Page 5 of Tangled
“And they spelled trouble to you?” she couldn’t help but ask. She really shouldn’t engage in too much conversation with him, but she couldn’t stop herself.
“Three men, walking with a purpose into a bar, and that purpose isn’t to drink? Yeah, they spelled trouble. And then when they went straight to the hall and didn’t come back out?”
When put like that, their behavior was pretty obvious. If someone bothered to look. “Why did you follow them, though? Areyouundercover?”
He chuckled, a warm sound that reminded her of cozy nights in front of a fireplace.
“No, I work in hospitality. I followed them because I had a feeling you would and I didn’t think it was a good idea for you, or anyone, to fly solo into an unknown situation. Itwasunknown, wasn’t it? You didn’t know that was going to happen?”
They reached the entrance to his hotel, and a van filled with a flight crew was unloading in front of the door. She glanced behind her and could see the reflection of the police lights in the parking lot of Roxy’s.
She shook her head. “No, I didn’t know that was going to happen, not specifically. I recognized one of the men, though. I don’t know his name, but he’s not someone you want to invite for dinner.”
“So you didn’t know someone would get shot, but it didn’t surprise you?”
Somehow, he’d ushered her into the lobby, and they were nearing the elevators. She’d only meant to see him safely to his hotel.
“Come up for a drink,” he said, no doubt sensing her hesitation. Her eyes flitted to the elevators, then back to him. She held his gaze as she tried to read his intentions. A drink could very well lead to more. For her at least. She didn’t know about him, though. He was attracted to her; she’d known that the first time their eyes connected at the bar. But was he a one-night-stand kind of guy? Because that was all she’d be able to offer him—if she offered anything at all.
His eyes glinted with amusement. “Just a drink,” he said. “Anything else we can discuss later. I have questions. You don’t owe me answers since I inserted myself into your situation without your consent, but I’d like to ask. You can respond as you see fit.”
She narrowed her eyes. “You’re very accommodating.”
A smile pulled at his lips. “Charming, is what I’m usually told. But I can go for ‘accommodating,’ too. I suppose it comes from working in the industry that I do.”
She wasn’t entirely sure about that. She suspected he’d been charming, and accommodating, long before he’d entered the workforce.
Studying his expression, more to give herself time to weigh her options than because she thought she’d find something, her attention snagged on his eyes. Not blue, as she’d known. And not amber like hers. But a sort of pale brown, almost beige, with flecks of bright emerald green.
His patience with her answer tipped her over the edge, and she nodded. His shoulders relaxed, almost imperceptibly, and he, too, gave a single sharp nod in response.
The door slid open, and he held out his arm, gesturing her to precede him. “Thank you,” he said as it slid closed. “Now, for my first question, what’s your name?”
CHAPTER THREE
Brad Warwick watched the woman beside him out of the corner of his eye. Who she wasand what she was involved in, he hadn’t a clue. And instinctively, he knew she’d want to keep it that way. As his mother always reminded him, though, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
In his mind, he’d been calling her Magi, after the Ethiopian model Mearg Tareke. A woman he’d had the pleasure of meeting when she’d done a shoot at the resort that he ran. OnlyhisMagi’s eyes were more arresting, more experienced. As if she saw more of the world—the good and the bad—than most.
When she continued to stay silent, he spoke. “Fine, I’ll start, my name is—”
“Don’t,” she cut him off.
He snapped his mouth shut and stared at her amber-colored eyes. The fact that she didn’t want to know his name sent alarm bells ringing in his head. Not that they hadn’tstoppedringing since he’d seen those three men walk into the bar.
Those three men. Unbidden, his mind turned to them. And the events of the evening.
He’d never seen anyone get shot before, let alone murdered. But as appalling and brutal as it was, it still felt…distant. As if it wasn’t reallyhimwho’d heard the shot or seen the body of the man slump forward in the chair he’d been sitting in. He supposed it was shock. But this no-man’s-land of emotions was damn uncomfortable. Shouldn’t he be either hysterical or numb?
“It hits people differently,” his Magi said, as if reading his mind.
“Death?” The doors opened, and he gestured her ahead of him before directing her to his room.
“Violence,” she answered as she stepped inside the mini-suite. It wasn’t the biggest one, but it had a sitting room, small kitchen, and separate bedroom. The thought flitted through his mind that the separate bedroom was a good thing. Not that he thought they’d fall into bed, but the attraction between them had been there before their little adventure. With the added adrenaline and heightened emotions, it was a temptation best left alone. At least for now.
“Drink?” he asked.
“Yes. Tequila if you have it.”
