Page 18 of Made of Steele
Because most people saw what they wanted to see. What they were directed to see. Why didn’t she want to see creepy Dylan striding toward her instead of a fine-looking man exuding appeal? That would be so very much easier to ignore.
Business, Teagan. This is all business.
“Collier,” she said as he settled his big frame on one of the dainty vintage chairs.
He arched a dark eyebrow. “If we’re going to date, you’ll have to start calling me by my first name.”
“Dylan, I assume.”
“Yeah.” His mouth curved down in disappointment.
“You don’t like that?”
“I don’t like living an assumed identity in the first place, and I don’t like to extend it to people outside the op. But yeah. I’m Dylan to you.”
She held up her menu. “Well, Dylan, we should order so we can get to the game on time.”
“We can order, but we won’t be going to the game.” He casually opened his menu as if he hadn’t dropped a bombshell that their date was off.
She wouldn’t let him get away with it. “What do you mean won’t be going to the game? I thought dating was our cover.”
“It is.” He peered at her over his menu. “Sal thinks we’ll be attending the game, and that means I’ll be tied up. So he’s free to meet his contact—who he’s kept a secret—without me tailing him. But he’s wrong. I plan to be there to witness the meet and ID the guy.”
She kept her attention pinned to Drew. “You meanwe’llbe there.”
He dropped his menu, his eyes turning as dark as black iron. “I work alone.”
“Not anymore.” She crossed her arms. “You want me to keep quiet and pretend to be your girlfriend, then you don’t shut me out of the active work.” She expected him to glare at her, but she caught a glimmer of respect in his expression.
He opened the menu. “I’ve never eaten here. What do you recommend?”
“Everything,” she said, taking his change of subject as his agreement. If she got any hint that he’d made this move to avoid the subject, she would press him on it.
He cocked an eyebrow. “Everything?”
“Honestly. Everything. They make the best southern comfort foods.”
“You were born and raised in the northwest, right? How do you know southern cooking?”
“I worked a three-month investigation as part of a task force in New Orleans. It was an awesome culinary experience, and we got the bad guys too.” She laughed.
He smiled, broad and liquid, the potency melting any reserves she might have about him ditching her on tonight’s op.
How fast she could change. Just a smile. A simple smile, and she forgot everything else. One thing was crystal clear. She wouldn’t have to act with him. She could fall for him in a snap. Even after he manhandled her last night. What did that say about her? That she was willing to give him a fresh start, she supposed.
Dylan was the one who’d tied her up. She was sitting across from Drew.
The waitress with her bleached blond hair in a ponytail joined them, and she directed her attention to Drew first. “Decide what you want?”
He cast a fond smile at Teagan. “Honey, do you know what you want?”
She liked his manners in letting her order first. And she liked being calledhoney. As if he really meant what he was saying.
“I’ll have the seafood jambalaya.” She could already taste the spicy seafood and rice. Not to mention the flaky buttermilk biscuit that went with it. “Can I get a side of coleslaw too and unsweetened tea?”
“Of course.” The waitress scribbled on her pad and faced Drew.
“I’ll have the fried chicken and the collard greens,” Drew said. “Make my tea sweet.”
