Chapter Twenty

The things I do in the line of duty.

The brand-new monkey suit Dayne wore felt like a straitjacket and not because it didn’t fit right. It was probably the best-fitting suit he’d ever worn. But wearing it—he was a fraud, an imposter trying to blend in someplace he didn’t belong.

Remy lay in front of the fireplace then sat up to watch. Her jaws cracked and when she began panting, he could swear his dog was laughing at him.

The gate bell chimed, then his cell vibrated with two incoming texts. One from Kade, telling him they’d be here in twenty seconds, and another from the outside guard, informing him two vehicles were passing through the gates.

Kade had texted him earlier to say he needed to make a few adjustments to the security system and that he’d bring along some “company.”

A moment later, someone pounded on the door. Remy barked and bolted to the foyer. When Dayne opened the door, five sets of eyes went as wide as silver dollars.

Kade, Markus, Jaime, Eric, and Eric’s fiancée, Tess, gaped at him. For a full five seconds, no one said a word. Then the snarky comments flew at breakneck speed.

“Yo, double-oh-seven. You gonna let us in?”

“Heading to the prom?”

“He looks like a giant penguin.”

“Bond. James Bond. Shaken, not stirred.”

Tess pushed past his friends and stood on her tiptoes to drop a kiss on his cheek. “I think you look very handsome.”

“Thank you, Tess.” Dayne still felt like a complete dork. He gave Tess a quick hug then released her and stood aside to let his friends in. “One of you want to tell me what you’re all doing here?”

“We were in the neighborhood.” Eric shook Dayne’s hand then clapped him on the shoulder. “Tess wanted to go antiquing in the area, so here we are.” The groan in his friend’s voice was accompanied by a sappy grin the man had been wearing since the day Tess blew back into his life.

He held back his laughter. Eric loved antiquing about as much as a dog loved fleas, but he absolutely adored Tess and would do anything for her. Since buying his fiancée a little store in Flemington, New Jersey, she’d been dragging Eric everywhere to shop for crafts, antiques, and all kinds of trinkets to stock the place with.

“The rest of us,” Jaime said, crouching to ruffle Remy’s ears, “are here to help Kade tweak the new system. Then we’re ordering in from the Clausland Tavern for pizza.”

Dayne’s mouth watered. The Clausland Tavern made the best pizza around, and he wished he could join his friends. It would be a whole lot better than the snooty food he’d be getting at the gala tonight.

He held out his hand to Markus, who stood silent and grim off to the side. Something had been eating at the man since he’d shown up two years ago with one helluva deep cut on his forehead. One day, Markus would talk about it. Bad things happen when a man keeps heavy shit bottled up inside.

A sharp yip came from the second floor, followed by tiny puppy feet scampering down the stairs.

“Angus, my man.” Jaime scooped up the puppy, letting Angus lick him a few times before holding the wriggling puppy out to Markus. “Here. You haven’t been kissed in a while.”

The hint of a smile curved Markus’s lips as he took the pup from Jaime and let Angus clean his chin.

High heels clicked as Kat glided down the stairs into the foyer, looking so regal and so incredibly beautiful Dayne was struck utterly dumb. For the last four days, he’d tried not to think about kissing her again. Since then, they’d avoided each other as much as possible and barely spoken. Now he couldn’t talk even if he wanted to.

Her rich chestnut hair was pulled back into a cluster of curls, and as she turned to greet his friends, the glittery clip in her hair shimmered like jewels. Her gown was just as glittery, reminding him of pale pink champagne. Tiny sleeves fell just off her shoulders, displaying the graceful curves of her upper arms and shoulders and making him want to kiss every inch of exposed skin.

The dress’s neckline dipped to a deep vee, stopping just short of baring the tops of her breasts, while the rest of the gown hugged her torso and hips, flaring at the bottom in pink waves. Dayne hadn’t known his mouth hung open until Eric’s hand beneath his chin nudged it shut.

“You look amazing,” Tess said.

“Thank you.” Kat gave Tess a quick hug. “How’s Rosie doing? Are she and Tiger still getting along well?”

“You should see them together.” Tess whipped out her phone and pulled up pics Dayne had already seen of Eric’s Dutch Shepherd K-9, Tiger, and the pretty Australian sheepdog-shepherd Tess had adopted from the Haven.

Kat shifted to look at the phone, and holy hell. He’d thought the front of her dress was eye-catching. I’m doomed.

The back of the dress draped—no, make that swooped—teasingly low to just above her waist, leaving most of her back exposed. All that smooth, creamy skin called to him like an ice cream cone to a kid on a 95-degree day. He wanted to lick every last inch. Someone gulped, and damned if it wasn’t him.

Jaime unclipped his cell and began snapping shots of Dayne. “I gotta send these to Nick and Matt.”

Kade and Eric joined in, and the air filled with the snapping clicks of cell phone cameras.

Dayne gritted his teeth so hard they squeaked. “Knock. It. Off.”

Kat stepped closer, massaging her chin as she examined the tux. “Something is a bit off. I wonder…” She pulled open the right side of the jacket, exposing his Glock. “Must you really wear this dastardly weapon of death? It ruins the cut.”

He shot her an unwavering stare. “I really must.”

She released the jacket. “Touchy this evening, aren’t we?”

Tess giggled. “That, he is.”

“Buddy, you look so hot right now, I’d do you.” Jaime held up his phone and snapped another shot.

“Knock it off, Romeo.” Markus gave Jaime’s bicep a none-too-easy punch, and Dayne shot his friend a look of gratitude.

Eric smirked. “He is pretty, though, isn’t he?”

“Fuck all of you,” Dayne snapped.

“Dayne, really,” Kat admonished, but from the hint of a smile spreading on her face, she wasn’t offended in the slightest. “Hmm.” She tapped her finger on her chin and began circling him, eventually stopping behind him. When she tugged at the hem of his jacket, her fingers grazed the top of his ass. A lightning bolt of sensation shot down the backs of his legs, then up the front to— Dammit all to hell, they had an audience.

Her hands released his jacket and he exhaled a breath of relief. That was, until she came to stand directly in front of him. Things were about to get worse. Even her flowery perfume was making him hornier than a rhinoceros in a rose garden.

He tried focusing on anything besides the way she smelled. Or the way her dress dipped torturously low toward her softly mounded breasts.

Tiny pink gemstones sparkled at her ears and from a thin gold chain around her neck. The tips of her toes—painted light pink—peaked out from delicate gold sandals. Yeah, focus on her toes.

Again, not working. Even the woman’s toes were sexy.

Kat rested her hands on his shoulders then smoothed them down the front of his jacket. “This looks good.” He swallowed, hard, as his slacks tightened painfully over his dick. Luckily, she blocked everyone else’s view.

When her hands parted the sides of his jacket and her eyes dipped to his waist, a bead of sweat trickled between his shoulder blades. As she skimmed the tips of her fingers along the front of his cummerbund, flames licked at his balls.

“Kat, no!” He grabbed her wrists, holding them away. “The tux is fine.” He could barely choke out the words as he struggled for control. Of his libido and his emotions. Where she was concerned, both were inextricably entwined.

Her eyes were questioning at first then she looked down—at his giant, throbbing boner.

Her cheeks flushed, and her eyes flared with awareness of what she’d unwittingly initiated.

“Yeah. We’re done here.” Releasing her wrists, he spun and stalked away to cool his jets in the bathroom.

When the door shut behind him, he went straight to the sink and cranked on the tap. He cupped his hands and splashed cold water in his face.

Time to face undeniable, scary-as-shit facts.

He wanted her like nobody’s business, and it wasn’t just about sex. It was about—more. She was getting to him. Hell, she’d already gotten to him. But getting involved with her could have dire consequences and not just because being around her messed with his head.

His feelings for her went way beyond a one-night stand or even a brief fling. What worried him was the long run. Could they really fit into each other’s worlds?

His guts twisted at the thought of never seeing her again when this was over. If he didn’t stay clear of the trigger that would set them off, they could both wind up burned and bleeding, with their hearts cut into tiny pieces.