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Maybe a woman like her, bold and forthright and not afraid to speak her mind, was also the sort of woman who scared lesser men off with her intelligence and balls of steel. It seemed a likely answer.
“It’s not that.” She quickly regained her composure. “You don’t have a memory problem, do you? I specifically told you that I wasmarriedand that myhusbandis waiting out there for me.”
I laughed. I couldn’t help it. The idea of this woman being with a man like him… it was too much to take.
“Are youlaughing? What’s so damn funny?”
I decided to cut through the bullshit.
“You’ve got to be out of your mind if you think that I’m going to believe you and that man are together.”
“What?”
“You heard me. There’s not a chance in hell that a man like him could handle a woman like you.” I smirked, stepping a few inches forward and closing the distance between us, getting into her personal bubble just a bit. “Not to mention that couples that come in here, they can’t resist this place, the sexual energy in the air. You two seem more like brother and sister.”
Her jaw was clenched tightly. I could sense that she didn’t like that someone had figured her out so easily, so effortlessly seen through her lies. She licked her lips thoughtlessly, her tongue moving slowly as she considered her situation. It was a simple gesture, but enough to make my whole body react.
“Now,” I said. “About that lunch…”
Chapter 9
Claire
“So,” he asked. “What do you say?”
What a stupid thing to do.
Why the hell did I lick my lips like that? The expression on his face left no doubt that he’d interpreted it as interest.
Then again, was he wrong?
It was impossible to not notice how insanely good looking the guy was. His dark red hair was slicked back behind his ears, he had sharp, intelligent eyes and the bone structure of a male model. His suit was a deep, rich navy, no doubt expensive and tailored for the tall, powerful body underneath; his tie blue and white striped and tied in a perfect Windsor knot just below his Adam’s apple. The silver of what was no doubt a Rolex caught the glare of the low light above. And the accent—well, that didn’t hurt one bit.
Everything about him exuded power and authority. His posture was one of fearlessness and self-confidence. And the worst part? Those gorgeous, ice blue eyes of his were locked on my lips.
At first, I thought I hated the way he looked at me. I quickly realized that was bullshit, however. What I really hated was how Ifeltabout how he looked at me. Desire coursed through me like hot lava, my pussy clenching and my heart hammering against my rib cage.
On top of it all, this man, whoever he was, could see right through me.
My skills in deception didn’t work one bit on him. I’d toss a lie up and he’d smile that sly, sexy smile of his before swatting it down to the ground. How he did it, I had no idea. But he was damn good.
“You need some time to think it over?” he asked. “My office is just down the way.”
His words were coated in a light, Irish lilt, the perfect complement to the deep, resonant tone of his voice. There was something about the way he spoke that was charming and threatening all at once.
I was tongue-tied… not a good thing when you used your words for a living. Seeming to sense this, he raised his palm.
“Perhaps we’re getting a little too ahead of ourselves, here. How about we start with names?”
“Claire.” The word tumbled out of my mouth before I could even give a second of thought to whether it was a good idea to tell this guy who I was. Thankfully, I managed to catch myself before my last name slipped out with the first.
“Claire.” He repeated my name, as if trying it on for size. “Lovely name. Sounds like something from back in the old country.”
“And you?”
“Call me Tommy.” He held out his hand and I was unable to resist taking it. Electricity crackled through my body as his skin touched mine, the flesh of his palm warm and rough.
Tommy. I sealed the name in my memory. It didn’t sound like he’d be giving me his last name but that didn’t matter. It wouldn’t take that much research to look into Pussycats and find a Tommy associated with it. That’d be a very nice starting place from which to conduct the rest of my research into Katherine’s whereabouts.
