“If you’re prepared to attend that party, we will likely gain a lot of intel, so yes, you have my backing,” Saul said. Clare wanted to bound over and hug his big green body.
Trent nodded. Beth nodded.
Grayson Lighfoot had joined them today. Crouched in a corner, he rumbled, “As long as we have backup close by and we use the wiring devices we’ve perfected at Tower Security, then yes, I agree, I think we could very well glean a lot from Clare attending the event.”
All eyes were now on Oliver, who remained silent.
“Hale?” Grayson raised his brows.
He stood with his arms crossed hard against his chest, head down as if deep in thought, but Clare knew it was to hide how pissed off he was.
When he looked up, that telltale tic bunched the muscle under his beard. His lips thinned into a hard line.
Yeah, he’s so pissed.
“I’m thinking,” he growled while everyone waited. Finally, “You’ll need to be armed.”
Clare’s brows shot up. “I can’t take a gun in there, sir. If that got noticed it would put me at more risk.”
“Pepper spray then, in your purse.”
“I won’t need it, sir, not tonight.”
“How do you know?”
“I have a hunch.”
“Ah yes, your hunches. Very scientific.”
“Professional intuition is a science in our line of work. Sir.”
She saw his biceps bunch as he squeezed his folded arms tighter against his chest. An alarming spark of lust lit up her pussy. Damn it, when Oliver Hale was pissed at her he was hell sexy.
And what’s more, for once in his life, he wasn’t being logical. The slightly perplexed frowns from the other monsters in the room confirmed as much.
“I agree with Clare, being armed is not necessary on this first trip. She’ll be wired, that’s enough,” Saul said.
Oliver grunted and stared at his perfectly shined shoes.
He’s worried for yoursafety.
Stop kidding yourself.
But the truth was, shehadsoftened a tiny smidge toward him since he’d attempted that rudimentary apology the other night in the bar. It wasn’t much, but it was better than never acknowledging how badly he’d treated her.
She glanced at Oliver from under her lashes. He was chewing at his lip, looking almost petulant. For a being who was over two centuries old, he was behaving like a sulky teen.
“You think I can’t carry off being a seductive woman? Is that it, sir?”
His head jerked like she’d slapped him. His eyes blazed into hers, and surely the others must have noticed, because they all shifted uncomfortably in their seats.
For a long moment there was silence. Then Oliver purred, “Detective Doyle, I’m sure you can carry off anything you choose. Let’s get on with making the plan foolproof, shall we?”
CHAPTER 16
As she sashayed toward him, Oliver’s senses reeled.
A haze descended on him, the red of her dress mingling with the red heat of craving, like a drug addict desperate for a fix.
