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Tess stares straight at me, her eyes narrowing slightly while she leans in, closing the gap between us. “The crime isn’t in talking to me, Declan.” She jabs her fork at me. “It’s that other thing you like to do with your mouth when I’m around that gets you punched in the face.”
“Careful now.” I say it quietly, lowering my voice to barely more than a whisper. “We both know what happens when you poke at me.”
Her cheeks instantly flush. Her fingers go slack around the fork she’s wielding like a weapon. She’s remembering what happened when she showed up at my place a few months ago. The way I pinned her to the wall. How good it felt when I cock-stroked her through her jeans. How close I was to carrying her inside and—
“Hey, mind if I join you guys?”
Goddamnit.
Tilting my head to the side just enough to look up, I skewer my cousin with an icy glare. “Yes,” I say, letting my gaze slide past him. Nora is standing at her podium, pointing her bony finger at some poor slob in a suit. He must’ve pissed her off because he looks like his nuts are shriveled to the size of raisins and he’s on the verge of tears. She’s not paying us any attention but I’d bet my life she’s the one who called Patrick.
Ignoring me, Patrick gives Tess an easy-going grin. That grin is a lie. He’s not the even-keel nice guy he used to be. Not by a long shot. The only thing keeping him from starting shit with me is the fact that Benny’s is fucking Switzerland where the Gilroys are concerned. “Hen, Cari and Grace are on their way to the garage to kidnap you,” he says, taking a step back to give her room to slide her way out of the booth. “Try to act surprised when they get there.”
Shooting me one last look, Tess sets down her fork and stands. “Thanks for the reminder,” she tells him. Standing on the toes of her boots to close the distance between them, she plants a kiss on his cheek. “You can have my milkshake.”
Then she leaves without a backward glance.