“It’s hot outside.” She waved a hand toward the window, then gestured to her sleeveless dress. “The AC in my temporary office is terrible. Until this heatwave breaks, it’s iced coffee and water for me at work.”
My nose wrinkled, but I didn’t argue. Moving toward the espresso machine, I set the cup down and reached for a portafilter to fill it full of grounds. “How long until your office is rebuilt?” The fire that Grace Alonso set in her attempt to destroy evidence had completely destroyed Claire’s real estate office.
“With the rate insurance is moving? Probably next year. I just hope the heat works better than the air-conditioning, or it’s going to be a long winter.”
A short chuckle slid past my lips. “That’s no lie. We’ll have to find you some portable heaters if that’s the case.”
“For sure, because I refuse to freeze.”
I didn’t blame her. I loved Alaska, but the cold sucked. It was home, though, so I knew I’d never leave for warmer pastures.
Finishing Claire’s coffee, I handed it to her.
“Thanks. I better run. Call me later and let me know how your evening goes?” She waggled her eyebrows, grinning.
“It’s just dinner. I’m sure it will be typical.”
Claire hummed. “Maybe. But I still want to hear how it went and whether you think a relationship with him could work. I also want to know if you two find out anything about our Jane Doe.”
Now that I could understand. I nodded. “I’ll let you know what we uncover.” And that was all I was promising because I wasn’t sure what I was even willing to admit to myself about how I felt about Luke.
A sly grin spread over Claire’s face as she backed away from the counter. “Don’t think I didn’t notice the dodge.” She tipped a finger at me. “I expect a full report later.”
I just stared back, unwilling to commit.
Raising one eyebrow, she waved the finger, then turned, heading for the door. “Have fun.”
Chuckling, I shooed her away. “I will. Go swelter.” She was relentless.
On a laugh, Claire left.
CHAPTER 11
Luke
Only the steady beat of my fingers drumming the steering wheel filled the silence in my truck cab as I waited on Mina.
I wasn’t sure what possessed me to ask her out yesterday. All day, I’d been on edge about this “date.” We hadn’t called it that, but from the lust burning in her eyes last night that she tried to conceal, and the answering need still coursing through my veins, that’s exactly what it was. A date.
Maybe it was the ambiguity around our evening plans that had me walking a tightrope.
Or it could just be the woman.
Mina had the potential to be more than just someone to go out with and have some fun in the bedroom. She was older, for one thing. I knew that didn’t always mean a woman wanted a relationship, but she didn’t strike me as the bed-hopping type.
And to be honest, I didn’t want a woman like that. I wasn’t a dumb college student anymore and hadn’t been for several years. I had a career—a good one—and I was ready for more. It was too soon to tell if Mina could be the woman who would be by my side when we were old and gray, but I could definitely see her in that role.
Time would tell.
Soon enough, Mina pulled into the library parking lot and a space across from my truck. When her door cracked open and one slender leg emerged, bare from mid-thigh down thanks to her shorts, my heart rate kicked up, thumping in my chest. She wasn’t a tall woman, but she had long, shapely legs.
Suddenly, I wanted to see her in a short skirt and a killer pair of heels.
Shoving the vision of her strutting around in black stilettos from my mind, I got out of my truck.
Catching sight of me, Mina smiled and waved.
I lifted a hand. “Hey.”
