All Things Pretty Read Online Free PDF Page A

a
jarring jolt. There won’t be any “regularly” for us. There won’t be anything for us. Because of Lance. “Not to be rude, but you
did bring my phone, right?”
    Sig reaches into his pocket and produces my
phone. I reach for it with both hands, trying to ignore that it’s
warm from being close to his body. I try hard to focus only on how
much trouble this could’ve caused me. I have got to be more
careful.
    “Thank you so much.”
    “I’m all about smart phones and safety and
shit, but you seem a little more…relieved than the average person.
I mean, it is just a phone. Is everything okay?”
    “Yes. I just…I rely pretty heavily on my
phone.”
    “Work?”
    “Uhhhh, well, just life.”
    Balling up his wrapper in his large hands,
Sig’s eyes lock on mine, suddenly serious. “Boyfriend?”
    I don’t know why I’m surprised that he’s
perceptive. Those dark chocolate eyes seem to see everything.
    I gulp. “Yes.”
    Much to my surprise, he grins. “Good!”
    That wasn’t what I was expecting.
“Good?”
    “Yes, good. That I can handle. I won’t feel
bad. I couldn’t live with myself if I wrecked a home, but
boyfriends are fair game.”
    I smile politely. “As much as I appreciate
the thought, I’m not interested.” That almost sounded convincing.
Almost.
    “Liar.”
    “No, I’m not.”
    Actually, I am. A really good one, too.
Usually.
    Sig watches me carefully, his fingers toying
with his coffee cup. He leans slowly toward me, bracing his elbows
on the table as he tilts his head to study me more closely. “I
don’t believe you.”
    “You should.”
    “There’s something between us, Tommi.
Whether you admit it or not.”
    “There’s not. There can’t be.”
    He relaxes back into this chair, his
expression undaunted. “We’ll see.”
    “Unfortunately, we will not. I doubt we’ll
ever see each other again after today.”
    “Let’s leave it up to fate. What do you
say?”
    I see no harm in agreeing, especially since
I know that I won’t be seeing him again. If I ever spot him coming,
I’ll run the other way. Sig is a risk I can’t afford.
    “Fate’s a cruel woman. Or didn’t you know
that?”
    “That’s mother nature. Fate is a man. And
he’s on my side. Trust me.”
    I rise to my feet, draping my purse strap
over my shoulder. “Well, it’s been a pleasure, Sig. Thank you for
all your help.”
    “Until next time,” he says, also
standing.
    I say nothing as I make my way toward the
exit. The thing is, I’m disappointed that I won’t be seeing him
again. I feel his eyes on me as I leave and I miss the heat of them
already.
     

CHAPTER EIGHT- SIG
     
    I head back to the station, walking right to
Captain Brevard’s office. I knock and then walk on in. “I’m in,
sir. You’ve gotta let me do this.”
    “Locke, I–”
    “Just trust me. I can pull this off.”
    His sharp eyes dig in again, like two
pointed shovels. They’ve been known to make a full-grown man
fidget, but I’m confident that I can do this, so I hold his gaze,
unwavering.
    “Alright. You’ve got your shot. I’ll get
word to Finch and set it up. But let me tell you, son, if you so
much as–”
    “I know, sir. You don’t need to warn me. I’m
not messing this up. You have my word.”
    He sighs. “Look, Locke, I know you’ve been a
cop since the damn womb, but going under is different. Are you sure
you’re ready for this? To give up all contact with your family for
a while? Live on the wrong side of town, consort with the scum of
society? To be someone you’re not, to be the type of person you’ve
dedicated your life to getting off the streets?”
    “I was born ready, sir. Just give me the
details of my cover and I’ll bring this assface down.”
    “I like the confidence. Just don’t let it
turn into over confidence. I’ve seen good men get killed over
preventable mistakes.”
    “I’ve got this, Cap. I’ve got this.”
    “I sure as hell hope so,” he says,
resigned.
    I smile. I