Like she was about to ask to buy a singular marijuana that she would immediately throw away for fear of being busted.
“You are,” I said.
“I’m dressed up. It’s what normal people do.”
“Not for a job at a dive bar.”
She looked ready to roll her eyes.
I fuckin’ wished she would.
Glitch chose that moment to cut in, offering his hand. “I’m Glitch.”
She took it as she smiled at him. Not a small, embarrassed one. Not the little teasing one I’d gotten when she’d given me shit about my shrunken shirt. It was a real one that hit me in the dick even as my stomach twisted with jealousy. “Lo.”
I wasn’t sure if that was her actual name or just a cover one. Doubted she would tell me if I asked—especially since her smile dropped as soon as she looked back at me.
Fuckin’ ouch.
Before I could stick my foot in my mouth by asking why she looked like I pissed in her Wheaties, the other two decided to join our little huddle. I kept my attention on Lo as I braced for her reaction.
Haze and Glitch wouldn’t raise all the red flags since they were in jeans and t-shirts—though the heavy tattoos might still do it. But the prospect wore his Court of Mayhem leather cut. Lotta cops would see that and jump to the conclusion that the random act of violence outside wasn’t so random, after all. Pinning it on fallout from my motorcycle club connections would be an easy out.
I didn’t see a hint of suspicion or distaste in her expression as they introduced themselves. And I was watching closely for one so I could shut that shit down fast. Or at least make sure their paths never crossed again since I didn’t want her looking too deeply into them.
With my focus on her, I got another clear view of her genuine smile. No judgment. No suspicion. No assumptions that made her wary of the men people labeled violent delinquents after barely a glance.
Just that pretty smile that seemed to suck Haze and the prospect into her gravitational pull.
And also seemed to be for everyonebutme.
“I’m Lo. I like your?—”
I didn’t want to hear what she liked about any of them, so I cut in. “Weren’t you leaving?” My voice came out harsher than I intended, but I didn’t give a shit. The more I kept them separated, the safer it was.
For them.
’Cause of the cop thing.
“I need to stick around a little longer,” she said, giving me her scowl again.
“Not you. Them.”
“I think we should go through this room one more time,” Haze said. “To be thorough.”
He could say that all he wanted, but the fact he hadn’t pulled his moony eyes from the detective made it easy to guess it wasn’t the room he wanted to thoroughly inspect.
Glitch ran interference before I could issue Haze a permanent ban. “Rhys is right. We’ve got a couple of meetings tomorrow morning, but then we’ll be back to figure this bullshit out.”
“I’ll be here,” I said since I was always there unless I was sleeping.
And even that I did in my office more often than I cared to admit.
They gathered their supplies and walked out, offering Lo extended goodbyes. I, on the other hand, only got a couple chin lifts like I was chopped fuckin’ liver.
Couple, not few, because Haze didn’t even glance my way. He was too busy smiling at Lo.
And turning to take a few steps backward so he could continue doing it.
