My gut clenched like I was swallowing hot sauce with a magma chaser. “That’s good. You shouldn’t.”
“Okay.”
I…
What?
My gaze narrowed. “I’m serious, Lo.”
“So am I,Rhys.”
Christ.
If she was mine, she’d pay for that smart mouth till she begged for it to be filled.
“This will never happen.”
“Agreed.” With enough attitude to have me gritting my teeth in frustration while also somehow getting harder, Lo flipped that long hair and walked to the door. Pausing just as she reached it, she shot me a saccharine smile. “It’s a shame you and your old man knees weren’t up to the task. It could’ve been fun. But we’ll keep things professional, barman.”
And then she was out the door.
What the hell just happened?
It was good. Better than good. We were on the same page, and even with that last dig, she’d made the tough conversation easy.
So why the hell did I feel like I was about to walk into a haunted house stockpiled with booby traps?
I was about to follow after Lo when she hurried back toward my office. Yes, I knew how her steps sounded. And yes, it was exactly as pathetic as it sounded.
What new insult did she think of that she wants to add?
When she came through the open doorway, though, she wasn’t Lo. She was Detective Oscar. I was already braced when she moved right to me and showed me her phone screen.
Bestie:
Incoming.
“What’s that—” I started before my head security guard knocked.
“You’re never gonna believe who’s here,” Warner said.
“Our besties in blue?” I drawled like it was a shot in the dark and not a message on screen in front of me.
Warner touched his nose. “Bingo, boss.”
“Show ‘em back.”
When he left, Lo pushed her body closer to mine.
Wasn’t sure whether it was for the cover or privacy, but I used the opportunity to whisper, “You know what this is about?
I also used the opportunity to hook my finger into her belt loop, but that was muscle memory and nothing more.
“You know as much as I do.”
Can this night get worse?
Of course itcould get worse.
