Page 32 of Lovely Venom

“I support the governor as much as the next guy. Or girl.”

“The plates cost two hundred grand,” he says. “I didn’t take you for—”

“For?” I look up, challenging him to say out loud that just because I got a little crazy with him one night, I can’t drop that amount of cash on one dinner.

He studies me. “Are you a reporter?”

“No.” I straighten my back.

“Are you here with another man?” The visceral tone in Connor’s voice is sharp as a blade.

“No. I’m here for my father. He couldn’t make it.” All of which is so ironically true, I could pass a polygraph.

Connor studies me. “Who’s your father?”

“He donated...” I hesitate. “Anonymously.”

“Hmmm.” His phone ringing and him answering it, speaking Gaelic, reminds me why I’m here.

He’s part of the Irish Mob, and he killed my father. I’msupposedto kill him.Notfuck him.

“Aye?” he answers, looking at me. “Handle it.”

“Problem?” I ask, smiling.

“No,nimh,” he murmurs, finishing his drink. “Are we getting out of here? Are you going to let me make you scream again, or what?”

I feel cold-cocked at the challenge, and all I can do is utter, “Um.”

He smirks wickedly. “Afraid? Ofme?”

That did it. I set my glass down, my taste buds weeping goodbye to the delicious drink I’ll never taste again. “You want me right now?”

“Come outside with me.” His warm mouth hoversover the shell of my ear. “My car can bring us back to my place. Maybe this time I won’t let you leave after one night.”

Heat crawls up my spine, and I’m lightheaded from the Dom P. already. So, I force that shit down.Focus.

I might leave in a body bag when I try to kill him.

Could he know I’m working with the Albanians? Could he have figured out that I’m the daughter of the man he killed? Is this car he mentioned filled with guards at the ready to haul me away?

No, I have to keep control of this.

The warm night air floats into the ballroom from an open French door to the fragrant courtyard, refocusing my mission. Make contact. According to Valdrin, this is our first meeting. To get a leg up for when I strike. God, I want my legs on his shoulders while he plows into me.

But I have to keep him wanting me.

I never forgot about you.

“Well,nimh?” Connor’s eyes sparkle with a dark promise of danger and ruin. “I haven’t got all night. And I promise you, there are plenty of women here who would kill to go home with me.”

We’ve never seen him with a woman.

I study Connor, wanting to spend the next few minutes asking about this nympho nickname he gave me. But I take a deep breath and step back. “Actually...”

Connor’s eyebrows furrow in disbelief, like no woman ever says no to him. “Aye?”

I smile and grip my silver satin clutch. “Rain check, Mr. Quinlan?”