About That Night

With a grin, he finally nodded. “Fine. Three o’clock, Pierce. I’ll swing by your office.”

AT SIX THIRTY that day, Ryla

As it turned out, the world had not ended with the revelation that she was dating the Twitter Terrorist.

Granted, only two people in her world—other than Rae—actually knew this information, but seeing how they were two of the people whose opinions she cared most about, she was willing to call that a victory.

But she wasn’t naive. As Cade had mentioned, there was going to be gossip. A lot of it. From this point forward, her claim to fame would no longer be that she’d once climbed into a hatch and scaled down a rickety fifteen-foot ladder in a skirt suit. Instead, people would have a far juicier tale to tell.

Nevertheless, while Meth Lab Ryla

And that was something Meth Lab Ryla

As she pushed through the revolving doors and cut across the plaza in front of the Federal Building, Ryla

Twenty minutes later, when the cab was a block away from her apartment, Ryla

“How did it go?” he asked after she’d answered.

“Better than expected,” she told him. “I only told Cameron and Cade, but they were the two people I was most worried about.”

“Please tell me the look on Morgan’s face was as priceless as I’m imagining it.”

“Does that mean you two won’t be drinking beer together at the U.S. Attorney’s Office a

“Is there actually an office Fourth of July picnic?” Kyle asked.

“So I’ve been told. Kids, spouses, significant others—the whole nine yards.” Ryla

“Ooh, I saw a flash of leg there,” Kyle said slyly in her ear.

Quickly, Ryla

Across the street, there Kyle stood, leaning against an obscenely expensive-looking silver sports car.

That was…quite a sight.

Ryla

“You do wear that trench coat well,” he said.

She stopped before him and pointed. “This is your car?”

“It is.” He watched as she checked it out, then gri

Damn skippy she liked the car.

“It’s not bad,” she said nonchalantly.

“Coming from you, that’s quite a compliment.” He pulled her closer, so that she stood between his outstretched legs. “So do they allow significant others who have prison records at the U.S. Attorney’s Office a

She chuckled at the thought. “Let’s get through next week first. See how things go after the Time article comes out.”

Kyle cocked his head, as if realizing something. “You’re worried about what I’m going to say during the interview.”

Well…yes. “You say whatever you want.” It was his job, his business, and thus his right to handle it his own way. Just as the same rules applied to her career.

He touched her chin. “I’ll be circumspect, counselor. We’re in this together.” His blue eyes were warm as he peered down at her. “So what would you say to going out for di

“A second date? This is getting serious,” she said coyly.

“Just name the place. The sky’s the limit.” He slid his hand to the nape of her neck. “I could spoil you rotten, Ryla

Heady words, indeed. As they leaned against his super-fancy sports car, she brushed her fingers across a lock of dark blond hair that had fallen across Kyle’s forehead. Then, suddenly, she realized she had one mea culpa left.

Oh, boy.

He saw her look. “What?”

“I’m wondering how I’m ever going to explain you to my mother. If you think I’m a burr up your ass about the ex-con thing, just wait until you meet her.”

“Maybe we could take a lesson from my parents and give her the sanitized, wholesome version of the story. One that emphasizes my numerous fine qualities.” Kyle mused this over. “Something like…’Once upon a time, I met a guy in a bar who was wearing a fla

Just then, a car slowed to a stop in front of them, filled with five guys in their late teens. The driver stuck his head out the window.

“Yo, Twitter Terrorist!” he called out. “How’s this for a tweet? ‘Kiss my ass, dickhead!’ ” The entire group laughed as a guy in the backseat stuck his bare ass out the window, mooning them, then the car peeled away.

Kyle and Ryla

Yes, she’d caught that. “What am I going to do with you, Kyle Rhodes?” She slid her arms around his neck and peered up at him.

His hand moved to the side of her face. “Whatever you want, counselor. Stick with me, and I promise you that life will always be an adventure.”

And as he lowered his head and kissed her, Ryla