Page 7 of Deadly Alliance

Neither had been particularly happy about the plan, but by drawing attention away from her and Shane, they would be better able to get a lead on anyone paying particular interest to them. It was unlikely that the perp would have picked them out yet but not impossible.

They were seated at a table near the window overlooking the river. It was such a romantic setting—the air was warm, the view perfect, now she just needed to loosen up the company a bit.

“So how are we going to do this?” she asked Shane who was as rigid as a board and looking more uncomfortable by the second.

His jaw flexed slightly as she spoke, and she wondered what it would feel like to have his five o’clock shadow rasp her skin. It was totally unprofessional, but she couldn’t seem to stop herself.

He reached across the table and took her hands in his much larger ones and began to rub small circles on the inside of her wrists. “We just talk and act all loved up,” he said his voice calm, controlled.

Her skin prickled at his touch and she suppressed a shiver. The desire to snatch her hands away before she climbed over the table and straddled him was intense. She was determined to ace the mission though and prove she was worthy. “Okay, so tell me something about you, Shane. Is there a significant other back home?”

“No, nobody waiting for me back home or anywhere else for that matter. You?”

“No, single and ready to mingle.” She laughed at his expression.

“I guess as your husband I should probably let you know I don’t share.” His words held a trace of humour, but the look in his eyes made her shiver and this time she couldn’t control it.

“Is that so? Well, neither do I. So, I guess we’re compatible in that at least.”

They gazed at each other intently until the waitress came to take their drink order. She felt a loss when he released her hand, shoving it into her lap so that she didn’t try to reach for him again. She ordered champagne at Lucy’s behest because it would show they were celebrating their ‘new start’.

Emme looked at the menu and watched Shane surreptitiously as he frowned at his own.

He looked up suddenly and caught her staring. A blush crept up her cheeks and she looked away.

“Look at me,” he growled, and she instantly did. “A wife wouldn’t shy away from her husband when he looked at her.”

“And a husband wouldn’t spend the entire time frowning,” she countered, tired of his criticism.

His eyes darkened and then he broke into a huge smile. It lit up his entire face and almost rendered her mute it was so breath-taking in its beauty.

“Touché.” He laughed as he reached for his glass and lifted it, and she followed suit. “To being happily married,” he said with a wink, which made her belly flutter. Clinking his glass to hers he took a drink.

The rest of the meal passed in a relatively relaxed way as they got to know a little more about each other. He was a single child from New York, his parents had died in a car crash years ago. She told him about life with three older brothers and an overbearing father. She left out the part about her father thinking that girls weren’t useful for anything.

Finally, dessert came around and they decided to share a death by chocolate. It was something lovers would do and as he fed her a bite of the decadent cake she found herself wishing that this was real. She’d had a lot of fun tonight. Shane was good company when he relaxed, and she found herself really enjoying their fake date. The waitress came to clear the table and saw Emme’s phone on the side.

“Would you like me to take a photo of you together? You make such a gorgeous couple.”

She felt heat move up her cheeks at those words.

“Yes please.” Shane leaned in closer, his hand around her back, his rough cheek beside hers. The waitress snapped a couple of pics and then for the last one Shane turned and kissed her cheek, while she smiled.

“Those are going to be so cute,” grinned the waitress.

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” the girl said as she walked away.

As they left, Shane grabbed her hand, pulling her close so he could wrap his strong arm around her. It’s all for the mission was the mantra she kept repeating in her head as she melted into him. But it felt so real.

When they arrived home,he dropped his keys on the sideboard in the living room and immediately walked to the laptop, opening it up and logging into their social media accounts.

“Hand me your phone.”

She walked to him sitting on the arm of the chair behind him as she gave him the phone.

“Password?” he said handing it back.