How did I not see this before now?
The phone call. Making her think Avery was hurt so she’d be guaranteed to leave. Colt hadn’t interrupted the date for the sake of his job. No, this was something far more personal.
“You really are jealous.” Alex took a few slow steps back in his direction. “That’s why you cut the dinner short, isn’t it? It had nothing to do with needing to meet with Gordan, yourself. It was driving you crazy seeing the two of us together.”
Colt’s denial began with a shake of his head well before she’d even finished the thought. “I already told you it was imperative that I speak with him tonight.”
Yeah, she wasn’t buying that lame excuse a second longer.
“And what the two of you had to discuss simply couldn’t wait until morning, is that it?”
“Dammit, Alex?—”
“Go ahead, Colt.” She continued closer. “Just admit it. You couldn’t stand the fact that I was with him.”
“Of course I didn’t like it. I was the one who tried getting you to cancel your plans with him from the first place, remember? The guy’s a freak. A monster. I didn’t want you anywhere near him.”
“Nuh, uh.” She shook her head with a slow, knowing grin. “Tell the truth. After all, you did promise.”
“Iamtelling you the truth,” he growled.
And why was the rumbly sound such a freaking turn-on?
“You said you were listening from inside the van.” Alex continued covering the distance between them. “Could you see us, too?”
The quick lick of his lips and his skittering glance answered the question before he said a word.
“Yes,” Colt admitted. “I could see you. Agent Swensen and I had access to the restaurant’s security feed, and we were watching from inside the van.”
“Explains the timing of the call.”
“I don’t know what you mean.”
“Sure you do.” Alex took another step forward. “Your partner called right after Gordan put his hand on mine.”
Son of a?—
“She’s not my partner.”
“Don’t change the subject. You saw Gordan put his hand over mine, and you had Agent Swensen call with that horrible cover story so I’d leave. Not because it was imperative that you meet with him that very second, but because you wanted to be the one touching me, instead.”
It was a bold declaration, and one that may very well backfire in a huge, embarrassing way. But Alex didn’t think it would.
She’d seen the way Colt had looked at her earlier, when he’d first seen her in that red dress. His gaze had been filled with desire and heat.
“Admit it,” she challenged softly. “It bothered you to see the two of us in such a romantic setting.”
“Of course, it bothered me. You shouldn’t be anywhere near someone like that. It turned my stomachseeing the two of you together, talking and smiling and acting as if you were?—”
“What? Attracted to each other? Careful, Colt. Your green side’s starting to show.”
A muscle in the side of his strong jaw bulged. “Don’t push me, Alex.” There was an almost indiscernible shake of his head. “Not with this. Not tonight.”
“Why not? What are you going to do?” Her lips curved into a taunting smirk. “I guess you could send me to my room. Oh, wait.” She glanced around. “I’m already here.”
“You need to drop this.” He took a step forward, putting himself inches from where she stood.
“Or what?”
