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By the time I’ve refilled my glass, I face him and wait expectantly.
He shakes his head subtly. “Mia, this isn’t a date, and I’m not in the mood for bullshit. This is about an op.”
Ouch.
“I know.” I raise my chin. “I’m just being hospitable. I have water and tea as well.”
“Fine. I’ll take a water.”
Carrying the beverages, I meet him on the couch. He’s seated on the far end, and I’m tempted to sit right beside him. But he’s clearly uncomfortable here. I shouldn’t push my luck. If I’m going to save Lettie, I need his help.
“Thank you,” he presses through tight lips after I pass him the cup.
“You’re welcome.”
I’m about to update him on the case when I’m momentarily distracted by the sight of him holding the cup with those hands, bulgy veins and all. My tongue twitches as moisture pools heavily in my mouth.
This is becoming an obsession. Maybe I was a phlebotomist in a past life. Or a vampire.
“I got Shep, Jonesy, Junior, and Aaron on board for the op. I gave them the barest of information and swore them to secrecy. They’re waiting on my call.” He sweeps his palms along the front of his pants, and my hands twitch with a need to trace the same path.
“Great,” I manage to choke out.
“Okay, Mia. Cut the shit. You ready to tell me who the girl is or give me an update about what you found after I left your office this afternoon?”
He’s so tense, and I could swear that he’s hiding something else behind his irritation. Sadness, maybe? But why?
“Mia,” he prods when I don’t answer soon enough.
“Right. Let’s start with what I found.”
I pull up a series of still shots and videos I saved on my laptop, preparing to explain their significance and how they point to three potential targets.
“Courtesy heads-up. You’ll probably find me irresistible after I go over this. It’s impressive what I’ve accomplished in only a few hours.” I waggle my brows, trying to make him smile or lighten up. “Like toe-curlingly so.”
He rolls his eyes and huffs in annoyance, but there’s finally a touch of playfulness threatening to break free. “I’ll do my best to resist you.”
“Okay, consider yourself warned. I won’t be held responsible if you’re hard as granite by the time I’m done.”
His cheeks puff with air around sealed lips. Shaking his head, he makes a show of refusing to respond to my flirting.
The naughty side of me wonders if he’d be able to bite his tongue and hold out on me if I gave him this update while straddling his lap.
Shaking off my incessant need to ogle him, I dive in. “Like I told you earlier, the police report I pulled included a witness statement.”
“Yep. The girl whowantedto help and knew something was wrong but had a convenient excuse to never get involved. What a peach.”
I agree with that sentiment. Women simplymustlook out for each other. It’s scary as hell out there for young girls. Older ones too.
“Any-who-be-doo-bee. Since I didn’t have her photo or any info about her identity, I did some fancy footwork to access a copy of the report without her name redacted. Once I had her name— Kimberly Mills— I went to work.”
He nods, no sign of alarm at what I’ve revealed so far.
Odd.
Although I didn’t expect him to go totally bonkers over me sticking my nose into law enforcement databases without authorization, I did expect a comment. Some snark. A sassy retort. A roll of his eyes. An admonishing look with a huff of disgust.
Something.
