Free Officer Off Limits by Tessa Bailey

trained on them with interest, their song having long since ended.
    Noticing her blush, Daniel’s lips twitched in amusement. He reached down to take her hand, then pulled her out of the spotlight toward the front of the bar and the exit. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw Hayden following in her wake alongside Daniel’s two friends, currently grinning like a pair of court jesters. Hayden’s expression communicated two things: What the fuck? And I want one!
    Once they’d pushed through the door onto the sidewalk, Daniel stopped abruptly. Story stumbled into his chest with an oof . When she attempted to pull away, he locked an arm around her shoulders to keep her pressed to his side. Their three friends piled out after them.
    “Hell of a show. We could have charged at the door for that,” the bouncer commented with a wink as they passed. Daniel’s friends erupted into laughter again. Story turned her head into Daniel’s shoulder and groaned.
    He frowned. “All right, all right. Has everybody gotten it out of their system?”
    “Hell, no,” the bulky, dark-blond one said. Next to him, his familiar-looking friend shook his head. “You’ve got weeks of this coming,” the blond said. He reached a hand out toward Story. “You must be Story. We’ve heard so much about you.”
    Her eyebrows shot up. “You have?”
    “Brent,” Daniel warned.
    “Nice to meet you, Brent.” She shook his hand. “Did you enjoy my song?”
    “Loved it. You’re a real talent.”
    She squinted at him. “You’re very lucky I’m buzzed or I would take issue with your sarcasm.” Ignoring Daniel’s impatient shifting beside her, Story smiled at the other man. “I remember you from this morning. Matt, right?”
    He nodded, looking highly amused by the entire situation.
    “Story, I just realized I have an early hair appointment tomorrow. Mind if I take off?” Hayden asked, none-too-subtly sending her a hint. Still, she hadn’t seen her friend in forever and it didn’t feel right abandoning her for a man. Chicks before dicks, and all that good stuff.
    “But Hayden, are you sure—?”
    “She’s sure,” all three men interrupted at the same time.
    Story looked up at Daniel and frowned.
    “Oh, no. After what I just did in there, you don’t get to frown at me.” He turned and addressed his buddies. “Can you guys make sure Story’s friend gets home all right?” They bobbed their heads like good little soldiers, so he turned back to Story. “Ready to go?”
    She opened her mouth to reply, but Daniel had already started pulling her down the sidewalk. “Bye, Hayden!” She called over her shoulder.
    “If you don’t call me tomorrow, consider this friendship over!” Hayden yelled back. Story laughed and stumbled a little in Daniel’s wake.
    Then they were finally alone, practically jogging down the street, cabs whizzing past on the warm summer evening. Passing traffic created a soft breeze, teasing the hair from her shoulders and carrying myriad smells. Cigar smoke, Daniel’s cologne, fresh baked bagels. Loud bursts of music and conversation washed over them as they passed packed bars and nightclubs, customers pouring out onto the sidewalk. New York felt electric this late on a Friday night, and Story relished being part of its magic.
    “Where are you taking me?”
    “Your place. Mine is farther,” Daniel answered brusquely.
    Story looked around. “I don’t recognize anything.”
    “We’re only two blocks from your apartment.” Holding her hand tightly, he steered them down a side street, leading to the East Side. “Please tell me you were planning on getting a cab home and not walking alone.”
    “I hadn’t thought that far ahead.”
    He gave her a dark look.
    She chuckled at his expression, already regretting what she was about to say next. And unable to care. “I think in the back of my head, I knew you were going to show up at some point. To take me home.”
    Before the words were completely free of her