Page 27 of The Reluctant Siren
This was the danger time. She quickly texted Ruby, who wouldreach out to their client and get everything in place. They would need to movequickly. Ruby would call their contact at McKay-Taggart, who would help themlocate a safe house and assign a bodyguard to take Miranda and her mom there.
This was not her first rodeo.
She slid the phone back into its place and checked her hair.She let her expression go slack and peaceful.Nothing to see here, Mr.Criminal. I’m just a soft, sweet girl who likes to submit to a big, strong man.I’m not about to take down your whole criminal enterprise or anything.
Yep. She looked like some Dom’s plaything, and that was howshe liked it. No one saw her coming.
Did she have any right to bring Niall into this? Especiallyif he didn’t truly want her?
Harlow shoved that question aside and started out of thebathroom. She was almost back to the door that led to the lounge when she felta hand on her elbow.
She turned, ready to punch the fucker, and stopped.
“Harlow?” Jensen stood there, an unholy fire in his eyes.
And she knew she was in real trouble.
Chapter Six
Jensen bit back a growl as he stared down at the onewoman he’d ever loved.
Harlow Dawson’s hair was longer and she’d changed the color,but he’d known exactly who she was the minute he caught sight of her walkingback with Miranda.
She looked like his every fucking wet dream, and his everynightmare since she was in a place where he was absolutely sure everyone incharge was a killer.
He pulled her back to the tiny office he’d been given whenhe took over as dungeon monitor. Phil didn’t particularly like to do thingslike assign work schedules and duties, so this was where Jensen sat up late orcame in early to get done the minor tasks of running the club. It was nothingmore than a desk, a chair, and a laptop, but it would have to do.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Harlow?”
Her eyes flared briefly, hurt showing there, but this wasn’tsome sweet reunion. She was supposed to stay out of trouble. He was going tohave such a fucking talk with Niall, who should have been watching her.
Niall, who’d sent him a text earlier, but he hadn’t beenable to reply. He couldn’t call. Not here.
So he definitely didn’t want her walking around like thesweetest treat he’d ever seen.
“I’m on a case.” She straightened up, and her jaw wenttight. “And now I realize I was right about this place. So the cartel they tookout a couple of months ago wasn’t the real owner. If you’re here, then the realman behind this place is Cliff Hamilton. I knew it.”
“You came looking for me? Do you know what a stupid movethat was?”
Her arms crossed over her chest, and she huffed out a laughthat held not an ounce of humor. “I was not looking for you. You made yourselfclear when you left me to be arrested and assaulted.”
The words hit him hard. “What are you talking about? Thecops were coming. I had the timing down. I certainly wouldn’t have left youthere if I didn’t know the cops would take control.”
“Yeah, well they did, but not before your friend broke myarm trying to get me to tell him where you were,” Harlow said with a bitternesshe couldn’t deny. “Fucker still aches. But that doesn’t matter. What doesmatter is I had no idea you were here, not that it would stop me. I’m on acase, and I swear if you fuck this up for me, I’ll be the one looking forrevenge. Now I’m going to get back to my boyfriend and you can pretend like youdon’t know who I am. Good-bye, Jensen.”
He slammed his hand against the door so she couldn’t openit. It put him in close proximity, so close he could smell her. God, he missedthat scent. Strawberries and fucking cream. He was addicted to it. “Harlow, Ididn’t know about your arm. I…I tried to stay away from you. Even from news ofyou. I knew your dad came to get you.”
“Yeah,” she said, not turning around. “Thanks for that, too.He’s been up my ass for the last two years over that. You should let me go now,Jensen. My Dom is going to start to wonder where I am.”
Oh, he wanted to know about that, too. Niall hadn’tmentioned she’d taken a top. All he heard about was her playing with friendswho were tops. Nothing serious. Nothing close to permanent. “What is his name?”
“It doesn’t matter because we have nothing to do with eachother, Jensen Wiley,” she replied.
“The fact that you’re here tells me otherwise. What is yourcase?”
She turned, her back to the door. That stubborn look on herface did something to him. Revved him the fuck up. She was so close, and thiswas not how he expected this to go. He was supposed to show up on her doorstepwith flowers and croissants and pretty much beg for a second chance. He wasn’tsupposed to be the bad guy in her life. Again.
“I don’t discuss my cases with strangers,” she said flatly.
