Page 40 of Pretty Lies

She appreciated that.

“It’s all there,” Jennika finally said fifteen minutes later.

Her friend lifted her large purse to the desk.

Della nodded at the money, and then to the doctor. “Pack it up. It was good seeing you today, Dr. Kohoney. My father appreciates the business.”

The good doctor smiled.

It wasn’t at all true.

“Of course, Miss Costello.”

Pressing the switch on the hilt, she closed the blade on the knife and dropped it into her bag. Without waiting to watch if the money would be quickly packed up—she knew it would; Jennika’s job was to handle the cash, mostly. Turning on her booted heels, she left the office without a look back.

Cory was quick to follow, but not without glancing back.

“She that type—you both good?” he asked.

“What do you mean?”

“Jennika. I mean, you kind of have to trust her if you’re leaving her with money.”

“It’s always been her, J, and I. Usually just me and her, now. But yeah, we’ve been friends since we were in high school.”

Cory nodded, but his gaze never left her. Even when she wasn’t looking at him, Della could feel his stare. That was more unsettling than anything else.

“Why do you keep doing that?” she asked as they came back out to the reception area. In front of the bank of elevators, the two watched one another. “Stare at me like that. I get it. You probably know it, too. I’m attracted to you. You’re attracted to me. There—it’s been said.”

Cory grinned. “I don’t see the problem.”

“Can we not make it into a thing?”

He said nothing. That same cocky smile played on his mouth. She needed the strength of saints to deal with this man.

“Could you make it less obvious, then?” she asked.

“Do we get what we want that way?”

Goddamn him.

“Cory—”

She turned his way as the elevator opened, ready to tell him to dial it back again. His next words stopped her from saying anything and told her he wouldn’t stop staring any time soon.

“You’re kind of all … put together, you know?” A chuckle escaped that sinful mouth of his when he added, “You seem it, anyhow. But you can cut a man, too, I bet. Didn’t miss how the good doc kept rubbing the scar on his hand and looking at your blade, right. Or how you get pink in your cheeks like when we were in the car. Except you’re a little wild, too, huh? The club. It’s like—shit, you don’t stop changing faces, Della. Don’t blame me for being interested in which one is about to come out and play.”

Now, it was her swallowing hard.

Cory just shrugged. “So, what’s up next?”

Right.

Work.

Back to work.

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