Page 22 of Trick or Trouble
“This is almost as good as my mom's,” she declared.Who knew Mr.Alpha himself could produce such a fantastic dish?
“Does that mean you give up already?”His satisfied tones purred across the table.
“A DeAngelo never gives up when it comes to food.”Darcy took a huge bite of her garlic toast loaded with melted mozzarella and closed her eyes in ecstasy.This was the way garlic toast should be made.“Mumm...so good.”
“Would you like more Merlot?”
“I’d like some,” Holly volunteered, raising her hand eagerly.
Logan eyed her affectionately.“Not a chance, brat.You know what your dad said.”
Holly pouted.“If he were here, he’d give me a little, though.”
“He’s not here,” Logan told her firmly.He turned back to Darcy.“What are you going to prepare next week?It will be at your place...I presume?”
Darcy swallowed the bite she was currently chewing, then eyed him.“Do you like spaghetti and meatballs?”
“Love them.”
“Then I’ll make my own special recipe.”She smiled sweetly at him.“And I have an Italian mother, so prepare to lose.”
Holly raised her hand again.“I think I should be invited.After all, you need an unbiased judge.”
Darcy’s eyebrow slid up.“Are you sure you’re unbiased?”
Logan snorted.“If she’s biased, it would be on your behalf, not mine.No, this is between me and you—unless you can’t be honest in your judgement?”
“Of course I can be honest—can you?”Darcy challenged as her cell phone dinged.
“Without a doubt.”
His appreciative eye caressed her mouth as her tongue lapped up a string of cheese that had pulled away from her mouth.It sent a shiver up her spine.When more dings chimed insistently in her jeans pocket, she finally pulled her phone out and frowned when she saw the text messages from the wife of Mr.Beefy of the infamous Rocking Chair Motel.
These pictures are crap!
Can’t you take a picture that isn’t blurry?
I’m not paying for these.
Get me something I can work with, not far away; otherwise, the deal is off.
And I need them...like...yesterday!
Darcy groaned and texted back.Got interrupted; will get more pics asap.
“Someone must be desperate,” Logan commented, his gaze narrowing.“Everything okay?”
Darcy shot him an irritated scowl.“I need to go to work soon.My employer for the job you so rudely interrupted last night wants better pics.The ones Iwouldhave gotten had you not dragged me into that alleyway.And with my car out of commission, I’m going to have to rely on Ubers to get around,” she growled in disgust.
Logan slid a plate filled with chicken cacciatore in front of her, accompanied by an unrepentant grin.“Eat up, and then I’ll take you where you need to go.It’s the least I can do.”
Darcy stared suspiciously.“This may take a while to get the shots I need—stakeouts aren’t fun and games.And I’m not going to lie and say you won just because you’re trying to be nice,” she finished before taking a big bite of her offering.She couldn’t help the moan that escaped her lips.Her eyes flew open at his deep, male chuckle.
He leaned back in his chair, studying her with a lazy grin that did nothing to soften the steel in his gaze.“Good thing I’m not in this to win by default.I’ll win fair and square.”His voice dropped, velvety command over steel.“And don’t kid yourself that I’m just playing nice.I don’t intend to let you run around that neighborhood alone, hopping in and out of unreliable Ubers without backup.You’ve got me now, sweetheart—and trust me, it will never be boring with me in the car.”
Darcy stiffened, her pulse spiking.The smug graduate of The Alpha Academy was back in all his bossy glory.Half of her wanted to melt—to give in to that arrogant certainty and let him wrap her in the safety he promised.The other half wanted to tip him backward and watch him land on hisoh-so-finebackside.She opened her mouth, intending to rain down the fires of hell in no uncertain terms as to what he could do with his intentions, when she caught Holly’s wide-eyed stare.Clamping her lips tight, she sweetened her tone to a saccharine drawl.
“Barking orders like a drill sergeant isn’t going to get you any brownie points, you know.”She shifted her gaze back to his maddeningly confident face, heat sparking while irritation wrestled with desire.“But don’t worry—you’ll get part two later.”
