"Not even close. Like I said, we fired the agency." He clucked his tongue, all crocodile concern. "So unprofessional."
So far, he'd told me nothing I didn't already know. But then, just as I was starting to wonder if I was wasting my time, he glanced around before leaning in tighter than before. "But listen…just between us?" He paused for effect. "She tried to sleep her way into a promotion."
Bullshit.My jaw didn't twitch, but it wanted to. I didn't know Tessa well, but I knew her type. And more to the point, I knew the type she wasn't. If she were willing to sleep around to make it big, she sure as hell wouldn't be slinging coffee at a small-time java joint.
Asshole.
Not her.Him.
Casually, I said, "Oh, yeah?"
Evan nodded. "Yeah, the guy was pretty shook up, if you want the truth."
I laughed in his face. "Poor guy. Must've been terrifying." I lowered my voice. "Was it you?"
This made him sputter. "What? Me?" He gave a hard scoff. "Hell, no."
"You sure?" I said. "I mean, the two of you dated, right?"
"Me? Withthattrainwreck? No fucking way." He cleared his throat. "She's not even my type."
More bullshit.Whether they'd been dating or not, that last claim was too ridiculous to be believed. Tessa Sinclair was everyone's type.
Plus I'd seen that other blonde on Evan's arm. From a distance, she could've been Tessa's twin.
I only grinned. "Right."
"She isn't," he insisted. "And why doyoucare, anyway?"
I shrugged. "Who says I do?"
His lips thinned. "I'm just saying…she's not worth the mention."
And yet, he'd been mentioning her all over town.
By now, the pile of bullshit was so high, his butterscotch shoes were probably screaming in terror.
If Tessa wasn't worth the mention, why was he looking for her?
And why did his story vary from person-to-person?After all, he'd told Jamison this was about missing files, not some poor executive who'd been harassed by a pretty blonde.
I took a leisurely sip of my drink. "Then why'd you bring her up?"
Hehadn't.
Ihad.
But tomorrow, my version would be the one he remembered. The guy wasn't half as smart as he thought he was.
He faltered, then regrouped. "You're right. Let's drop it." He smiled. "She's old news, anyway."
Not to me.Still, I smiled back. "Consider it dropped."
"So…enough foreplay." He licked his lips and gave me a look so hungry, I felt like the last porkchop at a picnic. "About the investment. You interested?"
I only laughed.
Hedidn't. "I've got a one-pager that'll get you up to speed."
