firm.
“Did I misunderstand? I thought you were going to stop by this morning after you met with the chief?”
Lexie tossed her head. “No. I …I said I would if I had time…if my schedule worked out.”
His gaze was like a laser slicing through her dissembling.
“And your ‘schedule’ didn’t allow you to fit me in for twenty minutes?”
Lexie bit her lip, then shook her head and lifted her chin, a defiant gesture. “I didn’t want to talk to you – or anyone, and I still don’t.” She turned and put the key in the door wanting to leave, to go as fast as she could. She needed to get back to her room, to read through the reports, mostly to get away from this unsettling man. Her fingers were shaking and to her horror she dropped the keys.
Mortified by her clumsiness, she bent to pick up the keys that rolled under the car. She grabbed for them, but he was quicker. He reached under the car with one long arm and caught her with his other hand when she stumbled back. When they stood up, he was inches away from her. She tried to move back, to twist away from him, but he was too big.
Still holding her elbow with one hand, he reached down and tipped her chin up to meet his gaze.
“Alexis, relax. I’m not going to force you to do anything you don’t want to. If you’re not up for talking now, we can do that later, when you are.”
She wanted to tell him that she would never be ready to talk to him. But the words stuck in her throat. When he handed her the keys, she gave a grateful sigh and quickly unlocked the door.
He stepped back, but as she moved forward to get in her car, he gave a low whistle.
Reaching around her, he stroked the custom leather seat. He gave her an appreciative glance then stepped closer to run his hand over the solid wood dashboard. He peered inside, his large body filling the doorway.
When he stood up and turned to face her, a wide grin split his face.
“Damn, girl, this is one tricked up ride. Did you buy it like this? Or, don’t tell me you did this? Tell me you did and I’m a goner. I’m an admirer for life. Hell, more than that, I think I’m in love.”
Lexie stifled a laugh. He seemed genuinely bowled over. If he was putting her on, he had found her soft spot. She loved this car. She’d bought it with the money she earned her first year teaching in the dojo. It was barely drivable when she bought it. It cost almost as much to restore as it cost to buy. She’d spent months outfitting it, pouring over catalogues and searching the internet for genuine parts.
“First generation?” Jake asked, his eyes gleaming.
When she nodded, he persisted, “1967 or ’68?”
He shook his head with a low admiring whistle when she responded. “1968.”
She watched him circle the Camaro, touching the door handles then reached down to run his hands over the rims. He looked up at her with a question, “Alloy?”
When she nodded yes, he gave a gleeful shout.
He rounded the car and ended up in front of her, his bright blue eyes twinkling.
“That does it. Now you’re having dinner with me for sure. Hell, I’m gonna bring a tape recorder. I want to know how a beautiful woman like you decided to buy a “68 Camaro and restore it like this.”
She stiffened, immediately her guard rose. “I…I didn’t say I would have dinner with you.”
He grinned. “You didn’t? Hmm, something must be wrong with my hearing. I could have sworn you agreed to let me take you to the finest, most authentic Mexican restaurant this side of the border. In fact, I’m sure I heard you say that you’d be ready at six.”
She felt her face heat. She shook her head clenching her fists at her sides. “No…no…I can’t.”
Jake’s eyes narrowed. His voice was soft. Once again, he reached out and grasped her chin in his big hand and gazed down at her.
“There’s a big difference between ‘can’t’ and ’won’t,’ Alexis.” He smiled at her and reached in his pocket and took out a business card.
“Tell you what. My cell number is on this card. Let’s make a deal. If you decide that you don’t want to have dinner with me just call and let me know. Okay?”
When she nodded, he winked at her. “Here’s the rest of the deal. You can only decline for one of three reasons. One, because the last time you ate Mexican food you ended up in the hospital with hives. Two, because you’re prejudiced and don’t eat with southerners, or three--because you’re chicken.”
She gasped, too startled to respond.
He reached out and stroked her cheek.
“See you at 6 p.m. Wear something casual. It’s a family place.”
When he turned to walk away, she struggled to speak, to tell him no, to give him back his card. To her shock, the only thing that came out of her mouth, in a squeak at that, was, “But, you don’t know where I’m living.”
He looked back over his shoulder and shook his head. “You forget, Alexis. I’m an investigator.” He faced her, walking backwards across the lot. “Come prepared to talk, Alexis. About that hot car.” He winked at her again. She could hear his chuckle as he walked away.
Chapter 5
Lexie stood in front of the mirror glaring at her reflection. She was surprised her lips weren’t bleeding she’d bitten them so much. What could she have been thinking? Agreeing to go out to dinner with Jake? She reminded herself with a frown, she hadn’t agreed. He’d tricked her into it. The thought raised her hackles even more. First of all, she didn’t want to go out with him; second, she didn’t want to go out with anyone, and, most important at the moment, she had nothing to wear. She looked in disgust at the pile of clothes on the bed, all of which she’d tried on twice.
She’d left San Francisco so quickly that she’d thrown the most available clothes in her suitcase without any thought to what she’d need in Yuma. Stripping hangers thoughtlessly, she’d ended up with a mish mash of cropped tops, jeans, biker shorts and four or five short swirly skirts. And, of course, the red suit that she had consciously added to her jumbled wardrobe. Thank God, Madame Juen had helped. Remembering the sobbing woman daintily folding Lexie’s outrageous scraps of lacy underwear, Lexie’s chest tightened. They had barely spoken. There were no words to say. When Madam Juen brought out her collection of strappy platform sandals, ankle boots, and her special knee high lizard skin boots with a questioning look, Lexie had scooped them up and thrown them all in the suitcase.
Staring at the one sundress she’d tossed in at the last minute, remembering how blisteringly hot Yuma was, she decided it was her best bet. He said be casual. Damn, only a man would say that. Casual as in her biker shorts and an exercise bra, or casual like jeans and a t-shirt? The sundress had the swirly skirt she preferred, although it came to inches above her knees looking almost modest in comparison to her usual short skirts that rode up her thighs. Granted, the stretchy bodice didn’t do much to contain her full breasts, but she‘d grown accustomed over the years to men ogling her. She’d given up any pretense of hiding them.
Glancing at her array of boots and shoes, she tossed her head and yanked out her four inch high heeled patent leather red shoes. They matched her dress, so why the hell not! She stood back to assess the results. She was mildly pleased with the woman in the mirror. She’d already wrestled with the never-ending question of what to do with her long blond hair. She eschewed the usual ponytail or casual twist, deciding to let it hang free. She was done fussing. Annoyed with the time and trouble she’d taken to look good, she reminded herself with a scowl, she’d been tricked into this evening.
Glancing at the pile of papers that she’d spent the afternoon memorizing, she acknowledged she could use a break. Her grumbling stomach reminded her she hadn’t eaten since the banana she had after a long intense practice on the miniscule balcony. Damn, she’d meant to find a grocery store to stock up on water and fruit, but the cockroaches she’d chased down with the heel of her boot made the idea of eating in the grungy room untenable. Tossing a sweater in her shoulder bag, she hurried out the door, intending to wait for Jake in the parking lot. She didn’t try to analyze why she didn’t want him to see the dilapidated place she was living in. She could barely stand it
