Page 42 of Witness Security Breach

She turned in her seat and faced him. “And?”

“Bars are already a weapons-rich environment with glasses, longneck beer bottles, even heavier wine bottles.” You could club a person with one. “If they have pool tables, that’ll mean pool cues.”

Charlie’s brow furrowed. “I have been in a bar. I’m familiar.”

“But in that bar, most of the patrons are going to be packing heat, and we can’t stroll in with a crowbar and baseball bat. We need answers about a dirty cop. Answers no one inside is going to willingly give. If the car is running, it’ll be easier to make a quick getaway if push comes to shove.”

Her frown deepened. “Why am I supposed to be the one left in the car? And if you give me ‘it’s an order’ or ‘I outrank you’ crap, I think we’ll have to arm wrestle for it.”

He suppressed a chuckle. “I can take you in an arm wrestle.”

“Not the way I play.”

Which meant no rules. Winning by any means necessary.

Would she throw a fist to his groin?

“Follow the order without giving me grief,” he said, wanting to avoid an arm wrestle. “We can debate it later.” If it came down to a fistfight, he’d rather be the only one getting his butt kicked. Spare her a beatdown from a bunch of cops.

“I have a better idea.”

“Really?” He raised a suspicious brow. “What’s that?”

She took off her jacket, tucked her short sleeves up into the body of her T-shirt, displaying her toned arms, and pulled the V-neck front down, showing off her ample cleavage.

He realized how she intended to play this, and it made his gut churn with a shocking possessiveness.

“You keep the car running while I drop a little bait and separate our prey from the herd.” She fluffed her hair. “I’d kill for lipstick and a little mascara.”

Aiden gritted his teeth, hating her impetuous plan from start to finish. “You look better without it,” he said without thinking. “Prettier.”

Charlie’s gaze flew to his as her jaw dropped a little.

He usually kept such comments to himself, not wanting to make her uncomfortable by reminding her that he saw her as an enticing woman.

Since he’d started speaking his mind, why stop there?

“You’re a natural beauty, Charlie.” He dared run his knuckle along the side of her face. “You’ll have every guy in there drooling, wishing he could take you home tonight.”

A slight flush stained her cheeks, and she gulped.

Maybe he’d been playing it too safe, not telling her, not showing her how much he desired her. Waiting for her to be ready. Sometimes a person had to be thrown into a sink-or-swim position.

He lowered his hand, cupping her neck. Her pulse throbbed against his palm. “Do me a favor and stay here. Don’t make me watch you smile and flirt with some guy while he ogles you. Touches you.” If he had to choose between that and a potential fistfight, bring on the brawl.

She wet her lips and clutched his wrist but didn’t pull his hand away, turning him on bright as a bulb. Her eyes were luminous. Radiant with a hunger, a fire that drew him closer even though he knew he’d get burned.

The atmosphere in the car shifted, like the current in the air before a storm.

Her mouth opened, but before she could speak, he followed a foreign, reckless impulse and leaned over, pressing his lips to hers.

There was none of the cautious gentleness of a first kiss. No need to coax. No resistance given. All the desire that’d been kindling for four years ignited in hot bliss.

It was a long-overdue communion that touched him to the very core.

She arched up and let him in. As he sank into her warm mouth, his hand slid up, cupping the back of her head. He devoured her, slowly, deeply, consuming and claiming. Every slick swipe of her tongue against his was liquid heat.

Holding her to him, he deepened the kiss as he found himself pushing her back in the seat.