Deadly Deception by Kris Norris Page B

way, he handed her a new pack of ice, taking the old from her and giving it to the bartender. His lips had tensed into a fine line across his face as the muscle in his jaw jumped.
    “You are one stubborn SOB, you know that?” He sighed and eased back onto the stool. “So…you sure you saw what you said you saw?”
    She snorted, shaking her head. “I’m not sure I was even there at this point. But yeah, it sure as hell looked like Davies. What I saw of him. God knows how that’s even possible, but…”
    She didn’t finish, knowing Cole would draw the same conclusions she had. Either Davies was part of some elaborate, cover-up scheme, or she’d simply seen a ghost.
    Or she’d finally lost her mind, which she suspected was Cole’s first choice.
    She placed the ice against her face, enjoying the numbing coldness. She didn’t really care if it was Davies or his ghost, or her mind playing tricks on her, all she wanted was for the pounding in her head to stop. And for that, she needed another shot.
    She held up her glass, ignoring the heavy sigh Cole gave her.
    “I think you’ve had enough, Mal.”
    “It still hurts.”
    He laid his hand across her arm, cupping, not clenching. “The whisky won’t fix that. You should go home. Get some sleep. In fact, take a day off tomorrow.”
    “Is that an order?”
    “Fuck, you don’t give an inch, do you?”
    “I’m only this stubborn when my partner thinks I’m crazy…or are you speaking on Sawyer’s behalf?”
    Cole chuckled. “I wouldn’t presume to speak for him. Besides, I doubt he’ll do anything that doesn’t involve yelling.” He leaned in closer. “So tell me. How long have you two been sleeping together?”
    She shifted just her eyes to focus on him. “I only said that to shut you up.”
    “No you didn’t. You both put up a pretty good front, but there’s no doubt that you’re doing the nasty. I just wondered if it’s recent or since that first night a week ago?”
    She raised her eyebrow, hoping it didn’t start off a chain reaction of pain. “What makes you so certain?”
    He nodded over her shoulder. “The way Sawyer’s watching you. He hasn’t taken his eyes off you since you basically told us both to fuck off and marched over here.”
    She gritted her teeth against the pain and took a quick glance over her shoulder. The look in Sawyer’s eyes stole her breath. It was nothing short of lethal.
    She shrugged, slowly turning back to her drink. “He’s just pissed. That doesn’t mean I’m having sex with him.”
    “Mallory. I’ve seen that look on his face before. He might be pissed, but that’s fear in his eyes. You scared the shit out of him tonight, and he wouldn’t be that upset if he wasn’t invested intimately in your wellbeing.” Cole took another pull. “And you’re lying to yourself if you think it’s just sex.”
    Mallory sighed. Her head hurt far too much to keep up any pretence with Cole. Besides, she had yet to lie successfully to the man. That was how he knew about the marriage. “I had a nightmare that first night he was going to stay in the spare room and…” She raised one side of her mouth into a grin. “He was kind enough to take my mind off of it.”
    Cole stayed strangely quiet, nodding his head as he downed the rest of his beer. Then he scraped back his stool and threw some money on the bar. “You sure that’s wise?”
    She laughed. “Hell, no. But…” She forced herself to swallow past the large lump suddenly lodged in her throat. “Damn. You know I’m still in love with him.” She waved it off. “I’ll be fine.”
    Cole patted her on the arm. “Sure. Just know this. If he hurts you again, you’ll have to get in line if you want to kill him.”
    She gave him a smile, holding up her glass to the bartender as Cole walked away. She’d worry about Sawyer later, once she was too numb to care. The bartender shook his head, but filled her glass, giving her a hard look. She nodded her thanks,