Page 19 of Date With Danger

But I’ll find him.

“Harris.” Ford approaches me. “Why is it you keep running into the same woman?”

“I’ve got a theory—” Cruz begins but she’s cut off by a raise of his fist. She falls silent, dropping back a step.

“What are distractions?” he barks at me.

“A liability, sir.”

His eyes narrow. “A death sentence. Find Hawthorne. Watch him. I want the evidence to put him behind bars before he hurts anyone else.”

I stand straighter and nearly salute him before remembering I’m not in the military anymore. He spins on his heel and leaves. I wait ten seconds before following him out.

“Maybe there’s an avenue we haven’t considered yet.” Cruz catches up to me in the hall.

“Like what?” I bark at her, then instantly regret it.

But it doesn’t faze her. She’s been with the division for a year, she’s used to grumpy men.

“Maybe our suspect is trailing her.”

I stop walking. The blood in my veins slows to a crawl. That is an avenue I haven’t considered. And I don’t want to.

“It’s just a coincidence.” I force out the words.

“It could be. Or,” she tightens her pitch-black ponytail, "your girlfriend could be in danger.”

“She’s not my girlfriend.”

Cruz shrugs a shoulder. “I’m just saying. What if we follow her? Maybe Liam will show up?”

“It was a coincidence,” I mutter again, and keep walking.

“Twice could be a coincidence,” she concedes. “But if it happens again…” Her voice trails off. I know. If it happens again, it’s definitely not a coincidence and Amelia is in danger. Or she’s as much trouble as Hawthorne is.

Chapter 8

Amelia

“Where are you meeting him?” Maddie’s voice sounds over the phone’s speaker as I pull into the parking lot of Murphy’s Steakhouse for my second attempt at a date with Chad.

“Here.” I tap on my phone. “I sent you my location.”

“Got it,” she says. “One hour. You text me in one hour or I’m coming there in my bathrobe.”

I chuckle. “The only person you’ll embarrass is yourself.”

“Where are you going in a bathrobe?” I hear my brother's husky voice through the phone.

I try not to gag, but I’m utterly unsuccessful.

“To embarrass Millie’s date,” Maddie says quickly.

“Maddie!” That was supposed to be a secret. Connor hated Justin. I don’t want to give him a chance to hate someone I haven’t even met yet.

“Count me in,” Connor says. “I’ll wear a Speedo.”

I roll my eyes. “Again, the only people you’ll embarrass are yourselves.”