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“I’ll have what you’re having, if you’re in a sharing mood.”
How could she say no?
She noticed he was very good at that, finding ways to turn a “no” into a “yes.” Must be one of his superpowers.
Taking out a heavy glass tumbler from the cabinet, she wished she had asked him if he wanted something sooner. It was one thing to give someone a cold shoulder. Quite another to be flat-out rude. Her aunt Cecilia, Rocco’s mom, would be ashamed of her lack of manners.
She poured him a nightcap and held out the glass.
As he took the tumbler from her, holding her gaze, his fingers stroked hers a tad longer than necessary. A snap of sexual awareness rocked her to the bone.
She pulled her hand from his. Took a sip of scotch as he did likewise. Tried not to stare at him. Which was impossible.
There was something magnetic about those chocolate-brown eyes staring back at her with the same intensity. Something about him overall that tugged at her.
He was tall, broad-shouldered. Had a tumble of mahogany hair that was so thick and luxurious she ached to run her fingers through it. Down the sculpted muscle of his shoulders and arms. Not only was he good-looking, but he was also shrewd.
Still, there was more to him. But she had to figure out what it was.
“Smoother than I imagined,” Brian said, his voice, like whiskey and velvet rolled into one, would have made a weaker woman shiver. He stepped closer, erasing the space between them, sucking the oxygen from her lungs. “Sweeter, too.”
As he looked at her, that delicious mouth curved up in one of those smiles that tempted her to believe his good-natured friendly style was genuine.
Her brain screamed at her to get away from him, cross the room, but her feet wouldn’t budge, her body betraying her by leaning in. She had never experienced the allure of another person that strongly, pulling her toward him, like gravity.
The sensation was unnerving.
He dipped his head, bringing his face closer to hers.
She thought he might lower his mouth to her lips for a kiss. Her heart thundered in her chest at the prospect. But was it because she he wanted him to kiss her, or not?
His gaze fell to her mouth, his eyes darkening. He bent closer still until the whisper of his breath brushed her skin.
A quiver shot to the pit of her stomach and knotted down to her toes.
“You better get some sleep,” he said. “You’ve got an early day tomorrow.”
Her mind stuttered. “Huh?” Disappointment flared under her skin at the lack of contact she craved. Which shouldn’t have been such a surprise considering it had been a long time since she’d felt the tension and heat of a man’s body. An even longer time since she’d wanted to.
The real shocker was the appetite, the interest,thisman sparked.
“USD opens at six. Doesn’t it?” he asked.
“Um, yeah.” Charlie nodded. She had forgotten about everything besides Brian Bradshaw, standing in her kitchen, close enough to kiss her. “I’m usually up by five fifteen.”
“It’ll be a busy day for me as well. I’ll make some inquires, quietly investigate.”
“You believe me?” Was he going to help?
“I believe something bad happened at the Olsen ranch tonight. I believe whatever is going on has now put you in danger. There’ll be an investigation, but I’m the only one who can connect the dots between the two since you’ve decided not to make a full statement. I also believe you’re not telling me everything I need to know.” His voice was gentle, even understanding, instead of accusatory, not raising her hackles. “Let’s meet tomorrow night. My place.”
“Why are we meeting? And why at your place?”
“I’ll share whatever I find out over dinner. You’ve got to eat. Kill two birds with one stone.” His mouth hitched in a smile, and there went another zing of scintillating energy. “I’ll text you my address.” He slugged back the rest of his scotch, put his glass down on the counter next to her .45 SIG Sauer, grabbed his hat and strode out the door.
Without waiting for an answer.
But he hadn’t asked a question. He’d simply declared they were having dinner as though it were a foregone conclusion.
