pressed against her as he took up far too much space. He’d left the door open, and the interior lights shone brightly inside the vehicle.
She cleared her throat and tried to be polite. Buy him? “Definitely not. I know you aren’t for sale.” It’s not like he was some fancy trinket she’d found at the store.
Joel crowded closer to her.
“I need a drink,” Reese said to anyone who might be listening. “A big one.”
He was supposed to be staying away from the drinks. Especially the big ones. Because when he drank, he slipped up. She didn’t want slips on this case.
“I believe that you’ve met my brother, Reese.” She waved toward him.
Joel didn’t acknowledge her brother. His dark glare stayed on Chloe. “If you want me at your side, then I’m going to be there as your partner.”
She would not smile. Not yet, anyway. “I thought you told me already that we weren’t partners.” In fact, he’d made that point several times during their brief acquaintance.
“We weren’t…then. Things have changed.”
Yes, she could see that they had. His cheeks were flushed. His eyes seemed to gleam, making the gold far more apparent. He didn’t look cold and grim. He seemed to pulse with life and intensity. If she’d thought he was attractive before, he was positively gorgeous now. Sexy. Very, very sexy.
“You sent your brother to my door. I don’t know why you want me with you, but I’m ready to find out.”
Looked like someone was up for another adventure. They were going to have such fun together. “There will be great risk,” she warned him. “You’ll be hurt. You could die.”
Reese scrubbed a hand over his face. “A couple of drinks. That’s what I need. A couple—”
“Will we stop a killer?” Joel cut across her brother’s words. “Because if so, then the risk is worth it.”
The man just did not disappoint. She’d suspected he would be this way, long before she’d ever arranged the little meet and greet between them at the bank. It was always nice when she was proven to be correct. “It will be worth it.”
His stare held hers. “Then you’ve got yourself a partner.”
Chloe offered her hand to him. “We should shake on it.”
His fingers curled around hers. His grip was strong and warm and a hot spark shot through her entire hand.
Grousing, Reese reached out and shut the door that Joel had left open. The bright lights immediately died away.
His fingers slowly released hers. His index finger trailed along the inner section of her palm. That spark she’d felt before flared hotter. Unexpected, but nothing I can’t handle. Raising her voice, she said, “Take us home, Marie.”
With a hum, the privacy screen slid up again. The car pulled away from the curb.
“Uh, home?” Joel seemed wary. “I was at my home. I was—”
“If we’re going to be working together, it will be easier if you stay on the grounds of my residence. Don’t worry. You’ll have a guest house all to yourself. You’ll have plenty of privacy.”
“You’re in it now,” Reese told him. “Welcome to her world.” His British accent had returned as soon as Joel appeared. “You’d damn well better watch her ass.”
“Don’t worry,” Joel assured him, voice dry, “I’ll make sure my eyes are on her ass.”
“Wait,” Reese snapped. “That’s not—I didn’t—”
“So, Chloe, what’s our first move?” Joel asked as Reese sputtered.
She’d already made the first move. She’d gotten him out of his home, into her car, and at her side. He would be with her, so he’d be protected. He could thank her later.
After they took care of solving some murders. “We hunt.”
Chapter Six
When the limo pulled to a stop, Joel shoved open the door and climbed out. He’d been watching through the windows and he knew that they weren’t too far from Audubon Park. As they’d driven, the houses had gotten bigger and bigger. And the place they were at right now…
He whistled. “Just how rich are you?”
“You don’t want to know,” a voice to his right said.
His head turned. The driver had just come around the front of the parked car. Petite, her dark hair was twisted at the nape of her neck, and she wore all black.
She paused next to him. Raked him with a stare. “How long are you supposed to last?”
His brows climbed. “I’m Joel. Nice to meet you. And you are…?”
She stared back at him.
Reese climbed from the limo. Stretched. His tie hung loosely around his neck. “That’s Marie Kim. Been with my sister for at