They show that you’re a fighter. I happen to find strength and determination to be extremely sexually attractive.”
Joel couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “Then if each scar is a sign of strength…hell, you must be extremely sexually attracted me.” Because he had scars to spare and—
“Yes, I am.” Chloe spoke so calmly. So clearly. With no hesitation or subterfuge whatsoever.
“I do not understand you,” he whispered. But I want to.
“Most people don’t. I’ve gotten used to that.” What could have been a hint of sadness drifted through her voice. “So, are we reaching some sort of sexual deal?”
His heart shoved into his chest even as his dick shoved hard against the front of his pants. “I work as your partner on the case…”
“Partner. Protector. Whatever term you prefer.”
He wanted her mouth.
“But,” Chloe continued, “that’s unrelated to anything physical that happens between us.”
His gaze was still on her mouth. “Completely unrelated.”
“Can you compartmentalize that way? You won’t…just because we have sex, you won’t lose your objectivity?”
He forced his stare to rise so that he could stare her straight in the eyes. “Are you asking me if I’m going to fall in love with you?”
Chloe’s head moved in a small, negative shake. “I asked if you would maintain your objectivity.”
“Will you maintain yours?” Joel pushed back.
“You should carefully consider this.” Her voice had turned husky. Like a stroke right over my cock. “Because maybe…perhaps you could be my partner, but not my lover. Or my lover, but not my partner.”
Now he had to touch her. Because…I will be both. His hand curled under her chin. “Do you know what most people say about surgeons?”
“That they’re very good with their hands? And I must say, you certainly proved that last night.”
She delivered those words in her cool and easy British accent, and it actually took them a moment to register in his mind. When they did, Joel found himself smiling again. “Did you just give me props for my sexual skills?”
“You know you brought me pleasure. I was merely stating a fact. But if you want to take the words as a compliment, please feel free.”
“Thanks.” He leaned even closer. “Surgeons do have good hands, but people also say that a high number of surgeons are psychopaths.”
“Yes. I have heard that.” She didn’t seem even mildly fazed. “Surgeons, CEOs, politicians. People with very high stress jobs—like surgeons—have to be able to emotionally distance from the work they are doing. If you couldn’t distance or detach yourself, then every single time you cut into a patient, your fingers wouldn’t be as steady. You’d be more likely to make a fatal mistake.”
Every single time you cut into a patient.
He looked at the fingers he’d curled around her chin. Her delicate jaw. He immediately released her and eased back.
“Did I say something to upset you?” Chloe asked.
He flexed and clenched his fingers. “You don’t seem overly concerned that a psychopath might be touching you…and planning to fuck you.”
“Three points. First, all psychopaths aren’t killers, and all killers are most definitely not psychopaths. Just because you can maintain an emotional distance doesn’t mean you’re some cold-blooded murderer. There are plenty of people who fit the psychopathic personality definition who lead full, productive lives.”
“Good to know.” He could never predict what the woman was going to say. Never. “What’s point two?”
“I actually don’t think you possess many psychopathic personality traits. At least not any of the ones that would trigger alarm bells. While I think you can be charming when the situation calls for it, I haven’t exactly seen a ton of superficial charm floating from you.”
She’d just said he was a dick. He was sure of it. She’d used Chloe-speak to do it.
“Although you did manipulate Reese last night when you plied him with whiskey. And people with psychopathic personality traits are very adept at manipulation.”
“Hey, he’s the one who brought up drinking the whiskey. I just decided to be a pal and drink a little with him.”
The car was slowing down. Were they already at their destination? Joel squinted as he peered through the tinted rear windows to try and see where they were.
“I think you have empathy. You attempt to hide it. You do try to act as if you don’t care, but the empathy is there. It slips through your cracks. I could see it when you talked to Cinnamon. Deep down, you care about people. I suspect that caring is what drove you to become a surgeon in the first place. You