Chapter 3
“Zane.” Lexi rapped on the doorframe to his office at RED HQ and he looked up from the intel that he’d been staring at but hadn’t really been seeing. “Jeez, where are you?” She folded her arms and leaned her back against the doorframe. “I knocked twice. Not like you to zone out like that.”
“Work.” Yeah, like he was going to tell his younger sister about the woman who just wouldn’t get out of his head. “What brings you from the fifth to the second?”
Lexi worked in Human Trafficking and Sex Crimes on the fifth floor of RED’s five-story building on Portland Street in Boston. Fourth floor was Terrorist Activity and Organized Crime; third floor Technology Theft; and then the second, Zane’s floor, Narcotics and Weapons Trafficking. The first floor was admin, but also served as their front—an insurance claims processing center.
“I needed to see Georgina.” Lexi glanced over her shoulder to the Command Center which was a lot like the CCs on every floor. “She hasn’t been at home when I’ve stopped by her apartment the last couple of days, and I can’t get a hold of her on her personal cell.”
“I sent Rizzo undercover.” Zane closed the manila folder he’d supposedly been looking at. “There’s an arms deal going down that we got wind of and she’s the right agent for this job.”
“If she comes in, tell her I need to talk to her.” Lexi gave a mischievous grin. “It’s really important.”
“Probably has to do with your partner.” Zane gave a wry look. “You and Donovan spend plenty of time working together.”
If his former Army Special Ops sister ever blushed now would be the time. “Nick Donovan and I are Team Supervisors who happen to be paired up.”
“Uh-huh.” Zane leaned forward, his forearms on his desk. Before Lexi could get in another word, he said in a subdued tone, “I met Stacy Randolph’s cousin today.”
Sadness and pain flashed over Lexi’s features and any trace of teasing was gone. It had only been a few months since Agent Randolph had been raped and murdered on a case where Lexi had sent her undercover. Stacy had been Lexi’s closest friend.
“Her cousin Willow.” Lexi gave a slow nod. “I talk to Mrs. Randolph every now and then. I haven’t met Willow but it’s pretty nice of her to stay with Stacy’s parents.”
Zane couldn’t say anything because the next words he’d have said might have been, “She’s so damned beautiful and fascinating that I can’t get her out of my head.” But he managed to keep his mouth shut.
“Don’t forget Mama’s making bangers and mash on Sunday.” She gave him a teasing grin. “When you go out with Willow, ask her if she’d like to come.”
His jaw almost dropped. “What?—”
“I’m your sister.” Lexi started to turn away. “From a mile away, I could see that you’ve got a thing for her.”
Well, hell.If two women could read him so easily in one day, he might as well turn in his credentials.
* * *
For at least thehundredth time, Zane wondered why in the hell he was here at the restaurant bar waiting for Willow.
And for at least the hundredth time, he thought of how beautiful and intriguing she’d been.
He took another swallow of his mug of Guinness on tap. His gaze never left the doorway as he leaned against the bar and waited for her to walk through. He’d come a half hour early, needing a beer before he saw her again.
There was something about that woman that drew him. Maybe she wouldn’t be the same intelligent, insightful woman who had captured his attention. Maybe she wouldn’t be as beautiful?—
He just about dropped his beer.
A supermodel stepped through the doorway of the restaurant.
Willow.
Zane barely registered the fact that he’d left a twenty in his empty beer mug as he slowly walked toward Willow. She was beautiful to begin with but now he knew the true meaning of the word ‘stunning.’
She had the same unpretentious smile, the same casual confidence as when he’d met her. But now she looked like she could be on the cover of some chick magazine. Hell, the cover of the next Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue.
Willow wore some kind of little black dress that he didn’t notice so much as the amount of cleavage and thigh it exposed. The same smooth golden skin, the same sun-streaked hair the same long legs. It was more the sexy wave of her hair and the way her sea-blue eyes looked bigger, her lips even more delicious.
Damn.
He’d known he was in trouble before, but now he didn’t have a doubt that he was in deeper than he could swim.
Zane hit some guy’s shoulder with his own, but he didn’t even bother to mumble an apology to the guy because he was too focused on Willow.
When he reached her, she continued to smile at him as she tipped her head back. At six-two, Zane only had about three inches on her. She was as tall and willowy as her name. Somehow he hadn’t noticed that before, and he was trained to notice everything.
He was slipping all over the place when it came to this woman.
“I reserved a table for us,” he managed to get out as he stared at her and drank in her scent that made him think of sunny days and an ocean breeze.
“Good.” She slid her hand into his, interlocking their fingers. “I’m starving.”
Zane tried to ignore the out-of-control sensations pinging through his body at the feel of her fingers locked with his. “I thought supermodels didn’t eat.”
Willow laughed. An honest, friendly laugh that did more funny things to his gut. “Grad student and part-time cosmetologist,” she said as they reached the hostess who was waiting with a pair of menus. “Most definitely not supermodel.”
“Could have fooled me,” Zane said as they followed the hostess to a corner table.
The way Zanehad looked at her sent a shiver of delight down Willow’s spine. She could read so much from his eyes. Definitely desire, but genuine interest in who she was and not just in her appearance.
Talk about appearances. Good lord, he was gorgeous. Just like she’d remembered from his broad shoulders and chest to those carved biceps and strong forearms. Those were arms made to hold her tight.
The hostess took them toward a corner table in the red-brick walled restaurant that was elegant yet contemporary.
She squeezed Zane’s hand tighter, and he rewarded her with the sexiest smile that made her sigh. Even the smells of lobster, steak, and other delicious meals didn’t appeal to her as much as Zane did.
He wore a dark green shirt with an overshirt, probably to cover his weapon. But he had another weapon he couldn’t disguise behind his jeans.
Zane’s short black hair had the slightest wave to it that made her want to run her fingers through it. Yeah, she’d do that.
The hostess showed them to the perfect table for two in front of a tall rectangular window. The atmosphere in their part of the restaurant was romantic and only added fuel to the incredible fire burning within her.
He looked like he hated to release her hand as much as she didn’t want to let his go, but he did and pulled out her high-backed cushioned chair for her.
“And you’re a gentleman, too,” she said as he seated himself.
The hostess left the menus and said something about wine but neither of them paid attention to her.
Zane focused his gaze on her. “Honey, if you knew what I was thinking right now, you wouldn’t think I’m anything close to being a gentleman.”
Willow picked up her menu and gave him her best naughty grin. “Then you and I must be thinking the same thing.”
At first, Zane looked taken aback but then he had a teasing glint in his eyes. “That I have great breasts and the most gorgeous legs you’ve ever seen?”
She laughed. “I know what you’re really thinking.” She leaned close to him. “Instead of being in this restaurant, you’d rather be in bed. With me.”
He cleared his throat. “If I could make it that far.”
“Ha.” Willow looked at her menu before looking over the top of it at him. “Let’s see if we can make it through dinner.”
Zane picked up his own menu. Cleared his throat again. “Not sure I’ll live that long.”
“You know what?” Willow settled her hand on his knee and slowly moved her fingers up his thigh and kept her tone low. “They have two very private, very elegant, very clean restrooms here. With locks on the doors.”
Zane raised his eyes from his menu, a hungry, primal, and pained expression on his face as she inched her fingers upward to what she really wanted to touch.
“When the server comes, you order our appetizer and wine and I’ll get up and go to the ladies’ room.” She skimmed her fingers over his thigh. “You follow me as soon as you finish ordering.”
Zane glanced around them before looking back at her. “Uh, Willow?—”
She gave him another wicked smile. “I dare you.”