gonna find out where his loyalties run.” They’d come too far for any slip-ups now. “Jumpy is one thing, flipping sides is something else.”

“I’ll keep an eye on him.” Samson paused. “We all good?”

“You gotta ask?” Samson might piss him off with all his worrying, but he always gave it to him straight.

“All right. See you tomorrow.”

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