He took a long sip of his scotch, trying not to show how much it stung to realize her interest might have been professional after all.
“I know,” Nissa said lightly. “And I will.”
The easy amusement on her face and how much she seemed to know was starting to get under Tommy’s skin. He glanced toward Thorn, hoping for a rescue, but the big man stood a few feet away, arms folded, scanning the room with a faint frown. He didn’t seem to be paying them any attention.
“I was hoping you’d ask me to dance,” Nissa added.
“I have nothing to do with the hiring process,” Tommy said, finishing his scotch. He set the glass and a fifty on the bar, doing his best to keep the irritation out of his voice. “And just so you know, dancing with me won’t get you a job.”
Nissa sighed, exasperation flickering across her face. “My skills will get me hired, Tommy. I want to dance with you because I’ve had a crush on you since you spoke at the Synapse Conference in Paris two years ago.”
That stopped him cold. For a beat, he just stared at her, the din of the party fading into the background. Then, despite his suspicion that this might be some elaborate play to win his favor, his grin returned. If she was trying to use him, fine, he’d find out soon enough.
“May I have this dance?” he asked, holding out his hand.
“I thought you’d never ask.” Her smile was dazzling as she slipped her hand into his. As they started toward the dance floor, she glanced back at Thorn. “Hey, big guy? Keep an eye on the kid surrounded by those women, will you?”
Thorn arched an eyebrow at her, clearly unimpressed, but gave a curt nod and shifted his stance to cover both them and her client.
“He’s very good,” she remarked, watching Thorn for a moment before turning her gaze back to Tommy who immediately felt like he was drowning in her eyes.
“He is.” Tommy blinked, forcing himself to focus. “Helps that he can see over everyone else in the room and most people give him a wide berth.” He wasn’t sure if it was Thorn’s size or the quiet aura of danger that clung to him, but crowds parted for the man like the Red Sea before Moses. “And he’s very loyal.”
“I’m guessing you meant Evie Stanley when you said he was interested in your sister?” Nissa asked as Tommy spun her smoothly across the nearly empty dance floor. For the thousandth time, he silently thanked his mother for those ballroom lessons she’d insisted on.
“Yeah, they became very close very quickly, and are... affectionate, to say the least.” Tommy tilted his head at her, surprised and a little suspicious that she knew about Evie. Even though the gossip blogs in the city had tried to paint him as some sort of weirdo who liked underage teenage girls by linking him to her romantically for years, forcing him to make public statements about the true nature of their relationship, he hadn’t realized it had gone beyond the local “news” rags. “You know a lot about me.”
“I’m a former Mossad agent,” she said simply. “Currently with Shin Bet. I know a lot about many people.” Her smile softened, and he was amused to see a faint pink bloom across her cheeks. “But, like I said, I’ve had a crush on you for a while. I might’ve read your Wikipedia page once or twice.”
“And yet you didn’t approach me in Paris.” His tone was teasing, though part of him wondered if she was laying it on thick to impress him.
She shook her head, a hint of regret in her expression. “You were with someone, a man with reddish-blond hair.”
“Ah, Greg.” Tommy chuckled, remembering. “He was fun for a while.” The truth was, he’d brought Greg to the conference to ease his insecurities. “I would’ve dropped him like a hot coal for you, though.”
Nissa’s eyes glimmered with amusement. “Funny. I was with a woman named Nancy. I’d have dropped her for you, too.”
Tommy’s grin widened. His ego didn’t usually need feeding, but he couldn’t help the small surge of satisfaction that came with the confession.
“But no sharing?” he asked, spinning her effortlessly beneath his arm. He couldn’t help wondering just how much their philosophies really aligned. Cheating repulsed him, and the idea of swinging or threesomes had always made his stomach turn.
“No sharing,” Nissa confirmed. “Occasional hall passes.”
Her eyes stayed locked on his, steady and unflinching. Tommy searched for any trace of a lie and found none. It disarmed him more than he cared to admit. He’d never considered that kind of arrangement before. Maybe that was why his relationships always burned out. He got restless, bored, or simply craved what he wasn’t currently having.
“You know,” he murmured, voice low enough for only her to hear, “that might explain why none of mine last. I’ve never even thought about open relationships.”
“Not open relationships,” Nissa corrected, her tone calm, deliberate. “Hall passes. I like both sexes, and while I’m loyal, sometimes I miss what I don’t have. It’s about honesty, not indulgence. One night only, same sex only, and both partners agree on how often it’s allowed.”
Tommy chuckled softly. “Bit early to be setting ground rules. It’s just one dance.”
“I’d like more dances.” Her voice was level, her gaze unwavering. “And I believe in being upfront about my expectations. Why start something that’s doomed later?”
“Fair enough.” The corners of his mouth curved in genuine admiration. As the song faded, they slowed to a stop and made their way back toward Thorn. Tommy glanced at her from the corner of his eye, still trying to decide if she was dangerous, brilliant, or both. Either way, he knew one thing for certain, he wanted another dance.
“About which part?” she asked, smiling, looking relieved he hadn’t brushed her off.
“Both,” Tommy said with a grin, then, deciding to throw caution to the wind, added, “When are you done babysitting?”
