Page 58 of Her Reluctant Hero
The older man snorted and turned to wash his hands. “She’s gorgeous, sure, but that wasn’t why you were watching her. Why you were determined to see who she was with.”
“I’m not—”
“You’re attached.” Danes dried his hands and folded massive arms over his barrel chest. “Happens sometimes when you’re in each other’s pockets. Can’t let it get to you.”
“It’s not.”
Danes gave him a look that told Alex he’d been there, lied the same lies. “Right. Just watch yourself. This assignment will be over, and then what? Will you really know who she is?”
Would he? Did he want to?
He walked out of the restroom in time to see Isabella emerge from behind the curtain, Jorge touching her arm. He leaned over to brush a kiss across her cheek. Isabella gave him a charming smile and turned away.
Alex strode toward the door, anxious to be out of here, but not wanting to appear to leave with her. He reached the door just as she did. She gave him the same smile she’d given Jorge and dipped her head, walking past him as he held the door for her. Once outside, they headed in opposite directions, she to the corner, he to the truck. He drove around the block to meet her so they wouldn’t be followed. She climbed silently into the car.
“What did you find out?”
She shook her head, not looking at him.
“He didn’t know anything?” Alex demanded, angry at the humiliation she’d had to endure for nothing.
“He said Santiago has gone to Texas. He didn’t know anything about Hector.” Her voice was distant, tired. Dejected.
Shock jolted him. “You asked him about Hector?” That had not been part of the plan. She was a woman seeking a protector. Revealing she was a mother could hurt her chances.
“Not directly. But he didn’t know anything about Santiago traveling with anyone.”
“Do you think Jorge knows what he’s talking about?” Alex hated the impatience coloring his voice, but damn, she’d risked everything for very little return. The way she was acting, this ghost of the Isabella he knew, was scaring the crap out of him.
“What did you think he’d tell me? I am just a stripper, you know.” She shifted in her seat toward him. “Speaking of, you appeared to enjoy my dance.”
He choked. “Yeah, well, you weren’t as rusty as you thought.”
“I guess not.” She gave him one of those twisty little smiles that hit him right in the gut.
He slammed down the door on the image that smile brought to mind. “What did Jorge think?”
“He thought I fulfilled his expectations.”
“Is that what you were doing with your hand under the table when I came back there?”
She stiffened. “No.”
“Look, I know you’d do anything to get information about Hector—”
“I didn’t, Alex.” Her voice was tight, almost on the verge of tears.
“You don’t have to answer to me. Like you said, I don’t know what you’re going through, what you’d do to change what’s happened. I’m in no position to judge.”
“Yet that doesn’t stop you.”
He didn’t say anything as he checked the rearview mirror. He was tired of being followed night after night, and he couldn’t let his frustration with Isabella get them in trouble because he wasn’t paying attention.
“I made him think I was going to,” she said when they turned onto the highway. “But I didn’t want to seem too desperate. I figured it was better to leave him wanting.”
“So you’re going to see him again?”
“No. But I made him think I was.”
