“I could go for a cigarette,” I say.
“I didn’t know you smoke.” His voice is cool and low, like anything more would upset the mood.
“I don’t actually. I’m worried it would make my lungs visible when I go Under—”
He throws back his head and laughs. The unexpectedness of it causes my heart to race with pride.
“It feels like the mood for it.”
“I think living in LA, my lungs have had about all they can take,” he says.
“True that.” I twist to lean back and over the edge of the rail to crack my back.
“Could you not do that? You’re making me nervous.”
Up on my tiptoes most of my body hangs over the edge. The smell of ocean greets me.
“What? This?” The water races beneath me and the blood rushes to my brain. I’m dizzy. It would be easy to slip into the water. I could go Under and nobody would ever know.
“Stop.” He tucks his hands under me and drags me back to the safety of the deck. His angry eyebrows are two sharp points. “Such a waste. Of talent,” he adds on when he sees me scrutinizing him.
Ah, because I’m nothing if not a means to an end for somebody. “I wouldn’t. Not until I bring down Zebulund.”
“Careful.” He flicks a look around us.
His arms still hold me in place. That attraction at work again. Not even a conscious effort—a gravitational pull. I put distance between us with some difficulty.
“I’m always careful.” I blink away stars that dance in my vision. “What’re you doing up here, besides sexy brooding?”
“Sexy, huh?” The side of his mouth lifts.
“Puh-lease. You’ve been People’s Sexiest Man Alive twice already, right?”
“You follow my career, I see.”
I roll my eyes and study the inky water again. Thankfully, it’s dark because, yeah, I’m totally blushing like a teenager. Everybody knows about James Roe’s career.
“I’m in the industry. It’s my job to know things.”
“Hmm.” His gaze outlines my face.
“On that note,” I take a steadying breath, “if we’re going to work together, there’s something you should know.”
“Okay.” He’s tense, braced for bad news.
“The reason I started following you is because I found your name linked to Zebulund. My source found out you’re being watched.”
“What?”
“Somebody’s following you.” I smooth my skirt. “Well, somebody besides me. I saw an actual person while I was watching you. Funny if you think about it.”
He’s not laughing.
“But,” I press on, “I also found out that you’re being investigated.”
“How? Who’s giving you this information?”
“You know I can’t tell you that. It would… I just can’t. Not now. Don’t ask me.”
