She gave in first. “Well? Who are they?”
He rubbed the whiskers on his jaw. “Listen, Anya. I’m willing to help you catch Loretta’s killer because I liked her. In addition, I like you. But my life is my own.”
Her eyes darkened to the color of a pine forest. “None of my business?”
“Exactly.” His secrets were shared by his brothers, and he’d never betray them. But he wanted to level with her. There was a tension between them, one he could almost taste.
She looked around and then back at him. Awareness lived in her gaze. She felt him on a similar level—he could see it. “Like you said before, you’re not exactly a good guy.”
“Nope.” As soon as she truly realized that fact, they’d be on much better ground.
She looked at the bed and then blushed. “There’s a lot of emotion going on right now.”
Yeah, there was. It was all jumbled up, and part of it was sexual attraction. He’d felt it for her the moment he’d laid eyes on her. From her pink cheeks, she felt it too. “I know,” he said softly.
She gave a slight shudder, which moved her pert breasts. “This is confusing.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” He didn’t like games or subtext. It was time to lay it all out there for her to make a decision about the ridiculous attraction between them. It was getting too difficult to concentrate around her, and they both needed to let off some steam. “While I might not give you the full story, I’ll never lie to you. So here it is. I want you.”
Her eyebrows rose toward her hairline. Her breath quickened.
“And I think you want me.”
Now her chin lowered. She drew in air and slowly let it out. Her nipples hardened until he could see them beneath her shirt. Clearly.
“I thought we should get that truth out of the way and decide what to do about it. If you want something physical, I’m definitely in. If not, we’re still going to do this job. I can give you my time and expertise and anything else you want as we do this job. But then I’m gone.” Would she want to do more than just work together? Maybe have some fun if possible? Relieve some of the pressure and escape reality for a short time?
Her forehead wrinkled. “You’re hitting on me.”
He finally settled into the moment and let his mind clear. Let his emotions relax after the shitty last couple of days. “Yes.”
She licked her lips.
He groaned.
“I’m not sure what to say, but I’m glad we’re tackling the issue.” That slight pink color traveled from her cheeks down her neck.
He’d like to tackle her right into the bed. The storm pressed against the windows, lending a sense of intimacy to the bedroom. “No problem. I’m better when everything is out in the open. What do you think?” he asked easily, discreetly adjusting his jeans.
She cleared her throat and focused on a spot near his left shoulder. “The whole fiancé thing and going to your hotel tonight. Then returning to Snowville and working this case together—I get why you’d want to make the most of it. I mean, thank you for the very up front offer, and I know we have to be around each other, but I don’t want to get things muddled up, you know?”
He bit back a grin. She was as cute as she could be. “Not really. I’m better with a yes, a no, or a maybe.”
“Maybe?” She slung the laptop bag in front of her, the pink turning rosy. “Just what would you do with a maybe?” Curiosity filled her eyes, and her head tilted just enough to be adorably flirtatious.
He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from reaching for her. “I guess with a maybe I’d be charming and irresistible so you’d change that to a yes.”
She swallowed and met his gaze. “All right. Let me get this straight. We’re going undercover to flush out a killer who’s obsessed with me, and you’re offering to play at being my man for real with no strings or future?” She hoisted the bag onto her shoulder. “That’s some ego. Are you that good in bed?”
“Yes.” And that was definite interest in her eyes.
She clicked her tongue. “I’ll keep your offer in mind.”
“You do that.” He maintained a low and calm voice. “While you’re considering, let’s look at the situation. You have publicly made me your fiancé in order to draw out a killer, which means I have to act as such. Any halfway intelligent law enforcement officer or private investigator would keep his redheaded fiancée very close after the stunt you just pulled. If you’re not with me, the killer is going to be very suspicious.”
She stilled, expressions crossing her face rapidly. “That’s a good point,” she said slowly.
Yeah. Sometimes reality helped him out a little. Plus, the killer had a hard-on for her, and he must already have plans to take her at some point. She’d just upped the timeline. “In addition, you need protection around the clock now, and I’m willing to provide that. So while you’re keeping my offer in mind, we’ll be staying in the same hotel room or same apartment.” He made sure he had her full attention. “While we plan the wedding, of course.”
