I took my seat and waited for him to sit across from me to say, “How do I even know I can trust you? If you were willing to withhold that type of information from me, how can I trust you as my PI?”
His eyebrow lifted, but he didn’t come across as surprised by my line of questioning. More amused, and that again sparked my anger.
“We both know if you didn’t think you could trust me, you wouldn’t have shown up here tonight.” His eyes glinted with mischief and assuredness.
I squirmed in my seat but maintained eye contact. “That was one night. A long time ago. I don’t know you.”
He stared at me for a few moments, looking over my face, assessing me. Placing both elbows on the table, he leaned in. I caught a whiff of his scent when he did so, and that was when I realized that his fresh scent wasn’t from a bottle. It was natural, all Micah.
I eased forward, wanting to get more of that scent and to get closer to him. Tightening my fists around the strap of my shoulder bag, I reminded myself that I was still angry at him for reasons I couldn’t quite remember or understand.
“Jodi, do you think I can’t be trusted as your PI? Or are you pissed that you find yourself wanting me as much as I want you?”
My jaw dropped, but I held back my gasp. “Who says I’m attracted to you?”
The sound of his laughter rippled through my body, and my damn nipples betrayed me. I hoped like hell the padded bra I wore was doing its job and precluding him from seeing what was happening to my body.
As soon as his laughter ended, I recognized that padded bra or not, he’d already discerned the truth. He leaned farther into the table.
“Let’s cut the shit, shall we? We’re two adults, twoconsentingadults who haven’t been able to stop thinking about one another since you walked into my office last week.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat and lowered my gaze. Thankfully, I spotted a glass of water on my side of the table. Picking it up, I took a few sips before looking back to him. Why in the hell did this man make me so uncomfortable? I don’t get uncomfortable around anyone. I fought hard to feel comfortable in my skin. I’d been around celebrities with lists of awards behind their names, and they didn’t rattle me as much as Micah.
“We’re here to discuss the case of my grandfather.”
“We can do both.”
I pushed out a breath, unable to tear my eyes away as he continued to sear me from the inside out with his gaze. I began to realize why I’d almost instantly felt so safe upon meeting Micah in his office the week before. He’d already kept me secure once, all those years ago when I was lost and alone in the woods.
Dropping my eyes to the table, I spotted the rope he’d placed back down. I didn’t say anything for a while. Before I could speak again, our waitress showed up at the table to take our order.
“What do you recommend?” I asked him.
A slow, lazy grin emerged, and my heart rate sped up at the side. He was so damn fine.
“The ribs, of course.”
“Of course,” I murmured, laughing. I shrugged. “I’ll have the ribs with a side of mac and cheese and the greens, please.”
Micah ordered his ribs with green beans and corn on the cob. I stared at the waitress as she left, feeling his gaze on me before I even turned back to face him.
“You came here looking for answers to your grandfather’s death. I’m going to do everything in my power to get those answers for you, Jodi.”
Why did my heart flutter at those words that were stated with such a deep voice?
“Thank you,” I answered, clearing my throat. It was funny that I’d been so angry when I first entered the restaurant, and within ten minutes, my temper fizzled out like a candle at the end of its wick.
“How did your other case go?” I questioned, needing to ask something to get him talking and to stop staring at me like I was what was being served up instead of the damn ribs. It wasn’t that I minded; it was that I could easily see myself forgetting all about my original intentions.
“Fine. Those who wronged my client are booked and will soon be in jail. He’ll eventually get his money back.”
“Sounds like it went better than fine.”
Micah gave a short nod. “I would’ve preferred being here the past few days.” The scorching gaze he gave me as he disclosed that bit of information made it clear what he meant.
It was on the tip of my tongue to admit that I would’ve preferred to have him there as well. Strange as it may seem, Imissedhis presence in the short few days he was away.
“How long have you been a private investigator?” I questioned, trying to direct the conversation back to the case at hand.
