She didn’t know why he kept pushing her on this.“With anyone.Now I have to go.I have work to do.Goodbye, Michael.”She closed the door in his face without waiting for a response.
Chapter 8
Well, that hadn’t gone at all how he’d planned.Instead of warming up to him, Andrea was leerier of him than before.He shouldn’t have pressed her for a kiss or suggested friends with benefits.That had taken things too far.Normally, he was a quite suave.He hadn’t been able to resist though.She had the most luscious-looking pouty lips he had ever seen.They just begged to be kissed.
He wondered if she was as passionate about lovemaking as she was about their verbal sparring.He knew it turned him on for sure.He had never met a worthier opponent, as much as it might frustrate him when it came to the case.
He was no closer to figuring out who her contacts were.He needed another tactic to get close to Andrea.There had to be someone who knew her best and how to win her over.His eyes drifted over to the house next door.He knew just where to start.
Jack jogged over and knocked.It only took a few minutes for the door to open.
“Michael, what an unexpected surprise.”
“Hello, Maya, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”She was wearing an apron that was covered in food of some kind, though he couldn’t identify it.It appeared to be a batter of some sort.
“When you’re retired, you have all the time in the world to get anything done.Come in.”She waved him in and stepped out of the way to let him enter.“Can I get you anything to drink or eat?”
He wasn’t hungry or thirsty, but he felt it would be rude not to accept something.“A water would be great.”
Maya nodded.“Have a seat; I’ll be right back.”She toddled off into the kitchen.
Jack sat down and awaited her return.His gaze tracked around the house.He hadn’t paid much attention to it last night, but now he had a moment to study his surroundings.It looked well lived in.Pictures covering every wall.A large China cabinet took up a large amount of wall space in the dining room.
The furniture in the living room while newer was still well used.It was a one story like his was with three steps up to the front porch and an entrance straight into the living room.
“Here we are.”Maya returned sans apron and carrying a large glass of ice water.
“Thank you.”He took a sip of water as Maya sat down across from him.“Are all of the floor plans about the same?”It looked similar to his now that he was looking around.
“There were three or four options if I remember correctly.”Maya looked up into the corner of her eye as if having to think about it.“But yes, they are all similar,” she finished saying with a smile.
“I just realized this house is almost identical to mine.”Andrea’s looked the same as Maya’s.In case things never warmed between him and Andrea, he could always break in and do some digging.
“Really?I’ve never been in Mr.Stone’s house, which is to say yours,” she amended.
He supposed it was his, though it was just a cover.Jack didn’t know if the government owned it or Nick.A detail he hadn’t concerned himself with.
“Well, what brings you over?”
“I wanted to get your opinion since you are one of the only people I know here.”
“I’d be more than happy to help, but I’m sure Andrea would be a better person to ask.”
“She and I aren’t on the best of terms quiet yet.”Thawing her out was taking longer than he’d anticipated.It looked like he was going to have to change tactics soon to interrogation, but he was hoping to avoid it.Given all she had done to their country, he should be all too happy, but besides being prickly, she was nice and caring for her neighbor.Not what he expected for a criminal.
“She doesn’t make it easy, does she?”Maya mused, looking thoughtful.
“Did you struggle to form a friendship with her?”
“I don’t know if I’d call what we are now friendship.The girl is so guarded.Doesn’t let anyone close.”
Yeah, he’d noticed that too.A nest of rattlesnakes were more welcoming.“Yeah, I’ve tried suggesting to be friends, but she’s most resistant.”Then again, he’d suggested they sleep together with no strings attached too, so that probably hadn’t helped with someone already distrustful.To trust a stranger with their body when they were most vulnerable.He should have held back on that idea.
“The same with me.It took lots on insisting before she became friendly with me.”
“How long did it take?”
“A few years.”
