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Noreen nodded toward me. “If he gives you any trouble, let me know, and I’ll cuff him faster than you can saymighty fine ass.” Her eyes moved over me again.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Serena said, opening her wallet again. “For the lunch he owed you.” She dropped a twenty on the counter and turned to me. “We need to go, honey, if you want to have time to try page two-oh-eight when we get home.”
I noticed Noreen writing the number down.
As we walked out, Serena squeezed my ass. That had to be for Noreen’s benefit, right?
I waited until we’d cleared the door to ask, “What’s on page two-oh-eight?”
“You’ll have to read the book.”
Fat chance.Real men didn’t eat quiche or read that stuff. I also knew better than to ask about the kiss. She’d gotten me out of a jam, and I owed her—end of story.
She checked her purse and let out a relieved sigh when she found a faded photo that she quickly stuffed back into its spot.
I scanned the parking lot for threats as we walked to my truck.
She started scrolling on her phone.
I held out my hand. “I need that.”
She held it out of reach. “No. Why?”
I bleeped the locks on the truck. “To check for clues in your message and call history.”
“No,” she huffed out.
“Yes,” I insisted.
Her face hardened. “Remember the ground rules. I get to keep my life, and right now I have to return my dad’s three calls and call work. You can have it when I’m done.”
I walked her around to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door for her.
She climbed up. “Until then, you just sharpen your knife or whatever bodyguards do.”
I shut the door more forcefully than was called for, but that’s how this opinionated woman and her constant arguments affected me.
CHAPTER 9
Serena
As Duke buckled his seatbelt,I noticed his forearms again, and my mind went right back to the kiss. The memory of my body pressed against his sent heat to my core. The fire intensified when I remembered that gentle brush of his hand against my breast. It teased what getting to second base with him might be like.
Of course the deputy had eyed Duke like he was a prime cut of steak. The man was as hot as all get out, but tough luck, deputy. I’m the one who got to kiss him.
Duke put the car in drive and glanced back at the station. A slight smile curved his lips. Deputy Noreen stood at the door. Her scowl hadn’t changed. That woman did not like me.
Duke turned onto the street. “Don’t you have a call to make before I can have the phone to do my job?” he barked.
His tone was a clear signal that the kiss might have affected me, but for him it had been subterfuge to get him out of dinner with the deputy. And I’d initiated it, not him. He’d merelyplayed along. If it had affected him the way it did me, wouldn’t he at least be nice?
I selected Dad’s contact and called.
“Hey, Munchkin, I’ve been worrying about you. I called and you didn’t pick up.”
I sighed. “Dad, I can’t always answer, you know that. What’s up?”
“How about we meet for ice cream? I have something I’d like to talk to my little girl about.”
