Get it together. Finn’s right. I’m not acting like myself, or at least not like the Sera the people here have become used to.
Brady and Vincent cross the bullpen toward the front entrance where Liev is waiting. Brady’s frame is rigid, his shoulders squared. Vincent is standing next to him with his normal taciturn expression.
I can’t hear the exact words from this distance, but Brady gives Liev a curt nod and spins on his heels, heading for the stairs that lead to the upper levels. Vincent shakes Liev’s hand, and they follow Brady across the wide room.
Liev’s gaze flicks sideways, landing on me. His lips tip in a hint of a smile, but then his eyes drop and he frowns.
Immediately, I still my pointer finger worrying the cuticle on my thumb. Then I curl all but my middle finger into a fist.
He glances forward at the men walking ahead of him, and then sends me a wink and grin, before lifting his hand and flipping me off.
I roll my lips in to keep from laughing, but I can’t help the smile.
“You really need to work on your poker face,” Finn teases from behind me. “You’re cheesing so hard I’m worried we’ll get mice.”
The smile falls from my face. “Mind your own business.”
Finn exhales a heavy sigh. “I have a feeling this is about to become all of our business.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I whirl around to face him.
“It means you’ve got a massive crush on someone your brother is going to be absolutely furious about.”
“I do not.”
Finn stares at me for a long second, then shakes his head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
Heat creeps up my neck. “I’m notdoinganything.” He arches a brow. “We’re just friends,” I add. “Sort of.”
“So, you friend-zoned the gangster,” Finn says mildly. “And youdefinitelyweren’t flirting with him just now or smiling like I haven’t seen you do in years?”
I scowl. “Shut up.”
He moves past me, but not before adding. “The problem is going to be that it’s not one-sided. We all saw it that day he came with his cousin after Elizabeth was rescued.”
My pulse jumps, hope flaring behind my breastbone. “Saw what?”
“He couldn’t take his eyes off you.”
“That’s not?—”
“Why else do you think your brother nearly lost his mind over the idea of him working here?”
“Brady’s just worried because Liev’s a criminal.”
Finn gives me an incredulous look. “Except for you, every single person who works here has been called a criminal by somebody. Government labels don’t make saints or sinners.”
I try to work. I really do, but I can’t stop thinking about what Finn said. Liev seemed happy to kiss me the other night, but he didn’t want to take it any further. The entire evening has left me so confused. I’m still not sure what to expect from Liev. Does he want to be friends with benefits? He’d been the one to stop.
Had it really been just an experiment?
An incredibly delicious, toe-curling, best kiss of my life experiment.
I bite back a groan and click open another email, forcing myself to concentrate.
Footsteps sound outside the door moments before Vincent and Liev enter. Vincent waves his arm. “You’ve already met.”
“Yeah.” Finn glances up momentarily before his eyes return to his screen.
