Page 39 of Unmasking Her Shadow

I take them, double-checking for a note inside. “Here.” I hand the bouquet back to him when I confirm there was none. “You can have them. Me and those flowers have bad blood.”

He shrugs his shoulders. “Fine by me. I’ll pretend they’re mine to make my boyfriend jealous.”

I’m sure he will have them on display at the front desk in case his boyfriend stops by, like he has been doing on his way to work. My ex, who is missing a finger, used to give me those damn flowers after our…escapades…after he would take it too far. Sweet peas for his sweet pea. Barf. Who came up with the notion of giving someone flowers when you mess up? They should be reserved for happy times only. To show love, not guilt. Why ruin the beauty of flowers by tainting it with ugliness?

It’s the thought that counts, though. I’ll explain to Shadow my reasons for disliking those flowers.

Wait.

Could it have been Ki?

“Sam!” Ben whisper-shouts, disrupting me from my thoughts while I mindlessly clean my chair with disinfectant.

“If it’s more flowers, you can have them,” I grumble.

“No, it’s not that. The police are here looking for you. Run!” He peeks his head out the door, waving for me to slip out behind him.

“What are you talking about?” I laugh, knowing I have done nothing to warrant a police visit. Many of them book appointments with me now.

I walk around him and see Kioni and Ryker at the front desk. “Those are friends, Ben. But thanks for having my back, man. I appreciate that. You’re definitely a friend to keep around.” I smile, nudging him playfully.

“Oh, phew,” he says, following me. “Do you think you can sneak a picture of me with the hot one?”

“And which one is that?” I tease and he scoffs.

Everyone else is looking at Ryker, but my eyes are on her. In her uniform, with SWAT across the chest. I immediately picture myself looking up at her from my knees with handcuffs around my wrists. Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Down, you demon. You already had some this morning. So much so that I had to wear a cardigan the rest of the morning to cover the rope marks around my arms. And there’s no way in hell I’m letting you talk me into being with two people at the same time. I’m a freak, sure, but I’m not a slut.

Hmm. On my knees for a woman. What would that be like? Stop it!

“Hi!” My voice comes out too high-pitched, which totally did not make it sound like I wasn’t just picturing dirty things.

“Ma’am, you are under arrest,” Ryker announces, holding onto his vest and walking to stand in front of me.

“Shh!” I scold him, and the corner of his lip twitches.

“He’s joking,” I announce loudly, looking around to make sure they all heard me and gravitating towards Kioni until I’m pressed to her side.

“We are here to take you through,” she says, placing her hand on my lower back. The warmth from her hand heats me from the outside in. “Is it okay if I touch you in public?” she asks in a hushed tone.

“I want you to touch me all the time.” I really just said that out loud, didn’t I?

“Don’t say things you can’t take back. We are going out for lunch. Come on.”

“I’m taking my lunch. I’ll be back in an hour,” I tell Ben, and he smirks at me, making it obvious he’s pointing out that Kioni still has her hand on me and waggles his eyebrows.

She hands me a white and pink helmet with cat ears on top. “Now you have your own helmet.”

“Thank you.” I grin and shove it over my head. She got me my very own helmet to ride with her, so that means she sees this continuing for a while.

She holds up a pair of shorts, and I open my visor before taking them from her.

“Your skirt is too long. Slip these on underneath and take your skirt off.” She steps in front of me, blocking me from view. I slip them up my legs and shimmy out of my skirt. The shorts are tight, pink yoga shorts that match the pink in my helmet. Actually, my entire outfit matches the helmet. My tank is white, and so are my shoes. I hand her my skirt and she tosses it in their cruiser along with her vest.

“I figured you would prefer this instead of riding with us in that.” She nods to the car Ryker is in. “But we need to keep it with us in case of an emergency.”

I’m more confident climbing on the back of her bike this time, and my arms find their home around her waist. “Ready?” Her voice comes through speakers inside my helmet.

“Ready,” I confirm. “Where are we going?”