She glanced at her watch. Nearly eleven at night, so the party would be going strong, and hopefully people would be engaged and not notice their arrival. Yet she didn’t move. Yeah, she should’ve insisted on going undercover as a dom, because the sub outfit was way too revealing.

He opened the passenger-side door. “The coat, Dana.”

Look who was already turning bossy. Her tummy wobbled. “I know.” She took his hand and stepped out on the tall heels, glancing around the peaceful, quietly austere neighborhood with mansions hidden behind stone walls and perfectly manicured shrubbery. She’d streaked her hair with bright pink and had a sequined mask to wear, but she still hesitated.

“You can stay in the car,” Wolfe offered, surveying the area.

“No. I have to do this.” Steeling herself, she released the belt and dropped the coat into the vehicle.

Wolfe sucked in air, his gaze raking her from head to toe. “Uh, well.”

Amusement and feminine pride tickled her. How rare to see Wolfe taken off guard. She looked down at the bright pink corset. The tight material pushed her breasts up, giving the illusion of a lot more cleavage than she really had, and the flimsy skirt barely covered the tops of her thighs. “What? You don’t like it?” It was difficult not to grin like an idiot.

“I’m going to feel your image in my left pocket for a long time.” His smile was rare, and all the more special for it. “Let’s make sure you don’t get grabbed up instantly.” He reached beyond her for the glovebox, removing a bag.

Curiosity kept her still.

He pulled out a necklace—a choker, really—with a delicate wolf pendant attached by an emerald on the small circular chain. “Here, it’s called a collar. Later, you can keep it and wear it as a choker or just a necklace.”

He was giving it to her? “Why?” she asked, her abdomen doing a funny flip-flop.

“To remember me. You’re probably the best friend I’ve had in a long time, and you’ve made this last op more fun than it should be.” The smile had long since disappeared, leaving his solemn look in its place.

She swallowed and partially shook her head. “This isn’t your last op.” From the beginning, she’d had the feeling he was barreling toward a rough ending, and everything in her wanted to save him. For a smart girl, she sure had some dumb ideas sometimes, but that was life.

“We’ll see.”

“It’s beautiful,” she breathed, taking in the white gold, charmed although she didn’t want to be. “But way too expensive.”

He shrugged and settled it around her neck, expertly fastening the chain in the back, his fingers warm on her skin. “I thought the design was pretty and you’d like it. Plus, it works for this op.”