Even though I knew she’d grill me later.
“Emmeline,” I gritted out.
“You were released. I knew you would be.” Her squeal was a happy one, which allowed me a smile when everything else seemed to keep the veil of darkness enshrouded over my head.
“You knew I’d be.” Evidently, she was engrossed in working at one of several shops at Indulgence and had yet to see a report about the courthouse shooting. Catherine was watching me intently, the seductive look capable of lighting a thousand fires.
Whether she knew it or not, she was a little cock tease. An odd sense of jealousy tore at me. Had she done this with other men, making them crave her then shoving them aside?
I’d heard the term love–hate, yet the connection we shared, the sizzle of electricity crossed over into something much stronger. Seducing her would be a sheer pleasure.
Defiling her was a necessity.
“Are you worried about business because everything is running smoothly.” Emmeline took her job seriously, the longing to please me coming from a closeness that had often kept me sane.
“With you at the helm, sweet sister, I know I never need to worry.”
“Flattery means you need something, brother?”
Laughing, I turned to face Catherine, scanning her body as if I didn’t already know her size well enough. “I need some clothes from that fancy shop of yours.”
“What’s the occasion?”
“No occasion in particular. Do you think you can have them dropped off at the house?”
Emmeline offered her sweet snort that I adored. “How soon do you need them?”
“An hour?”
“You’re incorrigible, but I can make that happen. Tastes? Size? I did need some information unless you’d like me to select glorified canvas bags.”
Musing, I offered Catherine’s size and knew instantly by the heavy blush on her cheeks that I’d gotten it right. “As far as what I’d like. Something sensual and classy. Something comfortable. And something highly evocative.”
“Ooh-la-la. I take it my brother finally has a date. About time.”
A smile crossed my face that irritated my guest since she knew she was being talked about. A date. Perhaps that’s exactly what needed to happen. To be seen with the prosecutor. That would ensure she wasn’t kept on my case, allowing me to enjoy spending more time with her. What it would also do was place a target on her back.
If I were the same man as when I’d crawled off the cot inside the cramped jail this morning, I’d use her to discover information, tempting the bastard who’d killed my father. Maybe then I could learn whether she was the intended victim of the shooting at the courthouse or if I was.
Then again, I wasn’t certain I wanted to share her. “Just enjoying some time spent together. I knew I could count on you.”
“You’ll need to tell me everything,” she teased, but knew better than to continue grilling me. My privacy was important even though my family lived in the same city and we were close.
“What was that?” Catherine asked as soon as I ended the call.
“Your clothes are ruined. I assumed you’d prefer to change, including grabbing a shower.”
Her mouth opened slightly before she pursed her lips and found the courage she’d exhibited several times to walk toward me. Yet she kept more than an arm’s length away. The woman amused me and that was rare. “I’m not staying here, Alexander. I thought I made myself clear.”
“Do we really need to go through this again? Until I determine the threat level, you’re going to be my guest.”
“I can’t just come up missing. I assure you that people will be looking for me.”
I headed to my jacket, tugging out her phone. “Did you forget that today is Friday and while my profession doesn’t necessarily celebrate holidays, it’s my understanding Monday is one for all federal employees. That gives us three days of getting to know each other much better.”
The way her emerald eyes gazed at me was emitting various emotions. If only I had time to dissect them. Perhaps later.
When I walked closer, she stiffened, slowly lowering her gaze to her phone. “You’re going to allow me to call for help?”
