Page 53 of Trap ’N’ Trace

They’d practically just made love, and all he could do was stand there and act pissed because she’d forgotten her friends were coming over? What an a— Correction, jerk.

The gate bell chimed again, but she ignored it, advancing on him and pointing a finger at his chest, stopping just short of actually touching him. Her heart beat harder as her temper flared. “You have no reason to be pissed at me.”

“You’re right I don’t, and I’m not.” He uncrossed his arms and took a step closer. “But you do need to let me know when you have people coming over. That’s for your safety. And we still need to talk about what just happened.”

“No. We don’t.” She took a step back, desperately needing space from him and the regret in his eyes. “Please, let’s forget it ever did.”

“Forget?” His eyes narrowed then quickly shuttered as his expression became one of bland indifference. “Fine.”

Despite her own adamancy, hurt knifed through her at how easily and emphatically he’d agreed. “Excuse me.” Doing her best to ignore him—and failing miserably—she went to the intercom and pressed the button. “Penny?”

“It’s about time,” came Penny’s voice. “Are you going to let us in, or what?”

She pressed the gate button then faced Dayne again. His eyes were frosty and there was a discernible chill in the air. She hated the awkwardness between them. If only she hadn’t thrown herself at him. Literally.

He stalked to the door, opening it as a black limousine came to an abrupt stop at the bottom of the stairs.

Outside, the sun had set. Cool, spring evening air blew inside. The driver came around and opened the rear door. A set of four-inch heels followed by long legs barely covered by a body-hugging red sheath alighted first from the limo.

“Katrina!” Penelope Lowell aka Penny held up two bottles of champagne as she walked up the steps. Penny leaned in to land air kisses on either of Kat’s cheeks, her straight-as-spaghetti dark brown hair brushing Kat’s face.

Behind them, Remy snorted, and she glanced over her shoulder to see Angus backing away as if he’d just seen the Wicked Witch of the West.

Natasha Cabot came next, wearing sparkly silver stilettos and a matching strapless cocktail dress. Nat flung her arms around Kat, enveloping her in an invisible cloud of Chanel No. 5, with which her friend habitually drenched her short red bob.

Elaina Griswold’s sharp hazel eyes glinted with amusement as she planted a kiss on Kat’s cheek. As was typical, the woman’s black silk Dior gown’s neckline plunged nearly to her belly button. If it weren’t for her butt-length blond hair covering her breasts, most of her bosom would be exposed for the world to see.

“Who is that?” Penny peered around Kat’s shoulder.

Dayne leaned against the doorjamb, his arms still crossed, tightening the shirt over his muscled chest and biceps. Remy’s head lowered, her eyes fastening on the other women. From the dog’s rigid posture, Kat understood Remy sensed something she didn’t like.

“Remy.” Dayne pointed inside the house. “Platz.”

The shepherd looked up at Dayne then actually seemed to shake her head, as if telling him he was crazy. With obvious reluctance, she turned and padded into the house. Angus followed, his squeaky toy now firmly gripped in his jaws.

Nat let loose with a catcall.

“Mmm, yummy.” Elaina licked her lips in a none-too-subtle gesture. “That’s quite a big dog,” she murmured huskily, making it clear she was referring to Dayne, not Remy.

Penny arched a dark brow. “You’ve been holding out on us, Katrina. No wonder we haven’t seen you around.”

Seen me around? Didn’t they know Amy had been murdered?

“If I had a man like that in my house,” Nat chimed in, “I’d never leave home, and I’d never let him out of my bed.”

Kat’s cheeks heated at the reminder of exactly what had happened in her bed. And what hadn’t. Her friends followed her to the door, their heels clicking on the bluestone. “This is FBI Special Agent Dayne Andrews.”

“Ladies.” He made brief eye contact with each of them.

“Ooh,” Elaina crooned. “Special Agent. Fascinating.” If a person’s eyes could slither, hers did unabashedly down Dayne’s body.

He arched a brow then scanned the property behind where they all stood.

Ever alert. Not even three beautiful, flirtatious women could derail him from his duty.

“Will you be joining us for a little bubbly?” Penny held up the two bottles of Dom Perignon.

“Thank you, but no.” He stepped aside for them to enter. “I’m on duty.”