Page 17 of Jackson
Jackson merely smiled, and his eyes lit up. “I’m well aware that you’re a competent woman, but I want you to be able to relax and let go for a while. Trust me to take care of you.”
She eyed his outstretched hand, wondering what he was talking about. She placed her hand in his and let him pull her out of the car. He walked her to the restaurant, and they went to the counter to order their wraps.
While they ate, Paula’s gaze kept going to her companion as though he looked better than her food. Even the way he held his wrap was sexy. How crazy was that? He lifted his arm, and she sat frozen as he brought his hand to her face to sweep his thumb over the corner of her mouth. She nearly started drooling as he brought the digit to his mouth and sucked the sauce from it. Her gaze met his, and she almost drowned in his stunning light blue eyes.
Without breaking eye contact he placed his hand over hers. “We need to talk, Paula.”
She nodded.
“Please tell me why you walked out on me?”
Her eyes widened.
He’s going straight for the jugular.
She was not going to talk about that. “I had an undercover assignment.”
Wordlessly, he dropped his chin to his chest while keeping his gaze locked on hers. Her seat became uncomfortable, and when she tried to break his stare, he tilted his head and cocked an eyebrow.
“I was embarrassed, okay?” she snapped.
“I should punish you for your tone…” His voice dropped. “But we haven’t negotiated those terms yet. And I’d rather reward you for your honesty.”
He looked so calm and composed, while she felt anything but. She wanted to growl at him or get up and leave, but she didn’t want to make a scene in a public place.
“You can keep glaring at me all you like, but you are going to be honest with me.” He didn’t raise his voice, but his words held an edge. “What were you embarrassed about, Paula?”
“I don’t sleep with cops.” She tried to keep her tone moderate.
To her astonishment, he smiled brightly.
“You’re a cop,” she clarified.
“I am. You broke your rule.” His smile got wider.
“I can’t break it again.” She gripped her glass more tightly.
“I don’t see why not. As long as you don’t break it with anyone else.”
Now she really was confused. “What?”
“Because”—he tightened his hold on her hand—“I want you all to myself.”
She looked utterly lost for words, like the ground had shifted beneath her feet, and somehow that made her even more breathtaking. Stripped of her usual sharpness, she wasn’t any less powerful. Just... human.
Jackson pushed on while he could. “You and I have some great chemistry going on. I would like to explore that. We’ve been colleagues for quite a while now, almost friends. Let’s see how good we can be together—inside and outside the bedroom.” He stroked the soft skin of her hand. “I want to get to know you better. Find out how we fit.”
Her eyes widened as his words sank in, and she started to shake her head. “Oh, no. No, no, no. I’m not going to have an affair with you.”
Affair?Why would she think that?
“I was thinking relationship.”
She stiffened and tried to withdraw her hand, but he wouldn’t let go, afraid she’d run again. “I don’t do relationships. I’m a one-night stand kind of woman.”
“Why?” If only he could read her mind.
“I’m not girlfriend or wife material. I like my sex with no strings attached,” she said, matter-of-factly.
