Knight’s Obsession (Sanctuary Falls #2)

Prologue

Before

“This seat taken?” Micah slid onto the barstool next to Clover, clearly taking her by surprise.

She glanced at him, frowned, then went back to her martini with a sniff. Tall, leggy, so gorgeous it almost hurt to look at her sometimes, she was unhappy with him.

That being an understatement.

“Are you not talking to me?”

“Are you going to help me find my missing friend?”

“I never said I wasn’t going to.”

“You also didn’t say you were. And if you’re not, then you and I have nothing to talk about.”

“Okay, so we’re not even friends anymore if I don’t help you?” They’d become friends since their siblings were serious with each other but he wanted more.

She swiveled to look at him, her storm gray eyes flashing hot. “I didn’t say that. But I also don’t have to be happy with you—or want to look at your face right now. Even if I want to…” She let out a growl of frustration that was way too adorable.

“Even if you want to what?” He motioned to the bartender, slid him a fifty. “Does she owe more than this?”

The guy shook his head.

“Keep it, then.”

The man nodded, gave a faux hat tip of appreciation.

Which just made Clover frown even harder. “You’re not paying for my drink. I’m more than capable of—”

“Jesus, Clover, I know you’re capable of taking care of yourself. But apparently I’m the type of man who likes to pay for my friend’s drinks when they’re mad at me. I don’t like this side of you and I hate not texting. And I’m going to help you.”

She snorted.

“What?”

“You’re just saying that so I’ll… I don’t know why.” She turned to face him fully, her long legs knocking into his knees.

He hid a wince. Then raised his eyebrows when she didn’t say anything. “What?” Apparently that word was a theme tonight.

“Why are you here?”

“Because you need help and I don’t want you going off and doing something stupid.” He knew it was a mistake the moment the words were out of his mouth. Particularly the word stupid. “Not that you’d ever do anything stupid,” he tacked on. “Poor choice of words.”

“Oh I don’t know about that.”

She slid off her barstool, her voice dropping as she leaned into him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she slanted her mouth over his and— Oh hell.

He’d never been one for public displays of anything but he cupped the back of her head and leaned into the taste and sensation of Clover. Everything else ceased to exist as he teased his tongue against hers, savored the feel of her holding on to him as if she was afraid he’d leave.

Which would never happen. He’d been desperate to do this since the moment they’d met— He blinked as she broke the kiss and stared at him, clearly surprised with herself.

Before he could say anything, she stepped back with a light push against his chest. “I’m finding out what happened to my friend with or without you.

If that means I have to infiltrate Louis Cain’s world, so be it.

” She paused, her eyes narrowing as she motioned between the two of them. “And this is never happening again.”

She left before he could respond, but it didn’t matter. He had no idea what to say to the woman he’d slowly become obsessed with.

But that was definitely happening again. And a lot more, if he had anything to say about it.

And despite what she thought, he wasn’t letting her go up against Cain alone. So while he had no desire to get wrapped up in a job that involved the low-level bookie/drug runner/ restaurant owner, it was clear that he had to get involved.

Because no way was he letting Clover go up against the guy alone. Even if she wasn’t already under his skin, an obsession he’d never seen coming, he would never let any of his friends get tangled up with someone like Cain.

Unfortunately he didn’t think this job was going to be an easy one.