Page 19 of The Beat Match

Annie watched Marjory gather her things, unsure if she was referring to Weston or Felix the rabbit-squirrel. Probably the rabbit, considering his separation anxiety.

“You seem fine to me,” she told the bunny once they were on their own. He really did. Not stressed or panicked. She could take the little dude home and sneak out. Leave him in her room with the lights on. Weston would never know. But she would. He rarely asked her for favors, and she did owe him. For more than the cash he’d loaned her.

“As I live and breathe.”

Annie turned. Duncan was beaming at her, his bright teeth flashing. Some dentist somewhere had earned a few bucks straightening and whitening those suckers. “Fancy meeting you here,” she said, pleased to have a distraction from her frustrations.

“Considering I work here, it’s not a stretch. And I see you’ve met Weston’s new fur child. A striking resemblance, if you ask me.”

The bunny twitched its cute nose. “They have the same eyes.”

“So…” Duncan circled her, a panther on the prowl. He propped his hip on Marjory’s desk. “Did you stop by to see me?”

“Unfortunately, no. I’m on rabbit-squirrel duty.” She pointed at the animal.

“What’s a rabbit-squirrel?”

“Just go with it.”

He nodded, unperturbed by her oddness. “Well, I consider this my lucky day. This finally gives me a chance to ask you out.”

She laughed at his boldness. She might have flirted on the phone, but the prospect of them dating was comical. He was as stylish as Weston, all done up in a charcoal suit and silk tie. She wore knee-high leggings under her lace skirt, a floral tank blouse on top. Her striped scarf was knotted around her neck, with funky ankle boots and a pink purse rounding out her whimsical outfit. Bohemian style next to his swanky elegance. Pretty much how she looked next to Wes. The thought made her frown.

“Let me guess—Weston warned you away from me?” Duncan didn’t look annoyed. Amusement lit his eyes.

“He did. But he warns me away from most things.”

Duncan twisted his cufflink, aligning it slowly. “Does his controlling nature bother you?”

“Sometimes.” Always.

He released his cufflink and met her eyes, unabashed. “So go out with me.”

This guy was too much. “As what? A way to get back at him?”

“For whatever reason you want. But I’ll warn you in advance, I’m pretty killer on a date. Once we’re out, I can’t be responsible for you falling for me.”

“Aren’t you a cocky one?”

He shrugged. Total player, like Weston worried, but Duncan was straightforward, and he was easy on the eyes. This brash routine of his would get old, but she could handle a guy like him for a date or two. Even better, saying yes could help her get that elevator altercation off her mind: the weight of Wes’s hand on her back, the slight dig of his fingers into her skin. Ugh.

“Why not,” she said quickly. “Let me know when you’re free.”

He stood from the desk edge and inched closer. “I’m free tonight.”

“You don’t waste time, do you?”

“Not when I’m talking to a beautiful woman.”

Yep, player central. She sidestepped him and fanned her hand toward the cage. “Unfortunately, I’ll be busy watching the rabbit-squirrel tonight. And before you ask, he’s not allowed to be left alone.” She mouthed the words abandonment issues in case the bunny understood human.

“I won’t pretend like any of that makes sense, but I could come over and keep you company.” He dragged his gaze down her body.

Casanova needed to dial down his hormones. “You’re nice enough, Duncan, but I don’t do first dates in my apartment. Or second dates.” She hadn’t lost her street smarts when she quit living on the streets.

“What if I can get you a rabbit-squirrel sitter?”

Now that had promise. A sitter meant she could see Falcon after all. “Seriously? Who?”