Page 120 of Hard Rain
“It’s comfortable.”
Whip snorted. “You planning on letting me walk?”
“No.” Axel’s mouth dropped close to his ear.
“You’re a pain in the ass.”
“Told you that a year ago.”
“Aw.” Knox formed a heart with his hands.
“Don’t start,” Whip warned.
“I wasn’t going to say anything.”
“Good.”
“I was just going to ask if you wanted us to walk twenty feet behind you so it looked more romantic.”
Axel answered before Whip could.
“That’d be nice.”
Whip barked out a laugh.
Knox pointed accusingly.
“There it is! He’s smiling. I knew we’d break him eventually.”
“You didn’t break anything,” Whip said.
“No,” Alvarez agreed. “Axel did.”
Whip groaned. “I am begging every single one of you not to turn this task force into a couples retreat.”
“Too late,” Knox said. “Last night it was condoms. Tomorrow it’s tuxedos.”
“The tuxedos are work,” Axel replied.
“Details.” Knox grinned.
Axel squeezed his shoulder as they crossed the street.
Whip found himself smiling again.
Maybe waiting hadn’t been such a bad idea after all.
Radiator Whiskey hummed with quiet conversation, clinking glassware, and a slow blues guitar drifting through the room.
The place was busy without being crowded. Couples occupied most of the booths, a few people sat at the bar, and a hostess stood behind the podium near the entrance.
She looked up, fear written plainly across her face.
Whip slowed.
Alvarez’s eyes narrowed.
Axel frowned. “What’s wrong?”
