T ala didn’t know what had happened at the Kipfer house inside the victim’s room, but something had transpired between her and Jace. Somehow she felt connected to him. In a way she’d never experienced with anyone else. Not even her mother.
She could now tell when he was thinking about her. It sizzled over her skin like static electricity, a foreign sensation. One she wasn’t sure if she hated or liked, a lot.
Tala sensed Jace watching her as the three of them walked into Hard Bodies. She looked over her shoulder and caught him. It was easy to read the feral look in his eyes. Hunger. Need. Unsure what to do, Tala returned his stare. At least Jace had the decency to look embarrassed. He quickly turned his gaze to the other people entering the facility.
Putting a hand to her thumping chest, Tala wasn’t sure if she could handle him looking at her like that more than once. His look was heated and intense. It carried weight and substance. As if he could actually stroke her with its intensity alone. The thought had her licking her lips. She knew instinctively his touch would be wild and feral, possessive even.
And she ached for it like nothing before.
When they reached the front desk of the fitness club, Jace took the lead and stepped up to the counter.
The enthusiastic young woman at the counter beamed at him. “Hi, I’m April. Please tell me how I can help you today.”
Tala couldn’t help but notice that the girl’s obvious silicone br**sts beamed at Jace, too.
“Well, April, you can tell me if you recognize this girl.” Jace flashed the gym ID card to her.
She glanced down at it then back to Jace, her smile still glued to her tanned face. “Of course, that’s Sam. She’s a regular here.”
“Was she here yesterday?”
April’s gaze flickered from Jace to Tala and Lyra then back to Jace. “Um, are you a cop or something?”
Jace shook his head. “No, nothing as boring as that. I’m with the crime lab.”
“Oh, that’s so cool.” She batted her eyelashes at him.
Tala nearly groaned at the overindulgent flirtation.
“I didn’t see her, but I can sure check the register for you to see if she was.”
Jace smiled at her. “That would be great, April.”
As the perky redhead bounced over to the computer to check the registry, Jace leaned over the counter and eyed the girl’s rear end in her tight Lycra shorts. Tala smirked at his leering. At least, that was what she considered it. The man had no couth. Hadn’t he, just moments ago, been staring at her assets? It wasn’t like she was jealous or anything. She just thought it was rude. Despite her rather violent urge to jump on the bouncy April and eliminate her from the equation, Tala still didn’t consider herself jealous.
Turning her lethal stare away from Jace, Tala caught Lyra grinning at her. “What?” she barked.
Lyra shook her head, but kept on smiling. “Nothing.”
April bounced back to the counter and batted her eyelashes at Jace. “Yup, Sam was here yesterday in the afternoon, around two o’clock.”
“Does she train with anyone in particular?”
April nodded. “Rock.”
“The guy’s name is Rock?” Jace asked.
“His real name is Darryl Rockland. But we all call him Rock, because, well, he’s, like, hard as a rock.” She giggled, then reached out and touched Jace on the arm.
Tala was just about ready to bite her own tongue clean off. She couldn’t handle April’s perky demeanor and the way she flirted with Jace any longer. Taking a step forward, Tala slapped her hand down on the counter. That definitely got everyone’s attention.
“Where can we find Rock?” she demanded.
April’s face fell and she almost looked like she was going to pout. “He’s at the treadmills with another client.” Tilting her head, she glared at Tala. “Who are you?”
Tala reached into her pants and pulled out her wallet. “I’m the cop.” She flashed April her badge. “Does Samantha have a locker she uses here?”
April nodded, suddenly somber. “I can check for you.”