Free Playing With Fire by Taylor Lee

have looked
dangerous, because Dan called after him in his cautioning cop voice, “Where you
goin’, Nate? Whatssup, dude?”
    Nate gave the wide-eyed, not-easily-surprised group of
hardened cops a nonchalant shrug — along with his best shiteating grin.
    “I’m going to ask the little prick where he got his
loafers.”
    ~~~
    After no more than a moment perusing the wine list, Blake
asked Erin if she agreed, then gave the waitress their order for a bottle of
wine. When he glanced back at her, a startled expression crossed his face. Erin
looked over her shoulder, and to her horror saw Nate advancing on them. That
was the only way she could describe his approach. He had the careless,
easygoing stride of a powerful jungle animal sighting his next meal. The wicked
glint in his eyes signaled he intended to play with his food before eating it.
From the look on Blake’s face, he understood that he was the food.
    With the practiced manners of a gentleman, Blake started to
rise politely… but sunk back in his chair when Nate leaned down and kissed Erin
on the cheek.
    “Evening, sweetheart.”
    When she gasped, Nate winked at her and glanced over at
Blake.
    “Mind if I join you?”
    “YES!” Erin response was so loud that people from across the
room craned to see what was happening. She swallowed, then said more softly,
“Yes, I mind.”
    Seeming to sense that the best offense was a good defense,
Blake said, “Sure. Be my guest.”
    Nate grabbed a chair from a nearby table, and planted it
between Erin and Blake. He flipped the chair around like it was balsa, and sat
down, his strong thighs straddling the seat. Crossing his arms over the back of
the chair, he made a point of brushing his knee up against Erin’s. Erin
flinched at his touch and scooted to the far edge of her seat.
    Taking a careful sip of his water, Blake shifted in his
chair so that he could turn enough to meet Nate’s gaze.
    “Can I help you with something? You apparently know my
dinner companion.”
    “Yes, I know Erin.”
    Blake visibly swallowed.
    “I’m Blake Richards.”
    Nate nodded as if the information wasn’t of much interest.
    “Nate Stryker. I’m one of the cops in town. That’s Detective
Stryker to you.”
    Backing away imperceptibly from the looming presence beside
him, Blake took another guarded sip of water. A small smile curled his lips.
    “I see. Well, I’m pleased to meet you, Detective Stryker.
Given that policemen know most of what is going on in their town, I presume you
know I’m new in town. Visiting. I’m on a…a consulting gig.”
    His forced casualness only underscored his uneasiness.
    Nate continued to stare at him though narrowed eyes. “Is
that so?”
    “Actually, it is somewhat law enforcement related.”
    “Hmm. How so?”
    “Uh, I’m a lawyer.”
    The corner of Nate’s mouth tipped up.
    “I thought you might be.”
    The veiled insult to his profession seemed to incite the
attorney accustomed as he was to the time-honored antagonism between cops and
lawyers.
    “Tell me, detective, do you greet all the newcomers to town
this personally?”
    “No… not all of them.”
    Blake smiled.
    “Only the ones who show up with a beautiful woman — like
Erin?”
    Nate grinned at Erin. “Yeah, I guess you could say I’m
particular about the ones I greet.”
    Without taking his gaze from Erin, he added, “Do you have a
card?”
    “Yes, of course.” Blake reached in his pocket, took out his
wallet, and handed his card to Nate.
    Nate put it in his pocket without looking at it.
    He glinted at the man. “Why did you say you were here?”
    Assuming some of Nate’s cockiness, Blake replied, “I
didn’t.”
    The hardening of Nate’s jaw signaled Blake would do well to
skip the cockiness. “Well, then you better say it now.”
    “I’m here meeting with the head of the Department of Indian
Affairs. I’m a lawyer doing some work on tribal issues.”
    “Good for you.”
    Erin choked and thought to herself, at