Page 51 of Triggered By Love
“Doesn’t seem over the top to me, given what’s happened.”
“Matt Swanson could have been the target,” she said.
“What does your gut tell you?”
His question made her gut clench, but the truth was, if someone wanted to hurt her, they would have done so already. She was probably seeing patterns where none existed, and Jason’s paranoia wasn’t helping. “I just don’t know why anyone would want to hurt me.”
“Other than to get at your father or maybe one of your brothers. How about your sister?”
There he went again. Always probing. Even on a dinner date. But then again, maybe this wasn’t a date, but a witness inquisition.
“Harper hated the overprotectiveness. That’s why she’s on the West Coast.”
“Doesn’t mean they can’t get to her there.”
“She’s using a pseudonym,” Avery lowered her voice. “Leave her out of this.”
Jason’s whistle was low and spooky. “Okay, then she’s out of the picture. What about that man you were talking to last night? Looked overfriendly to me.”
“Are you rating my dates?” She took a breezy tone, not wanting to tell him it wasn’t his business.
“I didn’t like his body language,” he replied, not stumbling over her provocative remark. “Is he a good friend or a business associate.”
Avery took a sip of her beer. Her foot jittered underneath the table. This was part of the investigation, but since he was on her side, she’d let him know Larry was harmless.
“Not a friend and not in business. He’s my professor’s son, and he wants me to do a private showing for him.”
“I didn’t know you’re still in school.”
“I’m not, but I owe this man. He gave me a start in modeling. He taught me everything he knew about design.”
“A mentor. Why would he want a private showing?” Jason slathered butter over the bread from the basket, but his hand clenched and squished the bread.
“He’s not in good health,” Avery said. “Doesn’t want to go to the Manhattan Fashion Week and sit among the crowd.”
Jason nodded pensively, as if she’d given him a clue. “You should give him a private show. I’d like to meet this man who had such an influence over you.”
“I’ve too much to do before the show, and I’m not sure Matt will agree to do it. He’s only doing Fashion Week for the publicity. Big football star. Lots of photo ops. Possible endorsement deals.” Avery reached for the bread before remembering she couldn’t indulge in the fresh, steamy bread.
He held his buttered bread to her lips, tempting her. “Go ahead. You could use a little loving, and what’s more loving than fresh buttered bread?”
And just like that, her mouth watered. She could think of several things more loving, and she was staring at one delectable hunk—not just the bread.
“Ahem, Jason, I can’t.”
“Of course, you can.” He was so persuasive, but then, a good detective would have those mesmerizing skills.
She bit into the bread and almost moaned. After finishing the wedge, she drained her bottle of beer.
Maybe not the brightest thing, because Jason was still after answers, and she couldn’t afford to let him know why the professor was so demanding.
“If you need a model for the private show, I can do it,” he said, surprising her.
“You have any modeling experience?”
“None needed.” He puffed his chest cockily. “I’m sure I can swagger as well as Matt.”
“Actually, real male models don’t swagger.” A giggle percolated from Avery’s throat at the image of Jason Burnett swaggering naked with everything hanging.
