“Not now.”
“I found a box of business cards at April’s apartment. My partner, Nikki, and I spent the afternoon calling most of the people.”
“Any luck?”
“No. But Nikki had a great suggestion. Can you get us a fake membership or put us on your VIP list at your club?”
“What’s she thinking?”
“We’d hang out at the club and see if we could lure the killer, assuming he’s there.”
“You’ll attract every hetero man in that place. Most’ll want to bed you. The rest’ll want to set up some kinky scene with you. A few will want to talk to you before they do the first two.”
“Not interested in any of that.”
“You’ll have to weed through them if you want to find the killer, if he’s even there.”
“So, you think it’s a dumb idea?”
“I think it’s a brilliant idea, but not if you’re together—”
“Right, we’re more vulnerable alone.”
He sliced off a piece of steak and slid it into his mouth. She paused to watch him. “Mmm, you’re so damn hot.” Her voice had taken on a husky edge.
“Because I’m eating steak?”
“I find everything about you sexy. You want to make a federal case of it?”
“Only if it gets me into your bed.”
“What aboutyourbed? Is that off limits?”
“Bringing a woman home feels like a relationship.”
“Got it. No problem.”
Ah, hell. I’ve insulted her.“Emerson.”
She looked over at him. The pain in her eyes about killed him.
“I didn’t mean that. It’s just…I’m not an easy man to get to know.”
“No worries. This is a forced work thing that’s turned into a convenient sex thing. I’m not reading anything—”
He stopped her with a kiss. One long searing kiss that turned him hard as fucking steel.
“All we do when we’re not having sex is stare at fucking screens on a wall. I invited you here because I want to be with you. I want to stare into your beautiful eyes and not talk about work, for once.”
Her gaze softened.
“I like you so fucking much. I want you all the damn time. I wake up thinking about you. I fall asleep thinking about you. I can’t get enough of you.”
“Ohmygod,” she whispered.
“If we didn’t have so much on our plates, you’d be my dessert. I would love you all night long. I would restrain you and fuck you. I would tease you and worship you. I would fall asleep with you in my arms, in my bed. And I would want to do it all over again tomorrow.” He pushed out of the chair, walked to the end of the porch, and stared into his backyard.
The ticking wall clock thundered in his ears.She needs to know.
