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There was no denying it.
“Hello, men,” she said as if that was a dirty word. “Do you often crash parties you weren’t invited to, or were you just standing out there listening?”
My blood pounded in my ears. “Neither. We were heading home from work when I got a panicked call from your brother. He’s been messaging your phone, but ye didn’t answer. As I had news to share anyway, I said I’d check in. No one answered my knock, so I let myself in.”
“Sounds reasonable,” said one of the lasses in the audience.
Ariel, though, seemed only more irritated. “I’ve been on the phone to Viola.”
“Hey, sorry,” trilled Viola’s voice from the phone in her hand. “Is that ye, Jackson? Baby Torran says hi.”
I allowed a small smile. In the hospital, I’d mostly stood guard outside of the private suite, but Viola and Leo had called me in for the terrifying act of holding the baby. As he and his big brother, Finn, were top of my protection list, I’d memorised his wee face. “How’s the lad doing?”
“So good. He’s already lifting his head, and this morning… Oh wait, Ariel probably has something to say to ye. Shutting up.”
Ariel’s glower fixed on me. “If you’d have just called, I would’ve seen someone was trying to get hold of me and there would’ve been no need to stumble in.”
I shrugged, a little infuriated. “I don’t have your number.”
“Definitely swap numbers,” Viola breathed.
The other women made similar noises, Daisy included.
Our eye contact intensified. Neither of us spoke. Utter heat zapped me, and I breathed out through my nose like a fucking bull, my chest rising and falling.
That damn mouth of hers. She’d stained her lips a dusky rose colour, which matched her lacey top. The delicate piece of fabric had thin straps I could wrap around a finger. Peel down her arms.
“Anyway,” Valentine said from behind. “While the two of ye brand each other with your eyes, how about this party? How are ye all doing, ladies?”
Daisy gave up a laugh. “Everyone’s spoken for, so save your flirting.”
He barged past, rubbing his hands together. “Nothing wrong with practice. Is that tequila shots? Got one for me?”
Someone laughed and set him up with a shot. I couldn’t drag my gaze from the woman in front of me. Despite being shorter than me by almost a head, she carried a weighty presence.
“Ariel?” Daisy called, breaking our staring competition.
“What?” Ariel muttered.
“Jackson said he came with news. Want to find it out?”
I took the prompt and ran with it. “I’ve been away all day but that doesnae mean I neglected your case.”
“My case,” she scoffed.
I set my hand on the doorframe next to her head. “Aye, your case. Our police contact gave a description of the man who stole the car that hit yours. A witness rang it in. Male, five eleven, sandy hair, very slim build. Sound like Larson?”
She swallowed.
Daisy appeared behind her, her eyes wide. “Exactly like him.”
Shite.Then I was right.
A sense of dread chased my brimming lust.
If I’d had any doubt, it fled.
I kept going. “I ran another passport trace, the results of which should be back by morning. I know Ben planned to ask ye about any other person who might have a reason to wish ye harm. An ex, maybe.”
