Page 75 of Vicious Temptation

His grin turns smug. “Sounds like I’ve got work to do.”

I release him while I still have enough self-control to do so and head toward the front door, expecting the doorman to buzz up any second.

“Careful, Officer Braga,” I toss over my shoulder. “Don’t dig too deep. You might not like what you find.” Glancing back, I catch his eyes roaming over me. “Or maybe you will.”

Twenty-One

Thiago

Remi Isabel Cain is a liar.

Forty-five minutes ago, she looked me dead in the eyes and told me she doesn’t share food unless she really likes someone. Now we’re sitting on opposite ends of her couch, two pizza boxes open between us, and she’s sliding a slice of hers onto my plate.

“Try it.”

I look down at the spicy pepperoni covered in hot honey, then back at her.

“What?”

“Nothing.”

Her eyes narrow. “Then why are you looking at me like that?”

“I’m not looking at you like anything.”

“Yes, you are.”

I pick up the slice before she can change her mind. “You said I should try it.”

“I did.”

“So I’m trying it.”

She watches me take a bite, suspicious as hell, as I fight the urge to remind her of what she said in the kitchen.

I have to really like you to share my food.

There are some victories a smart man knows better than to celebrate out loud, especially when the woman sitting across from him probably has weapons hidden throughout her apartment.

“Good?” she asks.

I chew slowly, mostly because I know it’ll annoy her, just like it did that day at the restaurant.

“Braga.”

“It’s all right.”

Her mouth falls open. “All right?”

I barely get the words out before she reaches for the slice. I lift it out of range, and she immediately climbs across the cushion after it.

“Give it back, asshole.”

“Nope. You gave it to me.”

“Because I thought you deserved nice things. I was clearly wrong. First my chilaquiles and now my favorite pizza? You’re insufferable, Braga, and your taste buds suck.”

I laugh as she reaches across me again, one knee sinking into the couch beside my thigh. There’s something strangely normal about sitting here with her after the night we’ve had, arguing over pizza while music plays behind us.