Deadly Coincidence (Brantley Walker Off the Books #4) - Nicole Edwards Page 0,43

went right to her head.

And the fact that she found him absolutely irresistible only made it more difficult to stick to her guns.

“Where?” she heard herself ask.

“Your choice. I’m sure there’re plenty of places open late tonight,” he said, that sexy voice rumbling. “Or, if you prefer, we can go back to your house.”

She was already shaking her head, but JJ wasn’t sure which of those options she was rejecting. It irked her that Baz had the ability to leave her tongue-tied and confused. It’d been that way since the day she met him.

“The diner’s still open,” she said, wondering just what she was doing. This was not supposed to be happening.

“I’ll follow you.”

He did, and all the way to town, JJ berated herself. Not because she had agreed to coffee but because what she’d wanted was to invite him back to her place. To pick up where they’d left off before he’d invited her to have Thanksgiving with his family. Why had he gone and complicated things? She didn’t understand it. They’d been doing fine, hadn’t they? The sex was off the charts, plus they had enjoyed one another’s company. Why did men think women were eager to move things to the next level? JJ was content to stay in the getting-to-know-you phase for … well, forever.

And of course, she would go and find a guy who wasn’t looking for a one-nighter or short term or even temporary. Worse, he was open and honest about it, taking things at her pace. He’d been patient with her since the beginning, never rushing, never pushing. Every step they’d taken had been her move.

Right up until that holiday-dinner invitation. He was responsible for that one.

However, agreeing to go was on her.

JJ pulled into the diner’s parking lot. It was still pretty busy, which she figured would only continue through the morning hours when those celebrating the new year would venture out for a late-night/early-morning meal before spending the first day of the year sleeping it off.

Before she’d even turned off the ignition, Baz was outside her door, opening it for her just like he always did. He was a gentleman of the highest order. Something else she found incredibly hot about him.

Once inside, a waitress approached, and Baz asked for a table for two, preferably in the back. With a glowing smile, Rachel Talbott, the daughter of the diner’s owners, led the way to a booth.

“Two coffees, please,” he told her before she could disappear.

“Comin’ right up.”

“I figured you’d be out with Brantley and Reese,” JJ said, attempting to make small talk when the silence got too heavy.

He didn’t respond, merely stared, those brilliant blue eyes skimming her face and heating her up from the inside out.

God, he was … hot. That strategically disheveled sandy-blond hair, the teal-blue eyes, those sharp cheekbones, and the angular jaw. It all came together to make a remarkable-looking man. Don’t even get her started on his body.

To keep the conversational ball rolling, she continued, “They were headin’ to Moonshiners. You can probably still—”

“I don’t want to talk about Brantley and Reese.” His eyes skimmed her face, his expression serious, tone equally so.

Yeah, this was a big mistake. Then again, she’d known it would be.

JJ huffed. “Fine. What would you like to talk about?”

“Us.”

She refrained from saying, There is no us. It was her go-to phrase, the one that had gotten her through all the rotten relationships in her past, of which there’d been many. Okay, maybe not many, but enough.

“I’ll take that as a good sign,” Baz said softly.

“What’s that?”

“That you’re not in denial.”

JJ couldn’t help it, she chuckled. He knew her so well, despite the fact they hadn’t known one another for all that long. It hadn’t been until they’d encountered him while working on their first official case that Baz had become part of their world. Since then, JJ had relied on him so many times. Not only at work but also … also to make her smile, because that was what Baz did. He made her smile even when she didn’t want to.

He held her gaze, those ridiculously blue eyes scorching her down to her soul.

“Baz…”

She could see the question in his eyes. He wanted her to speak her mind.

Like that could ever happen. JJ wasn’t one to open up about her feelings, never had been, and she had no desire to start now. It was easier to pretend she didn’t give a damn about anything, to take on that carefree air that