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His eyes shifted to the windows. “You gave me the address and the time, Ellie,” he said with a snort.
“I know that. I meanhere. In this showroom.”
He walked behind me, his chest barely brushing my back as he passed. “It’s such anobviousplace. You must have missed the class on stakeouts when you were getting your degree in entrapping the eligible billionaire bachelor,” he whispered into my ear, reminding me of how he’d thought I was out to marry for money when we first met. “Or how to seduce a man. You would have gotten an A plus in that. Although I think I need to spend more time with you to be sure.”
My breath caught in my throat and my hairs stood on end. “One could argue that I spend too much time with you,” I forced out.
“I don’t know, honey,” Collin said a little louder, wrapping an arm around my back, resting his hand comfortably on my hip. He ran his free hand slowly down a carpet display. “I was thinking something more brown for the family room.”
I tried to ignore the flutter in my stomach. “I know what you want, sweetie. But Aunt Melba has a nice cream color in her bedroom that I just love.”
Collin’s grip tightened when I mentioned the word “bedroom” and he lowered his mouth to my ear. “I can assure you that I wouldn’t notice the carpet color if I was in your bedroom.”
My mouth went dry and I broke loose of his hold, moving on to another display rack. “Or maybe we should go with hardwood.” I immediately jerked my head up, my eyes widening in warning when I realized I’d set him up for the perfect sleazy comment. “Don’t go there.”
His eyes twinkled. “I didn’t say a word, Ellie. You’re the one with your mind in the gutter.” He moved next to me again but kept his hands to himself this time. “I say we give him fifteen minutes before we get worried.”
I nodded, guilt washing over me. David was in danger and my hormones were getting all wonky while I was talking to Collin about flooring choices. Some girlfriend I was.
“I know a place where we can watch the building. Let’s go.” Without waiting for an answer, he headed for the door.
I glanced at an employee who stood several rows away. “Thank you.”
She nodded and I followed him out the door. He stood at the corner of the building, looking in the opposite direction of the office. When I approached him, he put an arm around my back and led me around the corner.
I took two steps away from him. “Is all the touching necessary?”
“Just trying to make us look like the happy couple so we don’t arouse anyone’s suspicions.”
“Well no one’s watching us here, so it’s not necessary. Besides, David dropped me off. Doesn’t that look more suspicious?”
“I can guarantee you that no one noticed him dropping you off. But you’re a beautiful woman, Ellie, which means they definitely noticed you coming into the store.”
“Knock it off, Collin.”
“It’s true. If you’re going to learn the art of the stakeout, you need to learn the art of blending in.Youdo not blend in. You shine, demanding attention.”
“Cut the bullshit.”
“Ellie.” He stopped at the corner of the building.
I reluctantly turned around. “What?”
“I’m serious. I suspect you’re about to dig yourself into a shitload of crap, and you’re going to need to be more careful.” The earnestness in his eyes told me he was telling me the truth. “If you’re going to try playing private investigator, you need to stick to the background and make sure no one notices you.”
“Okay.” What he said made sense, as hard as it was to admit that he was right.
“Come on, this way.” He turned down the alley, heading in the direction of the office. We were on the backside of the strip mall, a warehouse on the opposite side of us.
I followed. “Where are we going?”
“Somewhere we can get a better view without being seen.”
We walked in silence halfway down the long building until we approached a dumpster. “This is where we go up.”
I looked from the dumpster to the roofline five feet above it. “Okay.” It made sense to be on the roof across from the office. In fact, it was brilliant, not that I was about to tell him so. Collin had a big enough ego as it was.
He stood next to the trash bin and squatted, lacing his hands together and glancing at me with a grin. “Too bad you don’t have on one of those skirts you’re so fond of wearing.”
