He wanted to glare at her. Maybe even stand up and leave, yet her laughter entranced him. Annique laughed with full-throated mirth. Her lips parted, her eyes shining, her cheeks rosy with natural color, not powder.

She was stunning.

She was also an enigma.

Annique Darlington, age forty-one and living in an apartment downtown, was a lady with no artifice. Barely even any makeup, just a light coat of mascara and lip-gloss. She didn’t hide behind a layer of pretense.

If she woke up beside me, she’d look the same way. But with more tousled hair and fuller lips because he’d kiss the hell out of them.

If she let him kiss her. Which seemed doubtful given she kept up the charade of being married. Understandable. Wouldn’t want the male clients getting ideas about the smoking-hot owner.

Because then I’d have to kill them.

The spurt of jealousy came out of nowhere. It surprised him.

He missed her next words. “What?” he asked.

“I said, how come you use C.R. instead of your true name?”

“Would you really want to use Charming given the reaction?” He arched a brow.

She smiled. Her lips a perfect Cupid’s bow. Would she protest much if he yanked her across the table for a kiss?

“Is this why the dates failed? The women laughed like I did.”

“I never told them my real name.” Things never got that far.

“You might want to try. Laughter can provide a good ice-breaker.”

“The wrong kind of mockery can have the opposite effect.”

She drummed her nails on the table but had to move them when the waiter arrived with some food.

Then there was little talk, but she did indulge in some eyes-shut moaning as she savored her scallops.

The ridiculous sexiness of it almost made him snap.

If she were an operative like Mason had suggested, then she was damned good. Reaper wanted to believe she was exactly as she appeared.

Strong, sexy, and sassy. And humming over her food in a way that made his cock jealous.

He wondered if he truly wanted her or just found himself attracted because she kept trying to pretend she was unattainable.

Did she hold herself aloof because she had a secret like him?

A part of him kind of hoped the answer was yes. Because then the fact that Reaper was an assassin would not send her running. She’d probably drop her panties.

Killers for hire never had problems getting laid.

What if Mason was wrong about her? It wasn’t unheard of for people to start over, to erase his or her past life by escaping from it.

Is she hiding from someone or something? The most likely scenario? A man.

“What’s your husband like?” he asked abruptly.

Her gaze shuttered, and she physically pulled back from him, a telling answer on its own. “He’s a lovely man.” Spoken woodenly. “Very devoted.”

The lie made him poke harder. “Perhaps I should meet with him and get pointers on snaring a hot woman.”

“My husband doesn’t get involved with the business.”

“Maybe he should. I would never let a gorgeous woman go out for lunch with another man.”

“Do you have trust issues?”

“Sometimes, a man has to guard his woman.” His gaze fixed her. “Especially when she’s extremely tempting.”

“Are you flirting with me?” she queried.

“Yes. Aren’t you?”

He could have laughed at the way she straightened in her seat and how her eyes took on a firm sternness. “I’m here in a professional capacity.”

“Bullshit.”

“Your profanity is unnecessary.”

“Are you really going to lecture me on my language?”

She stood. “I think I’ve learned enough. I’ll be in touch.”

If he’d remained seated, he probably wouldn’t have seen it, the barrel in the window, the hood hiding the person bracing the gun outside.

But he did stand, and even as the glass cracked, he grabbed Annique and dragged her to the floor, throwing himself atop her as a shield.

For a possibly fake civilian, she managed a rather convincing scream.

A pity they were being shot at because she made a very nice cushion for his body. Fewer clothes would be better.

Bang. His scars shivered. Fuck, I guess I’d better do something.

Especially given that she shrieked again.

“Can you stop doing that?” he asked, to which she replied with an oh-so-useful screech.