I’m exhausted.
And to think Morgan just asked me to work tomorrow too.
At least she said I could have Monday and Tuesday morning off if I work late on Tuesday.
I need to contact Jack so we can get together on one of those mornings to discuss everything I’ve learned so far, even though it’s not much. I don’t like the way he’s stressing over this case.
The Red Devils are currently wolfing down the food Morgan and I made. Morgan is taking notes so she can improve her cooking.
Morgan is such a gem. Working with her gets more enjoyable every day. And she’s really starting to open up about her life and her family. Apparently, both her daughters go to a college several hours away. She misses them terribly but is happy that they’re doing so well in school.
I feel quite bad about deceiving her, to be honest—but guilt isn’t very professional when you’re in the business of undercover policing.
She would make a good friend, but after this case closes, she’ll never want to lay eyes on me again. I sigh. It comes with the territory, but I’ve never been in an undercover situation where I’ve wished so hard that I wasn’t playing a part.
My gaze glides over the room. Several of the men are coming up to the buffet for a second time.
It looks like the food is a hit tonight.
I notice that Steel has completely stuffed his plate with tacos and nacho casserole for the second time.
His intense gray eyes flicker toward me, and one side of his mouth lifts a little. I frown in confusion—because this is not the hostile look he gives me on a daily basis.
It’s the first time I’ve seen him semi-smile, and it’s…well, it’s kind of nice.
“The look of love,” someone sings in my ear, and I jump in surprise when I see Navy standing next to me, grinning.
“What? Me? Don't be ridiculous. Or were you talking about yourself?” I say with a raised eyebrow, glancing from him to West, and his ears slowly turn red.
“Me? No…ahh…I was talking about the heart eyes you were sending my brother,” he stammers.
I burst out laughing and shake my head.
“I’m sorry to disappoint, Navy, but that’s not happening,” I say. After a pause, I add, “And why are your ears so red?”
The blush now spreads to his cheeks.
“Ooo, look! Dessert,” he says with exaggerated enthusiasm and walks away, but not before throwing a wink over his shoulder at me.
I glance at West eating at a table next to Steel, who is gobbling down his food.
West’s eyes are fixed on Navy. Then he looks at me. The only name for that look is jealousy.
I give West a grin, and he quickly looks the other way. His cheeks also go red, and I could just melt at the sight. They would be so cute together.
As I head back to the kitchen, I scold myself. Because I’m doing that thing they warn you against when you’re training to go undercover.
I’m in danger of taking my fake job more seriously than my real job.
A throat is cleared, and I look up.
Steel is standing a few feet away from me with his hands in his pockets. He looks…uncomfortable.
“Can I say something?” he mumbles while looking me in the eye.
He takes a step closer, apparently thinking hard about what he’s going to say. It’s strange that such a big, brutal-looking man has trouble finding words.
“Uh…I’m sorry,” he mutters at last, and I feel my mouth falling open in surprise.
Did he just…apologize?
“For earlier,” he mutters and looks at the floor.
I follow his eyes and catch sight of his enormous shoes.
“What size shoe do you wear?” I say, then slap my hand to my mouth. I didn’t mean to express my thoughts out loud.
He chuckles, and I look up at him, shocked, my mouth again hanging open wide enough to catch flies.
“Don’t look at me like that,” he growls, his face tightening again.
“I didn’t know the grumpy giant could laugh,” I say with a giggle, and the corners of his mouth turn down. I’m not sure what I’m trying to do here—flirt? Make him hate me?
He sighs, turns, and walks away.
I run after him and grab his arm to stop him. All of a sudden, I know I don’t want him to hate me. Not yet. Plenty of time for that afterward, when we close the case on the MC.
His skin is warm and smooth, almost like satin, but beneath it I feel the steel of pure muscle.
He turns, and I look up into his beautiful gray eyes.
They are really…really…beautiful. Why have I never noticed this before?
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you. I appreciate you coming to apologize,” I say with a smile, hoping to put him at ease.
His shoulders relax, and his face becomes less rigid.
For a moment, I imagine standing on tiptoe to run a hand along the hard line of his jaw, all the way over his stubble to the soft curve of his lips. Then he’d take my finger into his warm, wet mouth and…
I squeeze my thighs together. Hard.
Shit… Focus!
