Free A Little Combustible Chemistry by Violet Duke Page A

professionally and personally—”
    “Tricky start,” he interjected. “Not a bad start. I loved how we met.”
    A moment of silence passed before she admitted, “Me too.”
    Her eyes gentled for a second before narrowing back on that frickin’ note in his hand. “That doesn’t mean this isn’t going to take time to sort out. Your worker was way out of line this morning in her interviews.”
    “I already told you, I’ll talk to her. Dani, I really am sorry, and I’m sure Quinn is too.”
    “Yeah, she looked it,” replied Dani with just a touch of satisfaction in her voice.
    He grinned, impressed. “If you managed to scare my shop manager then you’re even more amazing than I thought. And here I thought you were already pretty darn incredible.”
    The direction of their conversation made Dani look around at the customers and workers around the room sliding curious glances their way. “Maybe we should talk later...on the phone.”
    “And by text?” he offered.
    Her eyes turned wary. “What?”
    “I think you should follow through with that threat of yours and reply to my text message first,” he said softly. “I already have about a dozen more I want to send back to you.”
    She ducked her head, hiding the smile that was already teasing the corners of her mouth. Rolling her eyes in that cute way he was starting to love, she turned and headed to the brewery, leaving him standing in the dining area with the promise of a soft, “You asked for it.”
    “Can’t wait,” he called out to her retreating figure as it veered down a back hallway.
    Without turning back around, she just lifted her hand and waved back at him in acknowledgement.
    Knowing half the brewpub was now watching his exit as well, Luke made sure he was out of eyesight all the way around the building before he drew to a halt. Jesus, he’d just gone all in with nothing but a pair of deuces; he was damn lucky she hadn’t called him on it.
    Now he had to corner Quinn and find out what the hell was going on.
     
    * * * * *
     
    THE NEXT AFTERNOON , armed with all the information regarding the videotaping, and Quinn at his side, Luke walked up to the roof deck of Ocotillos for his meeting with Dani.
    The moment he saw her, he took note of two things. One, Dani could light up the room when she laughed. And two, the gritty, tatted-up musician that sang there regularly—the one currently hugging Dani and tickling her ribs mercilessly—had just become the first person Luke had ever felt compelled to punch in the face in greeting.
    “Are we early for our meeting, Ms. Dobson?” asked Luke with biting formality.
    Dani gave him a strange look. “No, actually, you’re on time. Rylan here was just finishing up a sound check with the new equipment for tomorrow night. I’ll be right with you.”
    When Dani turned to exchange a few more hushed words with ‘Rylan’ before smiling sweetly at the way too comfortable kiss he dropped on her cheek, Luke bristled again.
    “Don’t get your panties in a twist.” Quinn smacked him. “Those two are obviously just friends. Guys like that will kiss anything with legs and mean nothing by it.”
    Luke practically swallowed his tongue in surprise. Quinn never commented about men—good, bad, or otherwise. Moreover, she certainly didn’t look at them the way she was looking at this Rylan guy.
    And that was nothing compared to how Rylan was looking at her.
    From where he stood on stage, Rylan was eating Quinn up with his eyes, gazing at her with such intensity, she eventually shifted her attention to an invisible piece of lint on her skirt.
    At that point, Luke did notice that the way Rylan regarded Quinn was vastly different from the brotherly way he treated Dani. The sharp contrast finally helped Luke unclench his jaw and take a seat, removing his inner neanderthal—who he rarely saw—from the helm.
    A few minutes later, Dani moved into the seat across from him at the table, deleting the smile she’d had