“How about we catch lunch next time?” Sophia hollered to the interns. “Gustav is here taking sandwich orders—the DA’s treat.” And with that, Sophia hurried out of the room.
Blayze considered the interaction as he trailed after her, catching the District Attorney’s gaze along the way. Perhaps he was worried over his daughter’s cooperation; as far as Blayze could tell, there wouldn’t be an issue.
Yet, before he could rest his mind on that alone, another concern surfaced; one that might not be dismissed so easily: There was chemistry between he and Sophia Vasco. Undeniably. Blayze, like any man, knew a good-looking woman when he saw one. But he didn’t determinehis typebased on physical features. It’d never boiled down to anything as simple asblondeorbrunette. It took a complicated list of traits to draw him in. Things that went beyond the surface. Strong and independent. Compassionate and smart. Sophisticated and witty. At a glance, those traits seemed to define Sophia Vasco to a T. Add to that her stunning appearance, not to mention the effect her voice had on him, and Blayze could wind up falling fast.
Of course, he couldn’t be certain the attraction went both ways, and even if it did… that didn’t mean she’d be willing to act on it. Which was good, he reminded himself. Blayze wouldn’t act on anything either under the conditions. He needed to stay focused on his job and nothing else.
At that determination, Blayze pulled open the glass doors leading to the dark parking lot. One of those multi-story cement numbers that kept the sun out. “This way,” he said, motioning to his Land Rover. Black with tinted windows made from bulletproof glass; an upgrade Sutton provided to each SEAL who accepted the job. Something he no-doubt mentioned to Nicolas Vasco. Tomorrow as they hit the campaign trails, Roman would drive; today they were on their own.
Sophia marched in the direction he’d indicated, but the determined force of her steps reeked of irritation. It wasn’t until he pulled open the passenger side door that she spoke up. “De ninguna manera. This isn’t going to work,” she said. “I can’t have someone opening my doors for me all the time like we’re on some never-ending date, okay?”
Blayze glanced down at the way his fingers curled around the edge of the door as she climbed in, using the handle to hoist herself onto the seat.
“Fine by me.” He released the door without closing it. A short stride around the back of the vehicle allowed him to check for anything suspicious; an afterthought with how ticked off he was by her annoying comment. He slammed his own door after climbing in behind the wheel.
“I’m sorry,” she said as he yanked the buckle over his lap. “This is going to take some getting used to. I don’t like being coddled or feeling dependent on someone to do things for me.” She shook her head, kept her gaze on the flat of her skirt as she smoothed a hand over it.
“No problem,” Blayze said. “You and I obviously view the gesture a lot differently.”
“Yeah,” Sophia agreed. Still, she kept her gaze off him. Looking at the dashboard. The rearview. Then back to her skirt where she traced a finger over her knee through the fabric.
Man, she wasn’t easy to figure out, that much was sure. Blayze cleared his throat. “Where to?”
That got her to look at him. “I’m sorry,” she said, a laugh small in her throat. “Don’t you read minds?”
He grinned. “Not yet.” Though his team often joked he could do that very thing.
Her shoulders dropped as she sank back in the seat and sighed. “Do you like Indian food? I’ve been craving curry all week long.”
“Indian food sounds good to me.” With a sting of residing irritation, Blayze added something on to his mental list of to-dos, right underkeep Sophia Vasco safe at all costs.Something that seemed to be of equal importance to her: remembernotto open her door.
Chapter 5
Sophia wasn’t used to being around quiet men. Politicians weren’t exactly known to be the strong, silent type. If she intimidated easily, Blayze would be the guy to unnerve her. Luckily, she didn’t.
“Good afternoon, Ms. Vasco,” Mr. Reddy said as they stepped into the colorful restaurant. “Just the two of you today?”
“Yes, Mr. Reddy. Thank you.”
They followed the robed man to a booth Sophia had eaten in several times before. “Will this suffice?” he asked, resting the menus on the table.
Sophia nodded, lips poised for her standardyes, thank you,when Blayze spoke up.
“Would you mind if we sat along the back wall, please?”
Mr. Reddy grabbed the menus with a nod. “Not at all.”
Sophia worked to shed the agitation stirring within her. The window aisle might be busy, but it wasn’t as if the guests weren’t minding their own business. The chatter among the other patrons would drown out any conversation they had.
Still, she curled her lips into a smile as they scooted into the booth. Once Mr. Reddy had left them to consider the menu, Sophia ran a finger down the entrées. “I didn’t realize you wanted such an intimate setting,” she said under her breath. “If I’m not mistaken, they have a private room we could have all to ourselves ifyou’d like.” She leaned forward, resting an elbow on the table. “Pull the curtain and we’d become invisible.”
Blayze merely glanced at her, not so much as a storm cloud in those blue eyes. “No, thank you.” He snapped the menu closed and pushed it away. “I know what I’d like to order.”
Sophia let out one short chuckle. “You’re kidding. You barely even looked at the menu.”
“I only like the bread,” he mumbled.
“The naan?”
