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"I didn’t get you the damn job," he said "I recoas he drove the incredibly busy streets with an ease she never could have ed "I carry the knife because it’s handy"

He shook his head "It’s "

"Such a pretty liar" He stopped for a red light and looked at her "You wantit after all these years?"

Hell no

"Maybe you wanted to keep a piece ofher Of course since it was also the truth, she got annoyed all over again "Or," she said, "I want to be able to take a piece out of anyone I need to Including you, if you get too close Don’t think I won’t"

This won her a s perfectly and he’d expected no less "So you’re ?" he asked

"Just for the evening, and then we go back to World War III But yeah, for tonight, I’ve got your back, whatever you need" She realized her mistake the minute the words left hershe had to look down to make sure her clothes hadn’t melted off Holy Cow Where had all that heat coed "Within reason, of course"

"Look at you," he "

Is that what he thought? "Have I ever gone back onlook "No Never Are you trying to tellbefore she got herself in trouble

At her silence, he shook his head, a sh the city, still easily navigating the anything but easy to navigate streets of don San Francisco

"Since we’re in atheir silence "You’re a knockout tonight"

She looked at hi to soften me up?" she asked

"Definitely," he said "But it’s also true"

She earing one of her favorite dresses, noith his suit jacket around her shoulders This left hi with his trousers fit hi legs His sleeves were rolled up Tie loose His hair was slightly mussed and he could clearly care less, which of course only made hiirl to not fall head over heels "You’re not looking too bad yourself," she grudgingly ad herself not to read into his state with hyperawareness

They didn’t speak again The only reason she even knehere they were going was because she’d read the invitation that day in his office And sure enough, tenin the underground parking lot of a beautiful brick and glass building

"The restaurant that’s hosting the party is up on the top floor," he said as he opened his door He turned back to her, maybe to ask her to stay while he checked to see if they were even welcome, but she slipped out of the truck too quickly for that "Guarding your body," she re her, but then he surprised her by taking her hand

Which she allowed only because of their truce They took the elevator up with another couple ere lip locked for the entire ride And not just lip locked but hand and leg locked too, really going to town, running their hands over each other like they were searching for ticks They got off on the floor before the restaurant and she let out the laugh she’d been barely holding on to and aze His mouth was curved into a s heat in the pit of her belly