He was hammering the second of two nails into her window sash when he heard her raised voice behind him. What the heck are you doing?
Giving the nail a final blow with the hammer, he turned. Making sure some lowlife doesnt decide to come in your window.
She was swathed in a white zip-up terry-cloth robe that covered her from throat to feet. There was nothing remotely sexy about the garment. It was recalling what lay beneath it that was giving him a bad moment. Scowling, he passed her to squat before the toolbox, replacing the hammer and locking the lid.
She eyed the window dubiously. I dont think theres much danger of that. Hed need a pair of stilts at this height.
Or a ladder. After tonight you shouldnt be surprised at how far stupidity and hormones take some guys. She paled, and he mentally kicked himself. Like she needed a reminder of the altercation earlier.
Deliberately lightening the mood, he added, Although once bad guys get a look at what you did to Fallon, Id imagine theyd be steering clear of you. The small smile those words elicited had heat coiling low in his belly.
I think you inflicted the worst damage there.
He surveyed her without trying to be obvious about it. Shed showered, and her dark, wet hair was combed straight back off her face to fall below her shoulders. There was already a mark blooming on one chiseled cheekbone. But her eyes were clear, unclouded by the shadows hed seen there in the car. They were cat-green, unusual for her coloring.
And he was losing it completely if he was standing here mooning over the color of a womans eyes.
You should get something on your face. He went to the doll-size refrigerator and opened the freezer. The only ice was in trays, so he grabbed the bag of frozen peas and wrapped it in the kitchen towel that had been draped neatly over the faucet. He walked back and handed it to her. Im sure Jolie will come if you need someone to stay with you tonight.
She was already shaking her head. Im fine. Shes got enough to deal with tonight. Ill talk to her tomorrow.
Since she seemed steady enough now, he figured it was as good a time as any to broach the subject of her statement. He backed up, propping a hip against the kitchen counter and folding his arms. Making a statement isnt difficult. I can walk you through the process if you
I already told you, Im not interested.
Lindsay saw Jacks gaze narrow and knew she was going to get an argument. Shed already learned that he didnt take no for an answer.
But this time hed have to. If there was one thing shed learned, it was that cops required ID for everything. And while hers might get only cursory examination, she couldnt afford to take that chance. Shed made sure no trace of her name showed up on any public record for the last three years. Her caution had kept her alive. She wasnt about to start making mistakes now.
Jack crossed one foot in front of the other, and for a moment she found herself distracted by the action. Hed strayed from the Santa uniform with the boots. They were a deep brown rather than black, with richly tooled leather that screamed designer. They probably cost what she paid in six months rent.
I know the guy. Hes got a reputation with women, but so far no one has taken the step to make him pay for his actions. If Sheila Jennings presses chargesand it sure sounded like she planned toshes going to need your statement to back hers up. Otherwise hell spin it that she was willing, and hell walk again. And then hell do the same thing to some other woman.
His words had her nerves congealing in a greasy tangle in her stomach. If Jack hadnt come outside with her, the outcome of the evening would have been far different. She would have suffered far worse injuries than a bruised cheek, and SheilaShe swallowed hard, thinking what might have happened to the woman. But she couldnt focus on that now. And she couldnt allow herself to be manipulated into feeling guilty about a woman she didnt know and possible future victims.
She was already carrying all the guilt she could live with.
Save your breath. Ive made up my mind and youre not going to change it.
The frustration on his face was easy to read. Dammit, Lindsay
Dammit, Jack She crossed her arms to mimic his stance. Well, not exactly, since her chest wasnt bare. And her arms werent bulging with all sorts of interesting muscles. But he wasnt going to intimidate her, regardless.
He gave a curt nod. Ill let you sleep on it. Maybe when Jolie talks to you tomorrow youll change your mind.
Although she didnt relish the upcoming conversation, she shook her head. I wont.
His jaw tightened, and the toughness shed noted earlier was not so hidden now. I dont think Ive ever met anyone as stubborn as you.
Then you havent looked in the mirror lately.
For a moment she thought her reckless tongue had gotten her in trouble again. His face darkened and he looked like a man struggling to leash his temper. Then he pushed away from the counter and grabbed her purse, digging inside it to take out her cell phone.
Her brows rose, but she wisely chose to keep her objections to herself. He took his out, too, and pressed keys in rapid succession on both. Then he flipped them shut and dropped hers back into her purse. I added my number in case you come to your senses before tomorrow night.
His number? The thought suffused her with heat. And far more temptation than she was up to battling right now. No doubt hed coded her number into his directory, as well. Whats tomorrow night?
Our dinner date. Ill pick you up at eight.
He bent to pick up his toolbox before heading to the door.
She was speechless for one long moment. And no, that absolutely was not interest stirring inside her. Wait a minute. She followed him to the door. Im not having dinner with you. I thought I made that clear earlier at the bar.
He turned to face her. Somewhere hed lost the Santa hat, which just made that sardonic cock of his brow more noticeable. You really think youre going to win two arguments with me tonight?
One has absolutely nothing to do with the other. And we both know youd just spend the entire evening trying to convince me to make that statement.
He rested a shoulder against the door. She wondered fleetingly if he ever stood up straight. His pose called attention to his lean hips and narrow waist, though the baggy red pants made it impossible to make out the line of his thigh.Realizing where her gaze had gone, she jerked it upward and saw a fleeting expression of humor in Jacks eyes.
Thats not true, he said mildly. Because willing or not, you will be interviewed by an officer about the scene at the Blue Lagoon. Im going to spend dinner trying to persuade you to sleep with me.
She dropped the makeshift ice pack on the counter and glared at him impotently. I have no intention of sleeping with you!
Then I have my work cut out for me.
Aggravated, she drew a breath. Her emotions felt like theyd been on an out-of-control carousel tonight. But right now they were settled solidly in annoyance. This is exactly why I dont like cops. Theyre pushy, and devious and untrustworthy. And some were corrupt, placing their own greed above others lives.