Page 170 of Innocent

No, I’m not fluent like him, but I can swear and safeword in six languages besides English, thanks to this bastard sitting right here. Thankfully, I spot a server heading our way, carrying a bag that looks like it’s holding a takeout container.

I point. “I think your order’s ready.”

It can’t be a coincidence that osso buco happened to be the special listed on the sidewalk board out front tonight, and likely something that’d be ready to come out of the kitchen quickly.

Sure enough, the server has Leo’s order.

Leo stands, smiling as Alexa finishes her text reply and looks up. “Going so soon?”

He holds up the bag. “I really need to run. I don’t want to keep the vice president waiting, and I’m sure Jordan doesn’t want me cock-blocking him on his date. It was so lovely meeting you.” He bows as he kisses her hand again, then nods at me. “Jordan. We’ll talk soon.”

The assholeactuallyplants his hand on my head andrufflesmy fricking hair before he walks away.

Mother.

Fucker.

He might as well have licked me, and then dropped his damned pants and pissed all over me.

Marking his goddamned territory.

Oh, not that Alexa picked up on any of it.

That was all formybenefit.

It’s even more proof to me that I need to have it out with him,becauseof the way my body feels right now.

Because I’mconditionedto respond to him.

But Ineedto know this man’s going to do right by Elliot and me before I give in to Leo Cruz again. Elliot will probably be our next president, and Icannothave Leo fucking around and not taking this seriously.

I won’t let him fuck shit up for Elliot. I know Leo would be happier if Elliot didn’t run for POTUS, but my first priority is Elliot.

Unless or untilhedecides he’s done, I will fight as hard as I need to for him.

“He seems nice,” she gushes as she watches him leave. “I’ve seen him before, but I don’t think I’ve ever spoken to him.”

I glance back and yeah, he’s fuckingsauntering. Rolling that ass and knowing I love the damned view.

Of course I do, and he knows it.

He steps outside and a car pulls up to the curb. Leo doesn’t look back as he climbs inside what I’m assuming is a car being driven by a Secret Service agent. It pulls away.

That’s when it hits me—he fucking followed me from Elliot’s. He must have.

I know damn well he couldn’t have put a tracker on either of these two phones, and I didn’t tell Elliot where I was taking Alexa for dinner. Leo wasn’t standing close enough to us outside to overhear where we decided to eat.

I’mtotallyfucking rattled now. I never even saw Leo following me.

And that’s his whole frickingpoint, I suppose.

Well, shit.

He’s going to spank me for walking, I bet.

That’s when my work cell rings, and I see it’s Leo calling. Ofcoursehe’s not going to text me something personal on this phone. That would leave a trail.

I hold up a finger to Alexa before I answer. “Yeah?”