Free In the Still of the Night:Sexy Romantic Suspense (Book 2 The Blonde Barracuda's Sizzling Suspense Series) by Taylor Lee

doesn’t matter if you are casual. We’re going to a little Indonesian restaurant, The Bali. Grab a cab, baby, and join us. The driver will know where it is. It’s been far too long since I saw you.”
    “No, just come when you can. I’ll order something I know you’ll like.”
    Jake laughed at her pert response, before continuing.
    “But, it’s true, isn’t it? Have you ever been disappointed by what I suggest?”
    He put his phone back in his pocket feeling a wave of relief at the sound of Lexie’s voice. Until he looked up to see Brady frowning.
    “Now, what’s wrong?”
    Brady blew out a deep breath. “Sure that’s what you want to do, big guy? Hell, I’m all for entertainment when I eat and I guess a cat fight qualifies.”
    Jake glowered at him. “Dammit, Brady. Don’t even kid around like that about Lexie. And yeah, I think it is a hell of a good idea that Dalila meets Lexie now before she gets the idea that I’m the same guy she used to know.”
    Brady raised an expressive brow. “For your sake, buddy, I wish that knowing bit hadn’t been in the biblical sense. Dalila seems like the kinda woman who might just rub that in.”
    Jake turned at the sound of Dalila’s sultry voice. He heard Brady’s quick intake of air and followed his gaze. Wouldn’t you know that Brady would pick up on the fact that Dalila had opened the top button on her silk blouse—the blouse that was already straining against her memorable breasts? But then, he’d noticed it as well.
    ~~~
    Lexie indicated to the maître di that she was meeting someone. Scanning the restaurant she tugged at her cropped t-shirt but it would only go down so far. Likewise tugging at her hip hugger jeans was a lost cause. They were meant to be worn low on her hips and that’s as far up as she could get them. Damn, leave it to a man to say it didn’t matter if she was dressed casually. At least her four inch stiletto boots completed the picture perfectly. If only the picture wasn’t a total mismatch to the professionally dressed lunch crowd.
    She realized that the small dark skinned man was speaking to her.
    “You are meeting the three gentlemen and the lady, yes?”
    Lexie flipped her long sun streaked hair back over her shoulder and shrugged.
    “I guess so. I thought it was four men.”
    “Very good. Very good. My hostess is just seating them now.” The maître di pointed to the group preparing to sit at the table by the window. Lexie immediately saw Jake and as always, her heart thrummed in response. His tall broad-shouldered physique sent flutters of heat racing to her core. But her excitement was short lived. The shivers turned to shards of ice when she saw the “lady” beside Jake.
    It wasn’t so much that she was stunningly beautiful. Long black hair flowed in shiny waves over her shoulders. Even from this distance, her wide eyes sparkled, precisely matching the emerald pendant at her neck. Lexie was sure that little jewel cost as much as her car before she tricked it up. The pendant nestled between the woman’s lush breasts that seemed intent on bursting out of the white silk blouse that was opened one button too many to carry off the professional look. But it was perfectly consistent with the dark green skirt that stopped at least five inches above her knees. All of this was bad enough if this woman was the “colleague” Jake had referred to. But what hit Lexie in the gut was the way the woman was looking at Jake. Her green cat-like eyes were lowered as if she’d just whispered a very soft, very intimate invitation that Jake had to bend low to hear.
    Lexie hesitated, then made a decision. She could still leave, if she were quick enough, but her hesitation cost her. At that moment Jake saw her. If she hadn’t been so shocked at the woman who was still gazing up at her man, Lexie would have thrilled at the way Jake’s expression lit when he saw her. He moved toward her and tugged on her elbow then pulled her up close to him.