I remain silent as his eyes—full of turmoil and uncertainty—dart between mine.
“Are you going to at least attempt a pathetic excuse?”
Remorse claws my chest as I shake my head. Trying to fool a man who has eyes that can see through to my soul would be stupid and ineffective.
Teeth grinding together fills the eerie silence between us when Isaac clenches his jaw tight.
“That person you met on the plane isn’t me; I’m not usually like that,” I reply, deciding honesty is the best policy. “I don’t do random hookups with strangers.”
“And you think I do?”
“Yes,” I answer without a smidge of hesitation.
His eyes snap to mine before the most wicked grin creeps onto his face. I try not to return his smile, but I’m defenseless. Someone as gorgeous as Isaac would have an extensive list of women vying for his attention, so I’m somewhat surprised—and a little excited—that my failure to arrive for our date ruffled his feathers.
The air shifts from tense to teasing, the crackling of attraction heightening my senses.
His commanding eyes glance at my lips when he mutters, “I still want to bite that lip.”
My pupils widen when he caresses my cheek. I should be pulling away from his embrace, but I can’t. I’m frozen with desire.
My knees meet when he runs his thumb along my top lip before his head tilts closer to mine.
Just before his lips brush mine, a deep voice says, “Sorry boss, but we’ve gotta go.”
I sigh when Isaac steps back from our embrace, leaving only the linger of expensive cologne in his wake. Upon hearing my pathetic response, his lips furl as his lust-filled eyes rake the street.
Following his gaze, I spot a gentleman I’ve seen in numerous surveillance photos sitting in the driver’s seat of his town car. Just a few blocks down from Isaac’s black Mercedes is the blue surveillance van that tails his every move.
Shit!
When Isaac’s eyes return to mine, I gulp. If I thought his eyes were intimidating before, now they're downright dangerous.
“Meet me at the bakery tomorrow,” he requests, his tone stern.
I shake my head. “I can’t.”
Seeing the surveillance van is the only reminder I need that I can’t associate with Isaac Holt, no matter how loud my inner vixen is screaming at me to ignore my rational thinking head.
“It wasn’t a request, Isabelle.”
He runs his index finger over the cupid’s bow of my lip before striding to his awaiting town car. Just as he is about to step into his car, his head swivels back to me.
“Tomorrow,” he instructs before he glides into the back of his car.
The instant his car dashes down Welsh Boulevard, the surveillance van pulls away from the curb and commences its pursuit. I lean into the darkness of the alcove to ensure the surveillance team doesn’t detect me as they zoom by.
While leaning on the peeled-paint door, I take in several breaths to calm the erratic beat of my heart. I can’t believe I was so senseless. I nearly kissed Isaac Holt.Isaac HOLT!A man currently under investigation by the FBI. A man who has half of the county following his every movement. A man so deliriously handsome and good-smelling, I want to run my cheek along his jaw just to capture his scent.What? Jesus, Isabelle!
After reprimanding my lack of judgment, I emerge from the niche of the pub and walk back to my workplace.
Approximately halfway there, my phone dings with a text message. Yanking it out of my dark denim jeans, I notice it is a message from an unknown number. My excitement intensifies, wondering who the message could be from.
It vanishes when I read the message.
Alex:You’re late.
Sighing, I jog down the bustling street, weaving in and out of the heavy foot traffic. My quick strides halt when another message dings on my phone.
