Free Against the Law by Kat Martin Page B

late.”
    The corner of his mouth edged up. “You’re right. We’d better get started.”
    She felt his hand at her waist, guiding her toward the door. It made her hot all over.
    â€œI don’t think it’s fair for you to wear clothes like that while we’re working,” he said, looking her up and down once more.
    â€œWe’re going out to dinner with friends, but I’ll keep that in mind for next time.” Not that it was going to change anything. She always dressed this way and if it bothered him, so much the better. No matter what did or didn’t happen between them, it was a relief to know the attraction she felt for him was returned.
    And if their luck held, tomorrow they would discover the name of the couple who had adopted Heather’s baby. After that, it shouldn’t take long to find them. If they were decent, loving parents, she would let the phony adoption stand. She wouldn’t take the little girl’s family away from her.
    If all went well, and she prayed that it would, then herstatus as Dev’s client would be over. She could decide then whether or not to take their relationship to a sexual level.
    But first they had to find Heather’s child and make sure she was okay.

Seven
    T he Strip House was an interesting place, with old-fashioned red leather booths and gilt-framed pictures on the wall. The interesting part was that the pictures were old, twenties-era photos of actual strippers, some of them nude.
    â€œYou gotta love this place,” Madman said as Dev ushered Lark inside the restaurant and found his friend waiting.
    â€œI have to say, it isn’t what I expected.”
    â€œStrip House,” Clive said. “Play on words. Great steaks.”
    Dev offered his hand. “Good to see you, buddy.” Clive shook, gave him a man hug. He was a big guy, nearly a foot taller than the petite, auburn-haired woman beside him with the big brown eyes and a bosom a little too large for her tiny stature. Madman had always been a boob man.
    Clive leaned over and kissed Lark’s cheek. Thewomen hugged. Madman turned to his wife of less than six months. “Dev, meet my wife. Molly, this is Daredevil Raines.”
    â€œIt’s just Dev.” He leaned down and gave her a welcoming hug. She was married to one of his best friends, a man who had backed him up and helped him stay alive in places he’d rather forget. That made her part of a very special family.
    She smiled up at him. “It’s really nice to meet you, Dev. Clive has told me so much about you.”
    Dev cast his friend a glance. “Not too much, I hope.”
    â€œNothing too awful, I promise.” With sandy hair and hazel eyes, Clive was even taller than Dev’s own six-foot-two-inch frame, and heavier through the chest and shoulders.
    â€œThat’s good to know.” He winced at the thought of Clive repeating some of their more colorful escapades.
    â€œWhy don’t we get something to drink?” Molly suggested. “Lark, I want you to tell me everything that’s been going on with the investigation.” She tried to climb up on a tall stool at a round table in the lounge and Clive gave her bottom a boost. A hot look passed between them that made Dev think of Lark and what they wouldn’t be doing when they got back to her condo.
    He bit back a groan.
    Molly reached across the table and took hold of Lark’s hand. “Clive says if anyone can find your sister’s baby, it’s Dev.”
    Lark caught his eye across the table. “I think maybe Clive’s right.” When the waitress arrived, she ordered anappletini, a drink that was exactly the green of her eyes. She and Molly talked over their drinks while he filled Madman in on what they had discovered so far.
    â€œThen tomorrow’s the big day,” Clive said, taking a drink of his Jack and Coke.
    Dev had ordered Jack Daniel’s and water, just for old