She frowned.
“I mean, Noel checked. You know he studied everyone even remotely connected with him—or his neighbor—when he first moved here.” He paused, fixed on her every move. “Although I would have investigated even if Noel hadn’t already.”
“Why?” At his sly grin, she changed the topic. “Never mind. Now tell me what you need help on, since I’m apparently forbidden from working anymore.”
“Come on, Solene. It’s not as if you love the daycare.”
She stared. “Huh? Of course I do. It’s my job.”
“But do you like it?”
“I revamped the place and made it a success in no time. It’s in the black already. And it was barely breaking even before I got into it.”
He just watched her.
“What?”
“You have yet to say you like what you do. Very telling.” He gave her that patronizing look that both annoyed her and made her want to laugh—well, laugh when he did it to someone else.
“Do you like whatyoudo?” she asked.
“No.”
She blinked. “You don’t?”
“Solene, I kill people for a living. I don’t like that.”
“Oh. Well then, why do you do it?”
He shrugged and leaned over the wide kitchen island, watching her putter around the kitchen. “Somebody’s got to keep the scales tipped right-side up, and I’m good at it.”
“How did you get into the ‘Business’ anyway?”
“I’ll tell you if you tell me why you hate your job.”
“I don’t—”
“And why you hate men. Don’t lie; I can tell when you do.”
“No, you can’t.”
“Try it and see. There will be…consequences.” His voice turned smoky there at the end, and the butterflies in her belly swarmed at once, giving her tingles all over.
“Come on, Solene. An answer for an answer. I’ll tell you anything you want to know. For a price.”
She wasdyingto know all about him. But could she afford what she’d likely have to pay?
