Under the Gun (CEP Book 3) Read Free Page B

little fun in the meantime.
    Sliding into the booth, he made sure his thigh landed against hers, which had her quickly pulling hers away, causing her to shoot him a glare. He winked at her which made her glower even harder.
    Yeah, this could be fun.
    “So, Gunner,” Tilly began, “how are you?”
    He shifted in the booth making sure to invade Quinn’s space and had to hold back a snort when he felt her go tense.
    “I’ve been good. You?” he answered.
    The waiter came asking for their drink orders before Tilly could answer.
    “We require a bottle of Antinori, please,” Quinn jumped right in, nodding at Tilly and making Gunner’s body shake in laughter at her phrasing.
    The waiter looked to Gunner. “Beer,” he responded.
    The server appeared confused until Quinn elucidated, “Amarcord. Bionda.”
    The waiter smiled looking relieved, nodded and left to retrieve their drinks.
    Gunner leaned down to Quinn and muttered under his breath, “That shit better be decent or my hand’s across that gorgeous ass of yours later tonight.” He then sat straight and upon hearing her gasp at his pseudo-threat, had to chuckle low.
    And here came the sass.
    “Why don’t you go fuck yourself, Mr. Murphy,” she whisper-hissed.
    He shifted his eyes to her without turning his head. “Did. This morning. I believe a redhead was the main attraction too.”
    Then something happened that totally took him off guard, making him arch into himself quickly, his hand coming up trying to protect his chest before he bit out, “The fuck?”
    As he stared at Quinn in surprise, he watched her swivel back to the front as if she hadn’t just twisted his nipple right there in the fancy-assed restaurant. The waiter had appeared so she now held her wine glass to the bottle as he poured then she smoothly took a drink never once looking back at Gunner. Damn. The woman was slick.
    Gunner took a glance at Tilly who appeared to be having a tough time keeping in her laughter, her eyes twinkling at him as she bit her lips. When he narrowed his eyes at her, she let out a little snort, ducking her head and trying to compose herself.
    Huh. Yeah. This was loads of fun.
    The waiter took their orders then Quinn continued as if nothing out of the ordinary happened asking Tilly, “So, Till, how’s that new camera workin’ for you?” She took a drink, and he had to hand it to her; she was most definitely smooth.
    While the women talked, Gunner sat back and drank his beer, which was damned good he had to admit, as he kept watch over the place. Checking out the various tables, he realized he was aggravated that he’d let Quinn throw him off guard the way she had. He also perceived he was pissed at the sheer craving he now felt for the petite woman sitting next to him. And what was worse, the glimpse he’d just taken of her showed she wasn’t feeling the same about him, all caught up in the conversation she was having with Tilly.
    What the fuck was this? Women usually noticed him, flirted with him, took him home if he was so inclined to go to their place—not his, never his—but there sat the gorgeous redhead beside him not giving him one iota of attention.
    A beautiful woman three tables over whose breasts were close to spilling out of the low-cut cocktail dress she wore caught his attention. When she gave him a seductive smile, he cursed under his breath. But his expletive hadn’t been the result of how good she looked. Nope. He’d uttered the word because he hadn’t felt a damned thing toward her when normally his dick would at least have given an appreciative twitch by then.
    He sat back letting out an annoyed breath which was when he realized the conversation at the table had stopped. Looking across to Tilly then to his side at Quinn, he saw they were both looking at him with amusement.
    “See something you like?” Quinn asked, her mirth seemingly laced with annoyance as she nodded in the direction of the woman at whom he’d gawked.
    Christ. Could