Nari’s smile widened. “Lunch is enough.” She sobered. “Seriously, though. Be careful with Wolfe. He’s lost a lot.”
Dana cleared her throat. “Is that advice from a shrink or a friend?”
“It has to be from a friend,” Nari said. “As a shrink, I can’t talk about him. As a friend, I can tell you that you’d need to be all in or all out with him. After everything he’s lost, he won’t know any other way.”
In other words, don’t play with the hot ex-soldier. Dana nodded. “I read him that way, too. I mean, not right away, but after I got to know him.” Her first impression was of a fun-loving, flirty hottie who just wanted a good time. His mask was good, but that wasn’t Wolfe. He had depths that still surprised her. Although, even though they’d taken the step and had gone full on in bed, they still weren’t together.
“Fine.” Nari’s eyes twinkled again. “If you go undercover at a sex party, you might want to remind yourself that you’re just friends.”
Friends with benefits, but Nari didn’t know that. Dana relaxed again. “Isn’t that the truth?” She shivered. The next party was the following night. She could do this. She had to—for Candy.
Chapter Thirteen
“You’re going to have to leave the trench coat in the car,” Wolfe said calmly as he drove an older BMW expertly through traffic after their second day working together. They’d already solved the securities fraud case with three arrests.
“I know.” Dana sighed, really not wanting to remove the protective coat. Why couldn’t subs wear cardigans, for goodness sake? She fought another yawn. She’d slept at Wolfe’s the previous night, but neither of them had made a move, and she’d been too tired to worry about why.
She glanced sideways at her partner for the night.
Wolfe wore those devastating leather pants and a long-sleeve black shirt that covered the bandage on his arm and somehow made his chest look even broader than usual. After going through two toll roads and exiting the interstate, Wolfe drove by a river and then into a gated community with mature trees, perfectly manicured lawns, and expensive streetlights that showed it all off. “Tell me about Trentington,” Dana murmured. The guy was obviously loaded if he lived here.
“Interesting guy,” Wolfe said, driving through the subdivision and scoping out each side cul-de-sac. “Grew up on the West Coast; both folks were in the movie industry. Trentington took a small family fortune and turned it into a colossal one by investing in start-ups ranging from computer programs to independent films, as well as some real estate. He seems to have a knack.”
Dana crossed her legs, acutely aware that they were way too bare. “All legal?”
“Seems like it. I asked Brigid to do a deep dive off the books, and she didn’t find any red flags. Let’s park here and walk.” He maneuvered the car into a nicely treed area by another gate, this one leading to a quiet street.
Dana released her seat belt. “Where’d you get the car, anyway?”
“Stole it.”
“Seriously?” She turned to look at him.
He opened his door and stepped out, sighing as he stretched. “Yeah. We’ll leave it somewhere nice later tonight so the police will find it. No worries.”
She glanced at her watch. Nearly eleven at night, so the party would be going strong, and hopefully people would be engaged and not notice their arrival. Yet she didn’t move. Yeah, she should’ve insisted on going undercover as a dom, because the sub outfit was way too revealing.
He opened the passenger-side door. “The coat, Dana.”
Look who was already turning bossy. Her tummy wobbled. “I know.” She took his hand and stepped out on the tall heels, glancing around the peaceful, quietly austere neighborhood with mansions hidden behind stone walls and perfectly manicured shrubbery. She’d streaked her hair with bright pink and had a sequined mask to wear, but she still hesitated.
“You can stay in the car,” Wolfe offered, surveying the area.
“No. I have to do this.” Steeling herself, she released the belt and dropped the coat into the vehicle.
Wolfe sucked in air, his gaze raking her from head to toe. “Uh, well.”
Amusement and feminine pride tickled her. How rare to see Wolfe taken off guard. She looked down at the bright pink corset. The tight material pushed her breasts up, giving the illusion of a lot more cleavage than she really had, and the flimsy skirt barely covered the tops of her thighs. “What? You don’t like it?” It was difficult not to grin like an idiot.
“I’m going to feel your image in my left pocket for a long time.” His smile was rare, and all the more special for it. “Let’s make sure you don’t get grabbed up instantly.” He reached beyond her for the glovebox, removing a bag.
Curiosity kept her still.
He pulled out a necklace—a choker, really—with a delicate wolf pendant attached by an emerald on the small circular chain. “Here, it’s called a collar. Later, you can keep it and wear it as a choker or just a necklace.”
He was giving it to her? “Why?” she asked, her abdomen doing a funny flip-flop.
“To remember me. You’re probably the best friend I’ve had in a long time, and you’ve made this last op more fun than it should be.” The smile had long since disappeared, leaving his solemn look in its place.
