She thought about it for a second.“Maybe alittle, I guess.”
Ren didn’t look at her, but said, “He cheated on his last two partners.”
Thatdidsuck.But did it suck enough for him to deserve being conned?
“He also returned a shelter dog after two days because it shit on his Persian rug,” Ren added.
Hadley leaned toward Tenley, hoping Knox could hear her through his earpiece when she said, “Break that asshole’s heart, Knox!”
“Gotcha,” Knox said with a chuckle as he made his way to the bar where Reuben was seated.
This place was maybe the fanciest bar Hadley had ever seen.The miles-long white marble bar was lit from beneath, so it seemed to float above the dark herringbone floor.Backlit glass shelves climbed the wall behind the bartenders, rows of bottles glowing in rich, jewel tones—emerald gin, amethyst liqueurs, pale gold tequila—framed by slim brass rails and soft, hidden LEDs.She’d just bet the cheapest drink here would cost more than a day’s worth of groceries for herself.
It was packed, too.The bar, the dance floor, every candle-lit table and midnight-velvet-upholstered booth—all full.It was a good thing Cole hadn’t been tapped for this particular mission.Something told her the idea of being in a room so people-y would hurt his feral house gremlin soul.
“OK, babe,” Tenley said to Knox through her earpiece while watching him on Ren’s laptop screen.“You definitely have his attention.”
“And everyone else’s,” Cole said, watching over Ren’s shoulder as heads all over the place swiveled in Knox’s direction as he leaned casually against the bar, waiting for his chance to order.
Tenley ignored him.“He ordered a drink called a dirty little secret.Order one for yourself.That’ll give him an easy in to approach you.”
“What’s a dirty little secret?”Hadley asked.
“Top-shelf gin, dry vermouth, and hand-stuffed blue-cheese olives served on a tray with a brine atomizer,” she answered.
“That’s disgusting,” Cole muttered.
Hadley blinked.“Wow.I feel so uncivilized.I usually just order a margarita.”
“Girl, same,” Tenley said.
“He heard the drink order,” Ren said.“He’s now fully locked in.”
“Pretty sure he was fully locked in as soon as he saw Knox’s face,” Hadley said.“Why can’t Knox just approach him first?”
“Men who look like my husband don’t approachanyonefirst.Reuben would instantly be suspicious if he did.”
Hadley sighed.“No wonder I failed so miserably at dating.I don’t know anything!”
“Showtime,” Ren said.
All eyes flicked to Ren’s laptop screen again just in time to see Reuben sidle up to Knox.“Couldn’t help but notice yourexquisitetaste in cocktails,” he said, tipping his glass in Knox’s direction.
Knox casually glanced at Reuben’s drink and chuckled.The warm, rumbly sound had a visible impact on Reuben, whose cheeks pinked up considerably.Knox lifted his own glass and clinked it against Reuben’s.“Cheers.”
“I haven’t seen you here before,” Reuben said.
Knox tipped his head to one side.“Maybe I’m here all the time and you just haven’t noticed.”
Reuben barked out a sharp laugh.“Oh, I would’ve noticed.Believe me.”
“Subtlety,” Knox said with an appreciative nod.“I like it.”
His answering smile bordered on smug.“I don’t believe in beating around the bush.When I see something I want, I don’t hesitate.Besides, you don’t strike me as a man who enjoys playing games.You look more like the,” he paused, eyes trailing over Knox’s body and lingeringwaytoo long on his chest, “actiontype.”
“Wow, he’s really going for it,” Hadley murmured.
“Don’t match his level of aggression, babe,” Tenley said.“We’re not working for a quick hookup.We need his phone, and he’d never give that out to a bathroom hookup .”
