like smacking him. “You’re totally fucking with me, aren’t you?”
“Just a little.”
Ray led Elliot to the most secluded table the place offered. Ray got a funny look from Elliot when he positioned his chair so he could keep a passive eye on the dining area and watch the door. Elliot’s gaze lingered on Ray’s hands as Ray carefully adjusted the way his jacket fell across his waist to make access to his holster as quick and efficient as possible.
“You are getting jumpy.”
“It’s a very distinct shade of gray.” The explanation was out before Ray could stop it. “Reflective, with white pinstripes. I don’t think I imagined it, but there have to be other people who wear gray suits.”
“At Garcia’s place?”
Ray nodded.
“You think one of your cousins was following us.”
“Yes.” His own confidence surprised him.
“We left from my house this morning, in my car.”
Ray nodded. He hadn’t forgotten about that, but he knew what he saw.
“Someone would have had to be following you since Friday morning to pull that off.”
“I guess it does seem kind of crazy….”
“It does. And we spent the last hour in the federal building. Even the parking lot is secure. I’m sure you’re just stressed.”
“You could help me relieve some of that stress,” Ray whispered.
Elliot’s gaze slid to the side. “Our waitress….”
Their server was a cute younger girl with impossibly red hair, and Ray found his focus shifting from the rest of the room to the skin just above the top buttons on her shirt. It was mostly out of habit, since the girl didn’t have much of a neckline to show off. He noticed the way she undid another button as she approached their table and began to relax a little. Flirting was something he could do in his sleep, and it was always fun. Beyond appreciating an attractive body, and being appreciated in return, it would mean they’d get better service, and she’d get a better tip. It really was a win-win situation.
But the charming smile Ray pulled up evaporated the moment she approached their table and greeted Elliot by bending down and setting her hand, with perfect white-tipped fingernails on Elliot’s forearm. “Welcome back. I’ve got such a treat for you today. We got four coolers of Baja shrimp in two hours ago, caught just this morning. I had a shrimp taco on my lunch break and I swear, they melt in your mouth.”
Elliot’s smile grew soft and flirtatious, too. “Sounds perfect. Can I get those and a Coke?”
Ray knew he shouldn’t be glaring. If he’d been here with Hayes, he would have been cataloging details to rib his partner about later. If he were with another coworker, if he were with anyone else at all, he’d have toned things down and backed off. But it wasn’t the flash of cleavage or the girl’s smile that was throwing him off. The way Elliot returned her smile and leaned forward to confirm his order left Ray cold and furious. Elliot’s body language screamed interested.
“¿Y qué te pongo?” She asked Ray for his order casually.
“The same,” Ray growled.
To her credit, the woman’s smile only flickered a little. “And what can I get you to drink?” She shifted into perfect English.
“Just water.”
“It’ll be out in a few.”
Elliot watched her go and quirked an eyebrow at him from across the table.
“You eat a lot of tacos, huh?”
“Is your ego so fragile that you can’t handle a pretty girl paying attention to anyone other than you?” Elliot smirked.
Ray’s mouth dropped open before he could school his features. He tried to turn his shocked expression into a bright smile, but it was already too late. He saw the understanding sparkle in Elliot’s eyes, noticed the way the smirk grew into a real smile.
“Oh.” Elliot shifted in his chair, crossing his legs.
Ray needed to get control of himself. It was ridiculous to get jealous over someone he’d already slept with. The only people he had repeat encounters
“Just a little.”
Ray led Elliot to the most secluded table the place offered. Ray got a funny look from Elliot when he positioned his chair so he could keep a passive eye on the dining area and watch the door. Elliot’s gaze lingered on Ray’s hands as Ray carefully adjusted the way his jacket fell across his waist to make access to his holster as quick and efficient as possible.
“You are getting jumpy.”
“It’s a very distinct shade of gray.” The explanation was out before Ray could stop it. “Reflective, with white pinstripes. I don’t think I imagined it, but there have to be other people who wear gray suits.”
“At Garcia’s place?”
Ray nodded.
“You think one of your cousins was following us.”
“Yes.” His own confidence surprised him.
“We left from my house this morning, in my car.”
Ray nodded. He hadn’t forgotten about that, but he knew what he saw.
“Someone would have had to be following you since Friday morning to pull that off.”
“I guess it does seem kind of crazy….”
“It does. And we spent the last hour in the federal building. Even the parking lot is secure. I’m sure you’re just stressed.”
“You could help me relieve some of that stress,” Ray whispered.
Elliot’s gaze slid to the side. “Our waitress….”
Their server was a cute younger girl with impossibly red hair, and Ray found his focus shifting from the rest of the room to the skin just above the top buttons on her shirt. It was mostly out of habit, since the girl didn’t have much of a neckline to show off. He noticed the way she undid another button as she approached their table and began to relax a little. Flirting was something he could do in his sleep, and it was always fun. Beyond appreciating an attractive body, and being appreciated in return, it would mean they’d get better service, and she’d get a better tip. It really was a win-win situation.
But the charming smile Ray pulled up evaporated the moment she approached their table and greeted Elliot by bending down and setting her hand, with perfect white-tipped fingernails on Elliot’s forearm. “Welcome back. I’ve got such a treat for you today. We got four coolers of Baja shrimp in two hours ago, caught just this morning. I had a shrimp taco on my lunch break and I swear, they melt in your mouth.”
Elliot’s smile grew soft and flirtatious, too. “Sounds perfect. Can I get those and a Coke?”
Ray knew he shouldn’t be glaring. If he’d been here with Hayes, he would have been cataloging details to rib his partner about later. If he were with another coworker, if he were with anyone else at all, he’d have toned things down and backed off. But it wasn’t the flash of cleavage or the girl’s smile that was throwing him off. The way Elliot returned her smile and leaned forward to confirm his order left Ray cold and furious. Elliot’s body language screamed interested.
“¿Y qué te pongo?” She asked Ray for his order casually.
“The same,” Ray growled.
To her credit, the woman’s smile only flickered a little. “And what can I get you to drink?” She shifted into perfect English.
“Just water.”
“It’ll be out in a few.”
Elliot watched her go and quirked an eyebrow at him from across the table.
“You eat a lot of tacos, huh?”
“Is your ego so fragile that you can’t handle a pretty girl paying attention to anyone other than you?” Elliot smirked.
Ray’s mouth dropped open before he could school his features. He tried to turn his shocked expression into a bright smile, but it was already too late. He saw the understanding sparkle in Elliot’s eyes, noticed the way the smirk grew into a real smile.
“Oh.” Elliot shifted in his chair, crossing his legs.
Ray needed to get control of himself. It was ridiculous to get jealous over someone he’d already slept with. The only people he had repeat encounters
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