Chapter 4

• “Nice car.”
• “I like it.” He kept his eyes on the road.
• Alec watched him for a minute or more. Usually she could peg someone and fit them into a neat category. Yeah, it was stereotyping, so what. With him, she didn’t have a clue. He drove an average car, not too pricey but high enough on the extras list that he had to have a bit of dough to spare. She was almost shocked she couldn’t figure him out, or even guess what he did to earn the funds for his tasteful ride. “So, Ian, what do you do when you’re not hanging around in dives?”
• He turned long enough to give her a quick appraisal, his jaw clenching as he studied her. “I’m a special advisor in the product development research industry.”
• “And that’s what?”
• A nerve in his jaw visibly twitched, clearly, he was a little annoyed with the question. “I collect all the facts or data and turn them over to the company that’s hired my services.”
• She didn’t even know what he was talking about. “Pretty good pay?”
• “I’m worth the money parted with for my help.” He watched her for a moment and then pulled the car around the corner into the parking lot.
• Shifting in her seat, Alec stared at him. “You’re a little testy about questions regarding your work.”
• “I have no problem discussing my job.”
• Alec snorted. “Right. As soon as I mentioned it you tensed up. Now you’re wound like a spring ready to pop.” Though he smiled at her, the dead serious look in his eyes made her pause.
• “The tension has nothing to do with what we’re discussing.”
• “Yeah, okay.” She undid her seat belt and reached for the door handle.
• Ian slammed the car into park and reached over and grasped her hand to stop her from getting out. “Do you want to know what has me on edge, Detective?”
• She didn’t even get one word out before he continued.
• “Let me tell you.” Leaning closer, she tried not to notice how good he smelled. “I’m going into a place that no man should take a woman into—and don’t give me the I’m a cop speech. I’m to help you find some lunatic that thinks he can take out a cop and all I can think about is how fucking amazing you look.” He paused and leaned close enough that she could feel his breath on her face, his dark hair had fallen to half cover his brow and he looked—dangerous suddenly. “You’re dressed like a tasty piece of candy and if we weren’t being watched by two of your co-workers right now, I’d like nothing more than to lay you down right here and lick each and every inch of the temptation you’ve dressed up pretty to make every scuz in the Lucky drool.” His eyes bore into hers for a few silent breaths. “That’s why I’m a little edgy, Detective McGowan.”
• Alec sat there and couldn’t get her mind to move past the description. She felt flushed and breathless and oddly enough a little scared. No man made her feel like that, especially not one she’d just met.
• “Are we clear now?” He asked quietly, still leaning close enough she could feel the heat from his body.
• She nodded.
• Taking a deep breath, he moved away a few inches. “So how are we doing this? Are we supposed to be a couple, siblings, or what?”
• Clearing her throat, she took the moment she needed to push her mind back into focus. With the way he kept looking at her and the way her body kept responding, chances of appearing like brother and sister probably wouldn’t work out well. “I guess we’ll do the couple thing.”
• It pleased him more than he wanted to admit when she was silent as they walked the last block to the bar. He tried repeatedly to listen in to her thoughts, but the wall guarding those was solid and nothing he was going to be able to get through easily. Glancing down at the sway of her hips, he gave a silent thanks to whomever it was that had invented heels. The things they did to a woman’s walk were pure evil, in a wholly good way. “Detective...”
• She spun around at him so fast he almost stepped on her feet.
• “Okay, calling me that is going to be like a giant neon sign, slick. It’s Alec.”
• Slick? Ian couldn’t even remember what he’d been about to say to her as annoyance suddenly filled him at her name for him. It was an insult, this much he knew. He glared down at her as she stood there with this high and mighty ruler expression on her face. In the next second, he could have stepped away and let it go and he should have, but he never did go the easy way in most things and apparently wasn’t about to start now. Reaching quickly, he palmed the back of her neck, just below her skull, and yanked her into his body. Before she had the pause to react and he changed his mind, he crushed her mouth with his and didn’t let up until they were both breathless.
• Ian released her as quickly as he’d grabbed her. His entire body was on fire, he realized that the woman panting and scowling at him could easily be the cause of his burning in hell for all eternity. Kissing her had felt intensely amazing but it felt like a big mistake at the same time. “There, now I can feel more like we’ll pull this couple thing off.” With that, he moved around her and headed straight to the bar door a few yards away. He needed a beer and a cold shower, not in that order.