. She was terrible at social games. Devyn wasn’t even certain he was trying to play one. Unfortunately, she didn’t possess the patience to sit back and wait to see. She was always so certain of her next move and preferred the most direct approach possible, but that was where work was concerned, not her personal life, which was basically nonexistent. If she didn’t figure out how he felt soon, she feared she’d do something stupid and end up looking like a lovesick fool.
“Is Agent Melonis still sticking around?” Gage asked with a crooked smile.
“Yes, he is. I’m really not that bad.”
“Never said you were. I haven’t had a lot of good experiences with the men in your agency either. They seem easily intimidated, but Melonis must be tougher than he looks with his perfectly styled hair and wardrobe straight out of some big-city high-end men’s fashion store.”
Devyn chuckled. “Yep, he is. Maybe he is right, as much as I hate to admit it.”
“About what?”
“Why you and I are both still single. He said we’re both alpha males, and need to find someone strong enough that we can’t bulldoze over them.”
“Ouch. Did you slug him?”
“No. There was too much truth in it.”
“Well, he was only half right. You can be a little ‘alpha,’ but there is nothing masculine about you,” he replied with that killer smile that made her want to unbuckle her seatbelt, crawl into his lap, and run her fingers through his unruly hair.
“Enough about me. How are Grace and Logan doing now that some time has passed since all those tragedies occurred at her uncle’s ranch in Wyoming ?”
“Married. And too happy. I’m a little worried about my deputy’s focus at the moment, but I have faith he’ll pull it together when he needs to.”
They continued to make small talk about Gage’s deputy as they wove their way through the downtown traffic. Devyn was always surprised at how easy he was to talk to, since personal, non-work related chitchat wasn’t really her strong suit. Usually, she had a difficult time holding a conversation without offending someone, but he understood her and never read more into her words than she intended.
She was a little disappointed when they reached the restaurant, but more determined than ever to figure out where she stood with this man. She studied him as he parked the truck near a small old brick house on the edge of the commercial district that had been converted into a restaurant.
Devyn jumped out of the vehicle as Gage made his way around the front of the truck toward her. She stood with her back against the fender, arms folded across her chest, a serious look on her face.
“Are you offended when I try to treat you like a lady?”
Gage was standing close, looking down into her eyes with a smile on those enticing lips. Before she could lose her nerve, Devyn closed the distance between them, reached up, laced her fingers behind his neck, and kissed him.
Immediately his arm encircled her waist, pulling her so close she could barely breathe. He deepened the kiss as his other hand slowly stroked down her back. Devyn matched his passion, not caring that they were standing on a public street, undoubtedly drawing attention from those driving by.
Devyn struggled to regain her senses. By the time she pulled back, she had the answer she sought.
“Does that mean you’re okay with being my lady?”
“Suppose so,” she said as she turned and headed for the restaurant, hiding the smile that spread across her face.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Morgan paced the length of her office windows, her nerves wound tight. It had only been a few hours since she had talked to her ex, so she wasn’t surprised he hadn’t called back. She didn’t dare reach out to Preston until at least twenty-four hours had passed since their conversation about Stan’s emails. He had made it pretty clear he had everything under control, and he did promise to call her the minute he heard back from the
“Is Agent Melonis still sticking around?” Gage asked with a crooked smile.
“Yes, he is. I’m really not that bad.”
“Never said you were. I haven’t had a lot of good experiences with the men in your agency either. They seem easily intimidated, but Melonis must be tougher than he looks with his perfectly styled hair and wardrobe straight out of some big-city high-end men’s fashion store.”
Devyn chuckled. “Yep, he is. Maybe he is right, as much as I hate to admit it.”
“About what?”
“Why you and I are both still single. He said we’re both alpha males, and need to find someone strong enough that we can’t bulldoze over them.”
“Ouch. Did you slug him?”
“No. There was too much truth in it.”
“Well, he was only half right. You can be a little ‘alpha,’ but there is nothing masculine about you,” he replied with that killer smile that made her want to unbuckle her seatbelt, crawl into his lap, and run her fingers through his unruly hair.
“Enough about me. How are Grace and Logan doing now that some time has passed since all those tragedies occurred at her uncle’s ranch in Wyoming ?”
“Married. And too happy. I’m a little worried about my deputy’s focus at the moment, but I have faith he’ll pull it together when he needs to.”
They continued to make small talk about Gage’s deputy as they wove their way through the downtown traffic. Devyn was always surprised at how easy he was to talk to, since personal, non-work related chitchat wasn’t really her strong suit. Usually, she had a difficult time holding a conversation without offending someone, but he understood her and never read more into her words than she intended.
She was a little disappointed when they reached the restaurant, but more determined than ever to figure out where she stood with this man. She studied him as he parked the truck near a small old brick house on the edge of the commercial district that had been converted into a restaurant.
Devyn jumped out of the vehicle as Gage made his way around the front of the truck toward her. She stood with her back against the fender, arms folded across her chest, a serious look on her face.
“Are you offended when I try to treat you like a lady?”
Gage was standing close, looking down into her eyes with a smile on those enticing lips. Before she could lose her nerve, Devyn closed the distance between them, reached up, laced her fingers behind his neck, and kissed him.
Immediately his arm encircled her waist, pulling her so close she could barely breathe. He deepened the kiss as his other hand slowly stroked down her back. Devyn matched his passion, not caring that they were standing on a public street, undoubtedly drawing attention from those driving by.
Devyn struggled to regain her senses. By the time she pulled back, she had the answer she sought.
“Does that mean you’re okay with being my lady?”
“Suppose so,” she said as she turned and headed for the restaurant, hiding the smile that spread across her face.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Morgan paced the length of her office windows, her nerves wound tight. It had only been a few hours since she had talked to her ex, so she wasn’t surprised he hadn’t called back. She didn’t dare reach out to Preston until at least twenty-four hours had passed since their conversation about Stan’s emails. He had made it pretty clear he had everything under control, and he did promise to call her the minute he heard back from the