Free Promises After Dark (After Dark #3) by Kahlen Aymes

called off the dogs.”
    Becca’s face twisted and she frowned. “Yes, but he’s not with you now .”
    At the same moment, Jillian squealed and wiggled off Angel’s lap to begin running from the table. “Zander! Zander!”
    Angel’s eyes caught sight of Alex walking toward them, even bending to scoop up Jillian and tossing her gently in the air; he still oozed sex, muscles working under his clothes.
    Jillian giggled and screamed in delight. “Momma and Anga are there!” She pointed in their direction, and Alex’s intense green gaze landed on Angel’s. She could see he was not happy with her, though he hid it well when he spoke to Jillian.
    “I left him a note telling him where I’d be.”
    “He’s gonna be hot. I mean… he is hot.” Becca’s eyes took in Alex’s messy hair shoved underneath a baseball cap and his unshaven jaw before roaming over the midnight blue fitted V-neck T-shirt and expensive jeans. His biceps and chest muscles flexed as he tossed Jillian again. “But he’s got to be pissed!”
    “I’m sick of being tailed. I love Cole, but the others get on my nerves. I feel like I’m in jail.” She watched him with Jillian and something inside her chest clenched. He was so perfect. Every woman in the room from twenty to seventy-five was gazing at him as if they’d never seen a man before, and he was hers. A shiver of satisfaction shot down her spine at the thought.
    She scooted over in the booth to make room, and Alex slid in next to her, settling Jillian on his lap, who turned in his arms and ran a little hand across his scruffy cheek. “You gots whiskies! Pops gots whiskies, too.”
    “I do! Because I ran out of the apartment in a hurry.” He shot a hard glance in Angel’s direction, so she slid a hand onto his inside of his thigh and squeezed. He huffed, the corner of his mouth quirked, as she smiled at him sweetly, silently bribing him to lighten-up.
    “I’m fine,” Angel murmured under her breath.
    “It’s pokey!” Jillian stated, still touching Alex’s face.
    “It is!” Angel agreed.
    Becca decided she needed to give Alex and Angel some time alone. “Come on, sweets! Let’s go play some games.”
    “Zander, can you p’yay with me?”
    He kissed her cheek. “I’d love to, and I will in just a minute, sweetheart.”
    “Kay. Are you hungy? We have pizza!”
    “I see that!” Alex said indulgently. “Okay, I’ll have a piece then come play games with you.”
    Angel’s forehead came down to touch Alex’s broad shoulder, and she squeezed his thigh again. Becca rose and lifted Jillian off of Alex’s lap, turning away with her toward the arcade portion of the restaurant.
    Angel lifted her head and looked into Alex’s profile. His jaw was set, and she could see him fighting with himself as he reached for the disgusting pizza. She knew he wanted to yell and scream at her, but her hand on his thigh and the way she leaned into him softened him as she knew it would.
    “Zander will you play with me?” Angel teased sweetly, echoing Jillian’s innocent question.
    “Hmmph!” He grunted and tried to keep a straight face. There was nothing he wanted to do more than play with her and she knew it.
    “Don’t be mad.”
    He closed his eyes briefly then glanced in her direction. Steady, his eyes held hers. “We agreed no secrets.”
    “What secret? I left a note.”
    “You know I don’t want you out without—”
    Angel interrupted with a sigh. “Yes! I know ! But I’m so tired of it. Babe, come on. I can’t stand having someone follow me around all the time. I can’t pee! I can’t buy tampons! It’s out of hand, not to mention annoying.”
    The muscle in his jaw worked as his teeth clenched. “It hasn’t been that long, and Swanson did make bail. He has to have some sort of resources. I don’t trust that he’ll leave you alone.”
    “I know,” she answered gently.
    “So don’t ask me to take risks with you!” His voice was low but with an undercurrent of