Page 16 of Made of Steele
“Of course.” She marched out as if on parade.
Teagan strolled down the aisle, passing the space where Drew had hauled her against his rock-solid chest and dragged her out of the main aisle. Dried blood dotted the floor and razor blades glinted in the light. A shiver ran down her back.
Was it from being grabbed so abruptly or from Drew doing the grabbing? At the time, she hadn’t liked it one bit, but as she caught sight of him talking to Sal Conti now, she could easily imagine those strong arms holding her in a far less platonic way.
Stop. Now! Let it go right this minute. You are not falling for this handsome man when you have no time for him in your life. Act like the professional woman the Contis know you to be, or they might get suspicious.
Suspicions that could be cast onto Drew. She couldn’t let that happen. She had to keep her guard up every moment or the pair of them could die.
5
Drew spotted Teagan the second she entered the warehouse. He’d been waiting for her to arrive. Waiting to see if he reacted to her the same way he had earlier in her lieutenant’s office. He did. Maybe more so.
“Like what you see?” Sal jabbed Drew in the side. “You’re almost salivating.”
Drew didn’t like the man’s tone. Nor the fact that he’d been caught gawking at Teagan. He should’ve told Harris no when she suggested he partner with Teagan. He knew she’d be a distraction. He didn’t need a distraction. Not now. Not ever really.
But his unconscious behavior had given him the perfect opening. “I do. Like it a lot.”
“Yeah, she’s a looker. All the Steele women are. But I gotta warn you. She has a dad and uncle who’d put you down if you hurt a one of them.”
What would they do when they found out Drew was working with her? Or if they learned he’d manhandled her last night? If they were in the know about his assignment and his real identity, would they object?
If Drew were the dad of a beautiful daughter, he sure would. After all the losers he’d seen on the job, he might even consider locking his daughter away until she was eighty. He wouldn’t want her anywhere near the horrible things he’d seen in his career. But then, Teagan was an experienced law enforcement officer, and she could handle herself.
Or could she? He’d managed to take her down last night and another man with ulterior motives could’ve done the same. Not something Drew liked to consider. Not one bit.
He shoved his hands into his pockets and waited for her to cross the room.
“Good to see you, Teagan.” Sal held out a meaty hand. “What brings you here?”
She shook Sal’s hand and looked him square in the eyes. “One of our surprise guard audits.”
Sal nodded. “Always liked that practice since your dad put it into place. Shows integrity.”
Integrity. Right. What did Sal know about integrity?
“We find it helps us, the guards, and the company we’re working for too.” She shifted her stance to look at Drew and hold out her hand. “Teagan Steele. Steele Guardians.”
“Dylan Crane.” He took her hand and held it a little too long. He hoped Sal thought it was due to Drew’s interest in her, which it was. No need for acting here. “I work with Sal and his brothers.”
She arched an eyebrow. Likely because he didn’t say what he did or maybe at the mention of his fake name. She responded in a way that could be expected, but did Sal think it odd?
Drew glanced at him. He was too busy looking Teagan up and down to notice anything else.
The urge to punch the man for ogling her made Drew shove his hands back into his pockets.
Teagan looked at Sal. “Do you have a moment to fill out our questionnaire?”
“Sure. Sure.”
She switched the papers on her clipboard and handed it and a pen to him.
Sal fixed his attention on the questionnaire.
“So you work with Steele Guardians,” Drew said to Teagan.
She shot him a look, but then seemed to realize he was working up to asking her out.
