Page 19 of Desperate Justice

He didn’t trust her fully, but he knew she would not jeopardize this opportunity.

Not because of her own pretty hide, but her sister’s.

Like him, Allison would do anything for her family. Including sneak him onto the Hernandez compound on the pretext of hiring him as a florist and landscaper for the wedding.

He consulted his burner phone. No wire or button camera, either. Hernandez would surely have devices to scan for that. But he was ready.

A late model black sedan pulled up to the curb. Rafe watched as Allison got out of the passenger side and came over. They’d agreed to meet in the shopping plaza of a well-known Miami mall.

Her gaze raked over him once, twice.

“You look different.”

Rafe rubbed his smooth cheeks. “I shaved.”

“Hope you showered as well.”

He gave a faint smile. “Yeah, I did.”

Allison glanced at the truck.

“You can’t take that onto Starfish Island. You’re coming with us.”

“I know. This is my cover. In case.”

“In case what? You need to cut some grass along the way?”

Allison always had been cheeky. “In case anyone is watching you and your sister, and me by default.”

She rolled her eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go.”

“Wait.” He glanced at the waiting car, where her sister sat behind the wheel. “Same rules as your last assignment. If anything goes south, or sideways, you and your sister get the hell out of there. If you even get a whiff of danger, it’s over. Get in the car and leave.”

Allison didn’t even blink. “What about you?”

Was that a flicker of concern in her eyes? “I’m a trained agent. I can take care of myself. I’ve done many undercover assignments.”

“Oh? You won’t fool anyone like that. I made it clear my sister agreed to this because she thinks you’re a potential friend...with benefits. So act as if you like me and we aren’t standing here having a convo about yard clippings. Diana’s sure to be watching us.”

Rafe hesitated only a minute and then briefly touched his mouth to hers. To his shock, Allison threw her arms around his neck and gave him a deep kiss. The kind of kiss a woman in love would give to her man, but whoa, he hadn’t been expecting anything more than a peck on the mouth.

This was a full head-on collision with a soft, warm mouth that tasted like sin and sunshine with hints of peppermint and coffee. Rafe slid his arms around her slim waist and pulled her closer, wanting more. Forget looking good for her sister. He wanted this, from the moment she’d sat in his office months ago, scowling at him in pure defiance when he’d coerced her into becoming a confidential informant.

Allison made a little humming sound, and as his tongue was about to invade her mouth, a car horn honked.

They jumped back. Color suffused her cheeks. She licked her lips and looked as confused and stunned as he felt.

“Guess we’d better go.” He jerked a thumb at the car. “Your sister’s waiting.”

He opened the passenger door for her and then climbed into the back. Diana, in the driver’s seat, didn’t turn to greet him.

“Hello, Ms. Lexington. I’m Rafael Lopez,” he said, using a distant cousin’s last name. “You can call me Rafe.”

In the rearview mirror, he saw disapproval in her brown eyes. “I don’t know why Ally thinks your flower shop can help with the wedding.”

She turned to her sister and frowned. “You owe me for this.’

Surprised to see Allison look meek, he watched her. “I know, sis.”