Of course, I’m uptight. She sighed instead of confessing what they both already knew was one of her main qualities (or was that a flaw?). “I’m not gonna survive this drive with you. I can feel it. Maybe we ought to go back to being quiet like the ride last night.” And yet, a smile pulled at the edges of her lips.
“That was pure torture.” He tossed an overly dramatic palm to his chest. “I’m a talker.”
“I can see that.” She fidgeted with the strap of her seatbelt. A touch of nerves at having to endure being in the car with him for seven or so hours and in the daylight . . . this was going to be hard. She was not an open book, and she had no intention of getting sucked into talking about her life. But for some insane reason, around him, she had the urge to at least turn a few pages and see what might happen.
“You still haven’t answered my question, by the way. Perhaps all this talking is your way of avoiding questions you don’t want to answer.” She leaned back in her seat and tightened the knot of her ponytail, waiting for a rebuttal that never came. “See, I’m right.”
“To answer your question, I did talk to my people. They checked every house that had a front door surveillance camera around Porter’s place to try and get a look at who may have entered his house before you. The guy was good. You too, so it would seem. Neither of you were on any other cameras.” He paused. “Also, there’s no mention of you being on the run with a handsome cowboy.” She assumed he chased away whatever concerns had entered his mind when his lips went from drawn tight to curving into a smile. “And lastly, my buddy is fine with me staying at his place. He just said no sex in the master bedroom.”
“Does he know I’m with you?” And wait, she probably should have led with another response, one that shot down any ideas that they’d be sleeping together.
“No, I said I’d be traveling alone.” His voice lowered, almost like he was once again a Tier One operator in the middle of a serious mission. Did he suddenly remember why they were on the road? “Not that he believed me,” he tossed out a moment later.
“So, he assumes you’ll hook up with someone in town. Is that your reputation?” she asked, her voice pitching softer than normal. A strange feeling of—was that jealousy?—had her stomach tightening.
He shifted on his seat, looking back and forth between the highway and her, which was making her more uncomfortable. Too many eighteen-wheelers on the road. “Do I look like a player?” His signature playboy grin with a side of cocky touched his face. “And I thought you didn’t want to chitchat?” Annnnd operator mode gone. The A.J. she’d grown accustomed to in their short time together had returned.
Well, if he’d been telling the truth on her voicemail—he hadn’t been with anyone since he met her. She had a hard time believing that, though. It was probably a drunken attempt to woo her.
She hadn’t been with anyone since Kyle, and even when they were together, their sex life hadn’t been great. She was never in the mood. She’d destroyed the redheaded stereotypes Kyle had had in his head before dating her.
Cold, dead heart. Her eyes fell to her ring finger.
“What happened with you and Kyle?” A gentleness ebbed through his words this time. “You, um, over him?”
“Is this your way of feeling me out?” she asked. “Seeing if you have a chance?”
“Just trying to get to know you a little better.” His answer almost sounded sincere. Not like he was working a case. Working her for information.
Maybe now was the time for them to discuss what A.J. already knew about her background. Better yet, there was probably a file on her somewhere in his car. She’d love a peek, and she casually stretched her arms up and turned her head toward the back.
“It’s not there.”
“How do you know what I’m looking for?” she challenged.
“I’ve been wondering when you were going to ask me about whatever file I have on you, but since you don’t like to talk, we can just—”
“No,” she cut him off. “Let’s talk about what you know.”
“I know a lot, sugar. About horses, weather patterns, guns, conspiracies. You name it, I probably know a thing or