“I do not—” The words stopped in his throat at the sight of a slender dark-haired woman being escorted to a table on the other side of the dining room.
He shoved his chair back and stood abruptly. “I’ll be right back.”
How long had it been since he’d seen her? Six months? It had to be longer than that. She’d been in Paris for almost a year, and the one time she’d made it home, he’d been undercover eating cold pizza in a dingy motel room.
Crow came up silently from behind and tapped her on the shoulder. He lowered his voice to a husky rumble. “What do you think you’re doing?”
She whirled around. “Sal.”
Joy lit her face and she sprung to her feet, enveloping him in a massive hug. “It’s been so long.”
“Too long.” He hugged her back. They’d fought like cats and dogs when they were younger, but he had missed her. “When did you get back?”
“Two weeks ago. I’ve tried to call you several times but no one answered. Let me look at you.” She stepped back and surveyed him at arm’s length. “What’s with the hair? It looks even longer than before.”
He chuckled. Raven had never made a secret of the fact she preferred his hair short.
“I’ll get it cut. One of these days.”
“I could do it now.” Her dark eyes gleamed with mischief. “If you remember, the knives here are razor sharp.”
He was tempted to say “Go ahead and do it,” but she was just the type to call his bluff. His lips curved up in an indulgent smile.
“I’m busy now,” Crow said. “Some other time.”
Raven reached over and fingered a lock of his hair. “It would only take a second.”
Crow laughed and captured her hand with his, giving it a squeeze before releasing it.
“C’mon, Sal—” Raven stopped suddenly. She lowered her voice. “Or are you Crow?”
The name sounded funny coming from her, even though she’d been the one to suggest it when he was looking for a street name all those years ago.
Raven had said it was sweet justice for all the teasing she’d taken as a child for her given name. In their family the boys had been named by his father and had been given fine Italian names: Anthony, Nicholas and Salvadore. When his mother finally had her girl, his father said she went crazy. How else could you explain a woman naming her only daughter after her favorite soap opera character?
“Crow,” he said. “But this is a special situation.”
“Is the blonde a cop, too?”
“Sara?” Crow smiled. “Hardly. How’d you know I was with her?”
“Because, dear brother—” Raven leaned closer and whispered against his ear “—she’s been shooting daggers ever since you put your arms around me.”
“You’re letting your imagination run wild.” Crow chuckled. “Sara doesn’t like men with long hair. Or tats.”
“I like her already. Even if she is wrong about you.” Raven brushed a kiss across his cheek and several men at a nearby table cast admiring glances her way.
He didn’t blame them. Even if she was his sister, she was undeniably lovely, with thick black hair and piercing gold-flecked brown eyes.
“Are you going to introduce me?” Her eyes sparkled.
“No.”
“C’mon, Sal…”
He groaned.
She flashed him an apologetic smile. “Okay, Crow. Since I got back from Paris, my life has been incredibly dull.”
“Call up Nick or Tony.”
“What, and hear about the latest advances in back surgery? Or some new legal precedent? No way. Don’t get me wrong. I love ’em to death, but their lives aren’t nearly as exciting as yours.”
He shook his head, steeling himself against her imploring look.
“Okay, I’ll introduce myself.”
She was halfway across the room before he caught up with her.
“Raven, listen to me…”
She arched one dark brow and met his gaze with a determined look of her own.
He heaved a resigned sigh. “Okay, but she doesn’t know anything about Sal Tucci and she doesn’t know I’m a cop. She thinks I’m just some bodyguard she hired.”
“What’s going on? Why does she need a bodyguard?”
He narrowed his gaze.
“Oh, all right, keep your little secrets.” She eyed him calculatingly. “Are you going to tell her who I am?”
“Get serious. If I don’t want her to know who I am, why would I let her know you’re my sister?” He couldn’t keep the disgust from his voice.
“Good point.” She nodded thoughtfully. “If I’m not your sister, then I’m your…?”
“Old friend.”
“Gotcha.” A mischievous smile lifted her lips. “I think this is going to be great fun.”
Great fun?
Crow groaned. It was going to be a disaster.
Chapter Four
Sara took a sip of her water and with unabashed interest studied the woman talking to Crow. From the tips of her strappy leather sandals to the diamond studs twinkling in her ears, the dark-haired beauty exemplified good taste and class.
Whatever type of female Sara had thought would be Crow’s type, it wasn’t someone like this. The two were obviously more than good friends. The flash of joy in his eyes when he’d first seen her and the hug she’d given him told Sara that much.
Her gaze slid to the woman’s left hand. She breathed a sigh of relief at the sight of the bare finger. Of course, it didn’t matter to her if Crow was married or not. But Sara prided herself on her intuition, and her intuition said that a marriage between these two would be a disaster.
A smile lifted her lips at the thought of Crow mingling at a country club party or teeing off at a golf outing.
“Sara?”
Her head jerked up and her cheeks warmed. While she’d been lost in her foolish imaginings, Crow and the woman had crossed the room and now stood before her.
“You’re back.” Instinctively Sara widened her smile.
“I’d like you to meet Raven. She’s my…” His voice faltered for a second. “She’s an old friend of mine.”
Granted, Sara didn’t know Crow very well, but even she didn’t miss his hesitation.
Sara paused. The name was obviously a fake. An old friend? She narrowed her gaze. Did Crow think she was stupid?
“Nice to meet you…Raven?” Sara put extra emphasis on the name and raised a questioning brow, but the woman just smiled.
“And Raven, this is—”
“Robin.” Sara extended her hand.
“Robin?” Crow frowned. “That’s not your name.”
“I didn’t think it mattered.” Sara shrugged. “I’d venture a guess that Crow isn’t your real name and Raven isn’t hers, so I picked my own.”
Crow’s frown deepened.
“She’s clever, Crow. I like her.” Raven laughed throatily. “However, I have to admit that Raven is my given name.”
“Really?” Sara searched the woman’s hazel eyes. If there was anything she hated, it was being played for a fool. But there was no hint of deception in the direct gaze.