Free Dream Huntress (A Dreamseeker novel) (Entangled Ignite) by Michelle Sharp

he’d succumb to the silent invitation for more information.
    “About a promotion,” he finally admitted. “One that I should have had, but the police chief’s nephew got. It’s all about who you’re related to in this town.”
    “So instead of trying to move to another department like Titus or Cooper, you just quit?” His actions didn’t make sense. Someone would take her badge when they pried it out of her cold, dead hands.
    “You went through training, got your badge, worked for eight or nine years, and then just walked away?” She’d spent a great many years reading people, and she already knew a few things about Ty. He loved playing protector, had been doing it since she’d met him, which made the fact that he’d turned in his badge over a missed promotion unlikely.
    “You ask a lot of questions for someone who’s more attracted to the guy who made the pizza than me.”
    “Sorry, occupational hazard.”
    “For a business degree?” His head tilted as he stared at her. He appeared to be mentally weighing her words. “Do they make you interrogate people to get your business degree?”
    Stalling, she stuffed another bite of pizza in her mouth. It had sounded more like an interrogation than a friendly conversation over dinner. “Cocktail waitress,” she said around the pizza. “The more you talk, the more interested you are in people’s lives, the better the tips. I ask a lot of questions, chat a lot. It seems to be an asset at Buck’s.”
    He scowled, instantly annoyed. “Good ol’ Buck’s.”
    She watched him crumple a napkin and tap his fingers on the tabletop. Something had him ticked off.
    “When do you think you’ll go back to work?”
    “Today was my day off, so not until tomorrow.”
    He shook his head. “You really think you’re up to carrying trays and fighting off idiots like Lewis?”
    The agitation in his voice escalated. Even if he turned out to be one of the cops—or ex-cop, in his case—protecting Buck, the toxic atmosphere inside the club seemed to drive him nuts.
    “I’m fine. I can’t afford to be off anyway. Are you done?” she asked.
    When he nodded, she picked up their plates and threw them away.
    “What if I could get you a job at Antonio’s? His family has been good friends with mine for years. It’s a really nice place.” He tossed the leftover pizza on the kitchen counter and grabbed the dessert bag. “And now you know their food is awesome.”
    So dinner had been a well-planned move to get her to quit Buck’s. She had to give him points for strategy and persistence. “Look, Ty, I know you don’t like Buck’s, but do you have any idea how much money I can make there in one evening? I start at four, and it’s pretty steady until about nine, and then it just completely opens up. On the weekends, I can walk away with a couple hundred dollars a night.”
    “Yeah, but the place is a hole, and you know better than anyone it can be dangerous.”
    “Only if I turn my back on Lewis.” She knew her lack of concern about the danger prickled under his skin. “Cheesecake now or later?”
    She turned to look at him when he didn’t answer and got the distinct impression he had more to say on the subject of her employment but had apparently decided to drop it.
    He moved the bakery box to the table, opened it, and served up the dessert. “Come here, you’ve got to try this.”
    Guiding her into a chair, he pulled another one intimately close and sat. He scooped up a bite of cheesecake and fed it to her. “Tell me that’s not the best thing you’ve ever had in your mouth.”
    With her eyes closed and the slightest taste of heaven on her tongue, “hmm” was all she could manage. And not in a sweet, agreeable way, but in a low moan of delight.
    “I told you so.” He chuckled and fed her another bite.
    After she swallowed—and licked her lips—she said, “My mom made the best cheesecake. Thanksgiving meant pumpkin pie to everyone else, but my sister and I