Jennifer Rardin - [Jaz Parks 1] - Once Bitten, Twice Shy

'Oh.' So I told him what I'd been thinking and we were both chuckling when we came through the door and met Cole, who stood waiting for us there.

He covered well, but I could tell Cole wasn't pleased to see Vayl and me sharing a laugh. Dammit. I know in other places kisses don't mean much. Shoot, in Hollywood they do inconsequential smooching all the time. But to Cole, and most other people in the real world, kisses are significant gestures, not something you play with as I had. I bit my lip, forgot it was still healing from the last bite and nearly made myself cry. So much for my post-donation high. The express elevator Vayl had taken me on came to an abrupt halt. The jolt left me with a roaring in my ears and a major craving for chocolate chip cookies followed by a good hour of card shuffling.

'Uh, Cole, this is my partner, Jeremy Bhane. Jeremy, this is Cole Bemont.'

Vayl held out his hand. 'Pleased to meet you.'

'Likewise,' said Cole. They shook. I waited for Cole to wince, but Vayl reigned in his bone-crushing strength. I sighed with relief.

The hostess showed us to a booth in a corner lit by a couple of candles and a low wattage, recessed bulb. The decor diverted me enough that I stopped kicking myself long enough to enjoy it. The carpet sparkled with every hue of green imaginable. It contrasted nicely with the white tablecloths and folded napkins. The menu covers felt like real leather. So did the cushioned seats.

Vayl and I sat across from Cole. We ordered drinks, diet coke for me, beer on tap for the guys, and the hostess left. 'Lucille tells me you are a private investigator,' said Vayl.

I expected Cole to squirm under Vayl's icy blue gaze. He didn't, and I liked him better for it. Crap.

'That's right,' he said, 'although it's not turning out to be what I expected.'

'No?'

Cole shrugged. 'It's pretty mundane. And I'm not always sure I'm helping the good guys.'

I spoke up. 'Well, let me assure you that we are the good guys.'

'Yeah?'

I looked at Vayl and he nodded. So I took out my badge and slid it across the table. Cole opened it, studied it for quite awhile.

'I had a feeling you weren't just another rich snob,' he told me. Despite the fact that he wore white Nikes with black dress pants, his hair looked like he'd just stepped out of a hurricane and he smelled of citrus bubblegum, Cole suddenly looked all grown up as he slid my badge back to me. I slid it back into my jacket.

Our drinks came, we ordered supper and the waitress left.

'So, Cole—'I began.

'What happened to you?'

'Huh?'

'Your neck.' He nodded at the bandage. I'd completely forgotten about it. My hand flew up to it as if I could hide it from him. Vayl bumped his leg against mine.

'Oh that.' I smiled, because Lucille would've. 'I burned myself with my curling iron. Second degree.'

Cole nodded, apparently satisfied. 'You were saying?'

'Um, okay, we've been investigating Assan for awhile now, and we're sure he's a big hitter in a terrorist group called the Sons of Paradise. We know he's performed surgery on fugitives. We know he has a powerful new partner and a plan of attack that could threaten the entire country, maybe even the world. We think the documents we need to stop him and his partner are in his house.'

Cole whistled in disbelief. 'And you think I can get them for you?'

Vayl sat forward. 'Possibly. We hope you can at least provide us with information. You do, after all, have a connection on the inside.'

Cole locked his hands together and played thumb wars with himself for a few seconds while he processed. 'I don't think Amanda knows anything about her husband's shadow life. She sure wouldn't have hired me if she did.'

'We need access to her house, especially to her husband's office,' I said, hating that I had to push. 'But we don't want to spook her. No telling which side she'd fall on if she knew the truth. All we want is for you to convince her that, to help further your investigation, you and your partner need to take a look at his papers, his computer, and the contents of his safe.'

'My… partner?'

I nodded. 'That would be me.'

Our food came. Cole started stabbing at his lasagna. Vayl and I traded looks.

'What's wrong?' I asked.

'You already have a partner.'

Crap.

Vayl nudged me. 'If you will excuse me,' he said. 'I think I will go wash my hands.' I let him out of the booth. Cole didn't exactly glare at his back as he left, but I got the feeling he would've liked to.

'Cole.' I sank back into the seat. 'Last night, kissing you, was the closest I've been to a relationship in… awhile.'

'You make that sound like a bad thing.'