Page 5

“I know.” I tug at my too-stiff collar.
I don’t know why Hawthorne is here, but I’d rather not find out tonight when there is a civilian to complicate things.
“Meet me in the back,” I mutter to Cruz. “And disable the alarms.”
I stand up before Hawthorne can consider following my “date” and weave through the tables with ease, not like a man clocking every exit and running every worst-case scenario through his head. I wanted excitement. I got it. Now I hope I can get rid of this girl before I put her in danger.
I duck into the back hallway near the bathrooms, barely obscured from Hawthorne’s view.
“Still watching,” Cruz says.
The bathroom door opens and Amelia startles. “Oh, Chad. You scared me.”
“Sorry,” I offer a grin that I know will make the dimple in my chin crease, giving me the cover of innocence I need. “I’m already finding I can’t be without you for a moment.”
Cruz’s laugh is instant. “That was so lame.”
“Aw,” Amelia coos, reaching up to play with the lapel of my suit coat. “I was worried I would hate you. But you’re not that bad.”
I’ve definitely received better compliments.
I grab her wrist, tugging her into the wall with me, and out of Hawthorne’s line of sight.
“What are you doing?” Amelia gasps as she falls into my chest. Her gaze darts over my face before landing on my lips.
My thumb brushes the silky, smooth skin of her lower back and she shivers. “I wanted a minute alone with you.”
“That’s so sweet.” Her hand skates around my back and right over the gun under my suit coat. Da—
“What’s that?” she shrieks, shoving away from me.
“It’s not what you think,” I say, attempting to pull her back or quiet her, either one will do.
“I think it’s a gun.” She hisses the last word, but I swear it reverberates around every inch of the restaurant beyond us. “You are going to kill me!”
This time I grab her around the waist and spin, pressing her against the wall. “I’m not going to hurt you,” I growl. “I’m trying to keep you out of danger.”
“The ear scratching, the watching!” Her eyes narrow before widening. “You’re a cop!” She pokes my chest, with a little too much glee.
My pulse kicks up a notch. She’s going to blow my whole cover.
“I’m not a cop,” I whisper, but she doesn’t seem to hear me.
“Are you undercover? You must be a detective. Oh my gosh, this is so exciting, what should I do? I’ve never been undercover before.” She jumps up and down in my arms. “Who are you following? Do I kno—”
“Shut her up!” Serena yells in my ear.
I mentally race through my limited options and choose the quickest one.
I kiss her.
Whatever calm and chaste kiss I’d been imagining, is replaced the second my lips meet hers. Amelia takes control of this kiss like it was her idea. And I…don’t hate it. Her tongue glides over my bottom lip, and a part of my brain, the part that I’m supposed to be using right now, threatens to shut down.
I spin with her still crushed to my chest, settling her against the emergency exit.
She lets out a soft gasp but only kisses me harder. My right hand goes rogue, sliding down the curve of her spine. I hit the bow at the back of her dress and snap back to my senses.
She’s in danger.