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Dusk had arrived and Asher drove a safe distance behind Lars to remain undetected. They’d driven along the coastline heading into Whitby Falls, the larger growing city where business was booming. Commercial office buildings lined the Main Street that was such a stunning contrast to the small village in Stoney Creek.
Driving down First Street, Asher remained four cars back, and when Lars pulled into a parking spot in front of a restaurant, Asher pulled into the next spot he saw. He cut the ignition and he ground his teeth when Lars entered the restaurant beneath the Antonio’s sign. He’d never eaten at the restaurant himself, but the name registered as familiar.
“What?” Remy asked.
A slight chill ran up his spine. Not wanting to scare her before he understood the full situation, he shook his head at her and then reached for his cell phone in the cup holder. He hit call and the phone rang twice. “Hey, it’s Asher. Remy’s in the car with me.”
“Hey to you both,” Boone said. “What’s up?”
Asher knew the response he was going to get, and he spotted the widening of Remy’s eyes as he said, “That organized crime case you worked last year, where again was their meetup?”
“Antonio’s in Whitby Falls,” Boone said.
Shit. “All right,” Asher said beneath his breath, locking down his expression to show no emotion. “Thanks Boone. We gotta go.”
A pause. “Should I be concerned here?”
“I’ll let you know if there’s anything to worry about.” Asher ended the call, not wanting to get into this with Remy sitting next to him. When she told him about the guy in her shop, he knew she’d been afraid. He was beginning to understand why. Damon had friends in dark, underground places where people didn’t settle fights with fists, they settled them with gunshots. “Come on,” he finally said to Remy, grabbing hold of the door handle. “Let’s go see who he’s with.” He opened his door and got out, finding Remy slowly following him, giving him an are you kidding me look.
“I don’t know what you’ve been smoking today,” she said when he walked around the hood of his car. “But I am not going in that restaurant.”
“I’m not asking you to.” He took her hand, and a deep part of himself warmed when she didn’t pull away. She was slowly beginning to trust him again. That was a start, and that meant he was doing right by her.
The restaurant appeared to be a long rectangular space. It had a fancy wood sign with light spilling out of the glass windows. Asher weaved his way through the people on the sidewalk and then stopped near the entrance. He put his back to the front window and brought Remy close to him, liking the way she gasped in surprise.
Her hands pressed against his chest and her heated eyes came to his, her tongue darting out over her lips. All the heat that had been contained for two weeks suddenly spilled out between them. Asher knew why. Remy hadn’t let him touch her, always staying at a careful distance. Now there was only the lasting imprint of how he knew her body and how he could make her feel.
Damn. He wanted to take her up on that invitation, and it took everything inside of him not to claim her mouth right then and there. He slid his hand over her back, bringing her just a bit closer against the hardest part of him. Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes held his firmly. “Look in the restaurant and see if you see him.”
She blinked, all the heat fading quickly. “Right. We’re on assignment.”
He chuckled softly, and yet, her sweet body against his made him grow even harder. She moved her head a little, staring into the restaurant, and he became lost in her. She felt perfect there in his arms, close and safe to him. Part of him wished this would be enough for her. That they could spend time together like they had been and keep things light. Life finally felt good again, like things were turning around for the better. The other part of him knew Remy. She loved love. She wanted the ring, the house, and the marriage. Asher knew what all those things did to love. He couldn’t follow in his parents’ footsteps. He couldn’t hurt her. “Do you see him in there?” he asked, getting his head back into the game.
She shook her head. “He’s not in the front anywhere, but I can’t see the back very well.”
“Then let’s get a better look.” He took her hand again, then led her down the narrow alleyway off to the side of the entrance. When they reached the back of the building, he noticed a window there. He tugged her into him. She gasped, her hooded eyes connecting with his as her warm breasts pressed against him. Hot and hard, and just as ready, he grasped her hips and lifted her slightly. “How about now?” He heard the huskiness in his own voice.
She gripped the edge of the window. “Oh, wait,” she said, a little breathless. “Yeah, I see him. He’s sitting at the table in the center of the room.”
Asher slowly lowered her down and reached for his cell phone in his pocket. He took a step forward, pressing her tighter against the wall, and he bit back a groan when his cock brushed against her bottom. Cautious and careful, he took five photos quickly and then made sure they were clear. “We need to find out who these other guys are.”
She turned to face him, and she became so close he could feel the heat emanating off her. “Yes.”
Asher kept her pinned between him and the wall and he opened a text to Boone: When you get a chance, need to know who these guys are sitting around the guy in the white shirt. His name is Lars Violi.
Boone’s reply came a second later. Gonna tell me what this is all about?
Tomorrow.
I’ll get what you need.
Asher returned his phone to his pocket, and when he looked back up, he met the heat swirling in the depths of Remy’s eyes. He pressed his hands on either side of her head against the brick wall, pressing himself into her lithe body. Maybe he should step away, stop this in its tracks, but there was no turning back now, not when she looked at him like she’d been starved of him. Years ago, he’d made all the decisions, and that ruined her. All of this, every single thing now, was on her terms. “We don’t have to do this again, if you don’t want,” he reminded her, gently giving her an out.
“Yeah, well, I want to,” she breathed, grabbing hold of his T-shirt beneath his leather jacket.
He dropped his mouth close to hers and placed his leg between hers, teasing her with what he could deliver. “You want me?” he asked, feathering his lips across hers.
“Yes,” she rasped, reaching for more.
