Page 21 of H E R

He angles his head toward the noisy structure behind us. A dark, alternative rock song with explicit lyrics is playing, and the music swirls around us as someone opens the door to exit. My fucking cheeks fume a bright Elmo red, but I act like nothing fazes me. Hopefully, my act will steel my spine. Either that or the ground will miraculously open up and swallow me whole.

“Underage club employment is illegal. Your friend’s kinda young, Jasmin. Why’d you bring her toRibbons?”

Jasmin stifles a laugh, and I roll my eyes. Surprisingly, her grip loosens.

I’m so fucking annoyed that people assume I’m eight years younger than I really am. It may be great when you’reold,old,but when you’re already young and people think you’reyounger… it’s not a good thing. Young blood is discriminated against quite enough for there to be more hostility. And the night has been so shitty my nerves are all over the place, and my anger doesn't care what aroused it; it’s just looking for someone to blame.

“You know, I normally let people assume whatever the fuck they want, but I’ve had quite enough of it. I’m twenty-two years old, rookie. A consenting, legal adult. Now you can go and fix the fuck-up that your buddies placed in that file of yours.”

Jasmin’s breath hitches and she’s back to squeezing my fingers flat and purple.

The rookie’s eyes blanch, the black in them expanding somehow. They pulse and threaten to pop out of his perfect face. His features smooth just as suddenly. “You’re far from home. I’ll give you two a ride.”

He isn’t asking, and I ponder this while I’m sure my face turns eleven shades of red. His fists are in his pockets, and I have to look away because I know how much I love to watch his muscles flex when he stretches his arms into his pants.

Noah, Noah, Noah.I chant his name like a fucking mantra to remind me that I’m taken.

“Actually, that would be great. Our ride left us.”

I snap my head and gawk at Jasmin.The fucking traitor!I want to speak up and tell them both I’d rather walk, but as if reminding me that I most definitely cannot walk thirty something miles back home, my knees buckle with a throbbing pain at the ball of my feet, my poor ankles threaten to give out and put me on my ass.

I give a reluctant nod and Dylan’s eyes glimmer in the darkness. His eyes pull enough light from the buzzing lightbulb above the door, illuminating the silver specks that dance in their midnight bliss at something unknown. It’s like he’s delighted to drive us home, and instantly I’m suspicious. But not enough to say no.

Dylan’s car is as sexy as he is. It’s all black, leather, and steel and fucking seductive. The engine purrs as he accelerates and grips the steering wheel with one hand while the other adjusts some dials to perfect the air and radio station. I barely hear the music playing softly in the background, my heart is beating in my head.

“You could have sat up front, you know. No one is being arrested tonight.”

Jasmin nudges me and I want to fucking smack her thigh away. She wiggles her eyebrows at me and smirks.He’s talking to you,she mouths. Yes, I know he’s fucking talking to me, but I don’t know why. I have a boyfriend. I look up and find him staring at me through the rearview mirror.

“We’re fine back here,” I mumble.

“So, you two work atRibbons?”

Jasmin gives me an angry glare. She wantsmeto talk to the rookie, and I shake my head at her. She relents to pinching my arm and I hold the spot dramatically.

“Um,I do. Justice picked up the hours for the extra cash.”

The rookie nods and lets out a breath. The small interior allows me to breathe in that same puff of air, and I hold on to it, expanding my chest to feel the mintiness of him insidemy lungs, mingling with my own. Jasmin watches me and I exhale in shame, caught up, and I want to sink into the leather seat. Dylan shifts suddenly and his shoulders tense up. I watch his hand grip the steering wheel as if he’s falling, and it’s the only thing keeping him in this car.

“Where do you normally work?”

He’s still talking to me, and Jasmin stabs one finger into my thigh. “She does odd jobs here and there, whatever the agency throws her way. Mostly physical work.”

I glare at her and my lips move slowly to mouth,what the actual fuck?

He’s a cop, damn it. Shut up!

“Physical work?” His words come out slow and husky, and I have the sudden urge to tell him to keep his mind out of the gutter. “And what does Julius do?”

“Are you interrogating me, Detective? Because you haven’t read me my rights.”

He lets out a chuckle, and the sound literally pulls me toward him. One hand grips the seat directly in front of me, while the other touches the armrest between the two front seats. I want to lean my face into the leather so that I can get a better look at him. His profile view is all sharp-edged, and I can see his neck tattoo dip down past his shoulder. My arm trembles with the need to graze my finger and follow the intricate black ink.

“Relax, Niki. I’m not interrogating you. Just curious.”

I bristle at the nickname. “Well, curiosity killed the cat.”

“Are you threatening me?” He catches my glare in the mirror, and his eyes swallow up the shadows in the car.

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