Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 72561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 72561 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 363(@200wpm)___ 290(@250wpm)___ 242(@300wpm)
“You should’ve done those police grates that separates the cops from the criminals between the booths. It would’ve looked cute,” I said absentmindedly.
“That’s a good idea,” Loki’s deep voice said from my side.
I jumped, startled to see him that close.
He was standing directly in front of the table, surprising me, because I’d been so into the décor that I hadn’t paid attention to my surroundings.
Something that I never forgot.
“Hey,” I said distractedly. “Are you ready to go or something?”
Loki had worked this afternoon, and while he’d done that, I’d gone in early and finished all of my work that I usually saved for when the mortuary was less crowded. But I’d had few distractions today, enabling me to get out early and come to the bar for dinner.
I’d been surprised to find my father already here, but he fit in well with the crowd, and I was grateful.
I would’ve hated to have to choose between Loki and my dad.
“Did you happen to see anybody or anything following you today or yesterday?” he asked nonchalantly.
Thinking back to when I drove yesterday and today, I thought about how many people were following me. I’d stopped counting at four, but there could’ve been more.
“Three bikes, and a police car. The bikes were further back than the car, but I caught on about a mile away from my house...why?” I asked. “I thought you put them on me.”
He looked stunned. “I did.”
I cocked my head to the side, wondering why he was looking at me like that. “Then what’s the problem?” I asked.
He shook his head, a smile tipping up the corner of his lips. “Nothing. I just wanted to know how many you saw.”
“Cleo and Sterling were good. I clocked Tunnel in his cop car first. I saw Silas last. I probably wouldn’t have seen him, either, if I hadn’t gone out the back. He was sitting in the very edge of my yard in the shadows. Is he a spook or something?” I wondered.
My dad taught me most of what he knew when it came to defenses, blending all that he knew from the other branches into one long lesson that spanned years. Too bad all the lessons in the world didn’t help me when I needed it the most.
If it had, I wouldn’t be as fucked up as I was.
My innocence was lost that night, even if I didn’t have it, technically, taken from me.
I was blissfully unaware of how horrible life could really be. About as innocent as the tiny little baby napping on my chest.
The baby that Loki was looking at, with such longing, that my heart started to palpitate in my chest.
“You look good holding a baby,” he said huskily.
I wrinkled my nose at him, but didn’t reply, wanting... no, needing, to change the subject.
Quickly.
Luckily, Baylee did that for me. “Alright, chicks. I’ve got to tinkle. Who’s with me?”
Adeline scooted out next, and then held her arms out for the baby. “I am. Saylor needs a diaper change. And I need to go, too. Giving birth didn’t do anything for my bladder like I thought it would.”
Slowly the booth emptied, as they all trailed to the bathroom in a line, weaving in and out of the crowd as they went.
I stayed, though. Just looking at Loki held me captivated.
He looked good.
He’d showered somewhere in between this morning and this evening.
He was dressed in a long sleeved red Henley, dark washed jeans, and his black leather vest that he called his cut.
I’d gotten a whole entire lecture on the etiquette required when wearing The Dixie Wardens cut, and what each patch on the cut meant. How I was supposed to act and not act when I was representing the club colors, even though I didn’t wear club colors. All the while he walked around, pacing and talking, drawing my eyes to his muscled arms, strong jaw, and even his bare feet.
I was embarrassed to say that while he was explaining what the cut meant to him, I was busy trying to control my raging libido. There he was trying to explain the importance of the colors, and I was thinking about throwing those colors on the ground and devouring him with my mouth.
“What are you looking at?” He asked, startling me out of my revere of his flat tummy and muscled thighs.
My eyes automatically zeroed in on his crotch, and I licked my lips, causing him to burst out laughing.
I glanced up at him guiltily. “Sorry, you look good in those jeans. I’ve been staring at your ass all night.”
I wasn’t sorry in the least, and he knew it.
The smile he shot me was disarming.
“Do you want to dance?” he asked.
I looked around the room, seeing nowhere to dance, and then back to him.
“Where would we do that?” I asked curiously.
I’d never danced before. In fact, I’d go as far as to say I’d never wanted to dance before. However, I’d do just about anything with this man. If he wanted to dance with me, than I’d damn well do it.
I was on the verge of scooting over in the booth I was sitting at when Loki’s name was called by some woman I didn’t know, grabbing his attention from me.
I about choked on my tongue when I saw the woman that came out of the woodwork to stop next to Loki.
She leaned into him and spoke quietly in his ear before turning and walking away.
He watched her go, which made me see red.
However, he didn’t give me the chance to show him how mad I was. Instead, he walked over to me quickly, gave me a quick kiss on the cheek, and muttered, “I’ll be back.”
He didn’t wait to see what I had to say about that, only followed after the stunning blonde who, even if she gained thirty pounds and had a double chin, would still look better than me.
Fuck.
That.
I’d be getting my fucking dance.
Even if I had to piss him off before I got it.
***
Loki
“What did the chief have to say about you keeping me updated on the case?” I asked Eurie.