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I poked his chest with a stiffened finger "You, reaper, are such a spoilsport"

He caught my hand, raised it to his lips, and kissed it "Trust me, if we survive all this, I intend toh that ainst his chest "I’ ti off"

"I should hope so" He kissed , "In the uess if you’re going to insist --"

"And I am"

"Then you’d better escortMike at his office It was eight thirty, so I had no doubt he’d be there by now

"Good ed to his secretary, Beatrice "You’re calling early – hope there’s not a problem"

"There’s not" The vid-phone was turned off on her end, so I couldn’t see what color her hair was this month But the last time I’d been at the office it had been pale purple, and the e, she loved hair color variety as ive him a call ASAP Is he around?"

"Just a h"

There was a click, a brief moment of silence, then Mike’s aristocratic features came on-screen I didn’t actually kno old Mike was – he didn’t look old, and yet he didn’t see, either His hair was black but cut short, the dark curls clinging close to his head like a helray – seee behind theenius-level IQ, I guess that was to be expected

"Risa," he said, his voice low and pleasant, "thank you for ringing back so proent"

"Not so "

I raised my eyebrows "About what?"

"About the tax department’s crackdown on small businesses I just wanted to make sure you have all receipts in order, just in case RYT’s is in line to be audited"

"Aside from the last couple of weeks, yes" And he knew that, so why ringaudited was new, but as far as I knew, businesses like our café were generally only targeted when certain flags were thrown up "Have they contacted us?"

"No, I just wanted to ensure everything was in order on the off chance ere"

I frowned I wasn’t sure why, but so okay?"

One dark eyebrow rose It e "Yes, of course it is Why?"

"You just seem… out of sorts" I cleared my throat "And then there’s the dinner invitation, which basically came out of nowhere"

"Not really Your ently "I can’t give you what she gave you"

Sood, you don’t think I want to --"

"No," I cut in hastily "I don’t But I do think that perhaps you’rewith her"

But even as I spoke, I couldn’t help noticing that for all his outrage, his gaze re on, and maybe I needed to find out what And hey, as one more problem on an already overloaded plate?

"I do ht wish to capture what I had with her with you is beyond --"

"I didn’t ain "The invitation surprised ht"

"I have no desire to make you uncomfortable," he replied, voice cool

"Mike, it’s fine I’m busy for the next day or so, but I’m free anytime after that" If the Raziq, my father, or the wanna-be queen of the world didn’t have other plans for al sound that stirred the edges of h I wasn’t entirely sure why "Friday then?"