Page 40 of Bishop's Queen

“Jay!”

Bishop tossed his arm over her shoulder. “Why don’t you go home, buddy.”

“Is it?” Jay asked.

“It’s none of your business,” she snapped, leaning into Bishop. “Really.”

Jay’s face darkened, but he turned, shoving a barstool out of the way and grumbling loudly as he left.

She turned into Bishop, close to his face, close to everything she liked about him, and whispered, “I’m sorry. I don’t know what got into him.”

Bishop’s green eyes had darkened. “He’s not ready to let you go.”

“I’ve been old news.” With the slightest of head shakes, Ella wondered out loud. “I’m so blown away by his behavior right now. And embarrassed.”

“Old news, only for one of you.”

Ella inched back on her barstool, mortified. “I’m sorry. You have, I’m sure, a real job. And here you are, stuck with me andthisdrama. I’ve literally never seen him behave like this.”

Bishop put his hand on her back. “Don’t worry about it.”

Still, she shook her head. “When Titan showed up at Tara’s office, they wore SWAT gear. Face masks and guns and vests and things strapped to all their body parts. That’s what you do, and this has to be the worst job ever.”

“It’s fine.”

“And I’m the biggest headache ever.”

“I like a little crazy sometimes. Nothing I can’t deal with.” He elbowed her then pulled her close. “Kidding, kidding.”

“Seriously, you’ve got what I’m sure is a stellar military career, and here you are, eating nori rolls and dealing with my ex.”

“Honestly, it’s fine.”

“It’s not.”

“Ella—”

She closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. His lips were fuller than she ever would’ve dreamed, and his mouth more potent than she could’ve imagined a man’s being.

Bishop edged away, but she leaned in, unable to break from the kiss. A tiny, remorseful sigh started at the back of her throat as she pulled away—but Bishop kissed back.Finally. His lips melted, and his tongue sliced to hers. He pulled her closer. Her blood rushed, and her mind raced—all of her did. It was a kiss in the middle of a bar, but the room drifted until she would have sworn they were alone.

Then he stilled again, slowly giving her a squeeze. It was a hug that said so much. She squeezed her eyes shut as his lips left hers, and gently, he gave a careful peck before letting their foreheads touch.

“Ella…” He breathed her name.

For those few seconds, he had her, held her, their foreheads kissing. Then he broke away with another squeeze.

God, she was so stupid.

“I shouldn’t have done that.” He brought his bottom lip into his mouth and shook his head, looking away, but then came back stronger than before. Classic Bishop. “If you want someone else on the job, I’ll have him here in twenty minutes. No questions.”

“That was me.” Heart in her throat, she wanted to cry. “I’m sorry.”

“No. Don’t say that.”

How bad did she just screw everything up? “Really—”

“El, come on. No big deal.”

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