Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57423 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 287(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 191(@300wpm)
“No one pays attention to that clause,” Charlotte added. “He also tried to put in a no dating anyone from the office rule. Half of us are married to each other. He’s just upset because you’re excellent bait.”
“What is that supposed to mean?”
Tag grunted, but Charlotte continued on. “It hasn’t come up yet, but sometimes we need to send in someone to flirt with a target and get information.”
“See, then it would be fine if you wanted to hop into bed.” Big Tag started to pace.
“I’m not your honey trap, Ian.” He was never going to play that way. “Talk to Matt. I’m sure he’ll be happy to screw someone over for intel.”
There was a knock on the door, and Jamal popped in, holding a familiar item in his hand. “Found it.”
“I told you he wouldn’t have allowed someone to follow him.” Wade nodded Ian’s way. “I’ll go with Jamal to Hutch’s office and see if he can figure out who left this present. West, you need to do a search every time you get in the car.”
“I’m still not sure he’s employed here,” Big Tag argued. “After all, I’m the one who has to deal with her stepdad. The man is going to have questions. And her mom is going to drop a bomb on our heads.”
“That’s why you get paid the big bucks.” He wanted to get back to Ally. “If there’s nothing else…”
“West.” Big Tag stood with his hands on his hips. “This is a bad idea.”
“I’m ready to work however you would like me to, but I’m not leaving her until she tells me to go.” Even then, he might end up watching her from afar.
Tag groaned, and there were a bunch of curse words mumbled under his breath.
“Well, I think you’ll make a gorgeous couple,” Charlotte said with a big grin.
A buzzing sound came over the line. “Ian, I’ve got Gavin Jacks on the line for you.”
Ian’s eyes narrowed, and if a man could shoot lasers from the fiery depths of his soul, that man would be Ian Taggart.
It was definitely time to leave.
And hope Ally wasn’t angry with him.
“Let me know when you find out who tagged my car.” The best way to deal with the beast was to power through. “Thanks for the pep talk, boss.”
Ian growled.
And West made his very hasty exit.
Chapter Five
Ally watched as West drove away and prayed nothing was too wrong.
“So what shall we do with our evening, Ms. Pearson?” Matt Edwards was handsome, but he had absolutely nothing on West. He was charming, but she was good at figuring out who was authentic and who was trying to play her.
West wouldn’t know how to play her. It wouldn’t even occur to him to try. He hadn’t even tried to hide his feelings. When he was annoyed with her, he told her. When he was happy, she knew that, too.
Is it because you’re into me?
She’d expected him to hedge, to shrug off the question like it was no big deal because he wasn’t going to admit he might have feelings for her. That would give her the edge in the game of flirtation.
Maybe.
That was when she’d known beyond all doubt, it wasn’t a game to him.
“I need to get up to the room. I have work to do.” She didn’t. She’d planned on asking West if he wanted to watch a movie while they ate their forbidden pizza. She was supposed to be eschewing carbs, but he was right. They’d burned a lot of calories today.
It had been an awful day that she would likely forever remember as one of her favorites. Hiking with West had been peaceful, and she’d never felt so safe.
What if something had happened and she didn’t get to see him again? What if he got pulled off the case for some reason, and no one ever told her why?
“I was hoping we could have dinner.” Matt followed her to the elevators.
“Sure. You can order whatever you like. I think food is part of the contract.” She wasn’t about to not feed the guy.
But she would wait to see if West came back. Any hunger she’d had was morphed into anxiety about West. She touched the button to call the elevator as her cell rang.
She glanced down. It was her sister. “Hey, Brynn.”
“Hey, what’s going on with that hunky guy?” There was a wealth of amusement in Brynn’s tone. “He’s gorgeous, and you look… I’m not joking, you look amazing. Where were you?”
And just like that, she knew why West had been called in. Someone had taken pictures of them. She hadn’t seen a photographer following them, but those fuckers could work miracles with telephoto lenses. “Damn it. Someone followed us? That was fast. I literally got back from the hike a few minutes ago. Which site is it?”