Chapter 3 #2
A flush crossed her face. She knew she’d fucked up. “Fine. Alex then.”
“Better,” he grated. But was it really? Because the way she said his name was like a soft stroke across his senses. He wanted her to say it again. And he wanted her to go away.
“I assume you’re talking about my new apartment.” She set the menu down and folded her hands on the table. “I like this town. I don’t like where I live now. Too noisy and busy. My lease is up, and I needed a change. Satisfied?”
“No. Not in the least. I don’t trust you.”
Was that hurt that flashed across her features?
“Trust who you like. It doesn’t affect me. We’re on the same side, but you go ahead and be all growly and mean if it makes you feel better. I’m not here for you. I’m here for me.”
Before he could respond, Amber materialized out of the crowd to take Diana’s order. She asked for water and the special cheeseburger with truffle fries and aioli.
“And you, Alex?” Amber turned to him with an expectant look. “You want to order something too?”
“I’m at the usual table, but sure. That gonna mess you up?”
“Nope. I’ll deliver it wherever you’re sitting when it comes out.”
“Thanks. Then give me the steak. Medium rare.”
“You want to change the sides or are the potatoes and salad good?”
“They’re perfect. Did Theo make his special ranch dressing?”
“The smoky one? Yep. You want extra?”
“Always.”
When Amber was gone, he met Diana’s gaze. She was as cool as ever, naturally. Something inside him wanted to shatter that cool. He wanted to see her burn. For him.
No. Definitely not.
“How’s life at the FBI?” he asked.
She drew in a breath. “Fine.”
He waited but she didn’t say anything else. Had to admire that. He’d learned in training that silences were uncomfortable and the best way to get someone to talk was not to speak first. She’d probably had the same training.
He decided to concede. “Sounds exciting.”
She snorted. He thought she probably didn’t mean to because she blinked. Then she smoothed her features into the same careful mask she always wore. Shrugged.
“Terribly.”
“Care to elaborate?”
“No.”
He sipped his beer. “You’re full of sunshine, aren’t you?”
“And you aren’t?”
“Sometimes. Not today.”
“And not with me. I get it. You don’t like me, Alex. I don’t like you either. But we’ve got an important task to accomplish, and I’m not about to let your bad attitude stop me from doing it.”
“No, we don’t have anything to accomplish. I do. Whatever you’ve got going on is peripheral to my task. And I think you know by now that I’m not letting you get in my way. So don’t try it, Agent Corbin.”
She spread her hands. “I’m here to eat, not argue with you.
If you’re going to keep glaring and threatening, then you can march right back to your friends and leave me out of it.
I didn’t ask for this and I’m not putting up with it.
You aren’t the first man to try and intimidate me and you won’t be the last. So be nice or go away. Those are your choices.”
The last thing he should be feeling in that moment was turned on. But damn if he didn’t like her fire. She displayed it so rarely that it was always a surprise.
He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms over his chest. Diana’s gaze dropped before snapping back up again. Ghost chuckled on the inside. Most women couldn’t resist that move. Emphasized the size and definition of a man’s arms and chest. He resisted the urge to flex, but only barely.
“I tried to be nice. Asked about your job and everything. You gave me monosyllabic answers.”
“I’m not the one who started glaring and demanding answers to questions I don’t have a right to ask.”
“Not this time. But you demand answers all the time.”
She waved a hand at him. “You’re giving me a headache.”
He scraped his chair back and stood, snagged his beer. “I’ll leave. Happy to work with you when it’s mutually beneficial—but don’t think moving to town’s going to get you invited to join every conversation I have with my boys.”
She gave him an exaggerated frown. “Aw, and here I thought we were going to be such great friends. Cookouts, sleepovers, reindeer games. Now I’m sad.”
Like hell she was. And now she had him thinking about sleepovers, damn her.
“Stay out of my business, Diana. That’s all.”
“Heard you loud and clear, Fred.”
“Fred?”
Amber dropped off a water and shot him one of her flirty grins before heading to the next table. Diana picked up her drink and sipped daintily from the straw.
“Flintstone,” she finally said. “A famous cartoon caveman from the sixties, I believe. Since you seem to think telling a woman what to do in a growly voice is all it takes to make her heed your command.” She tilted her head to the side.
“Or maybe Conan the Barbarian is more like it. Which do you prefer?”
He wanted to kiss that smart mouth, shock her into speechlessness. Probably shock himself too, come to think of it. “Guess you do have a sense of humor. Who knew?”
She shrugged. “I’m full of surprises.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, ma’am. Enjoy your dinner.”
He tipped an imaginary hat and walked away before she got even further beneath his skin than she already had.
Before he really did kiss her right here in front of God and everybody.