Page 26 of Boys Who Hunt

“Yeah, it does.” Suddenly, she stops in her tracks and looks right at me. “You know why they’re after me, right?”

I shrug. “I don’t care.”

She makes a confused face. “You don’t care that I stole from your society?”

I empty my pockets and take out the change. “Steal whatever you want. I’m broke anyway. I don’t have anything, so I can’t lose anything either. Except my heart.”

She snorts. “That doesn’t make any sense.”

“I know, but neither does my attraction to you, yet here I am.”

Her face turns pale as snow, and I realize I may have said that out loud.

Oh God.

Suddenly, her stomach growls, and she holds her hands in front of her belly. “You didn’t hear that.”

“Yes, I did.” I smile and place my hand on her shoulder. “I promise you, I am not interested in whatever reason those guys are after you. Just … let me take you out for a late lunch or early dinner. It’s on me.”

She eyes me up and down like she’s trying to determine the weight of my words.

“I know a fantastic place downtown, Sammy’s Sandwich Shop. He has the best teriyaki chicken sandwiches you could ever taste. Like, they make you want to eat ten of them. I’m not kidding. Drool-worthy.”

She snorts again, so I add a smile.

“Please?” I murmur. “I know we got off on the wrong foot. But will you please let me take you out for a sandwich?” I ask. “No strings attached.”

She sighs out loud and sizes me up again. “Okay, fine.”

I make a fist and hiss to myself, “Yes.”

But her chuckle clearly gives away that she heard it too. “Just food.” She raises a finger. “That’s it.”

“Got it,” I say with a big grin.

She snorts. “You are one persistent motherfucker, you know that?”

A proud smirk forms on my face. “You don’t even know how much.” I wink. “Meet me by the fountain in an hour.”

An hourlater

I puton my jacket and comb through my hair in the mirror, ensuring I look nice before I waltz out the door. But the minute I do, Heath grabs my shoulders and stops me in my tracks.

“Wow, where are you going dressed up so nicely?”

“Out,” I reply.

He frowns. “With who?”

“Youknowwho.” I make a face. “Youtold me to talk to her.”

“Oh …” His brows wriggle, and he bites the piercing on his lip. “Why didn’t you say so?”

I sigh. “Because I don’t want you to ruin it.”

“Ruin what?” He snorts, and he points at my chest. “Remember why we’re doing this.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, yeah, we’re catching a thief.”