was talking to a lover.
Of course, it didn’t hurt that she had some new eye candy to check out. While she had always thought Brantley Walker was the absolute most attractive man she’d ever laid eyes on, Sebastian Buchanan had now taken that coveted spot. Dark blond hair, pretty blue eyes, and lips that looked as though they were made to kiss… Yes, it was safe to say she’d had a couple of fantasies about the guy and she’d only known him for a couple of hours.
It wasn’t like she was ogling him though. She had more respect for him than that. However, every so often, she would look up to catch what he was saying. Most of the time she would find his gaze straying back to hers, meeting briefly before he turned his attention to Brantley and Reese. During those moments, there would be a strange churning in her stomach. Anticipation, maybe? Whatever it was, it was both intriguing and annoying.
She was fairly certain there was a hint of interest on his part, but it wasn’t like she knew Baz. He could very well look at everyone he worked with like that. And it wasn’t like she was going to pursue the guy. As far as she was concerned, she was off men for the foreseeable future. Her life was far simpler when she didn’t involve herself in relationships.
“Hey, JJ?”
She jerked her attention away from her computer monitor to find Baz standing in front of her desk, peering down at her with a brilliant smile on his handsome face.
“I’m sorry?” she said, realizing she’d clearly been lost in her thoughts.
“I was wonderin’ if maybe you’d like to grab a bite with me. I haven’t eaten yet today.”
JJ looked over to get Brantley’s reaction only to find that the man wasn’t there. Nor was Reese.
“I … uh…”
“No worries if you don’t,” Baz said easily. “Just thought I’d make the offer. Give me a chance to get more information on the case.”
His mouth said this was about work, but his eyes were saying something else entirely. And surprisingly, JJ was fond of the combination.
“Sure,” she blurted. “Yeah. Late lunch, early dinner’s good. Either way. We can go to the diner, if you don’t mind.”
“Lady’s choice.”
JJ got to her feet, unplugged her laptop before tucking it into her backpack. She snagged her keys from her top drawer, then led the way to the door.
“This is an interesting setup you’ve got here.”
“Brantley’s doin’,” she admitted. “He bought the house when he retired from the Navy. Set up shop here. When the governor requested he lead the task force, he converted it to an office.”
“So, what? He have hay and horses in here before?”
She grinned. “No. A couple of computers though.” She motioned toward the stairs leading to the loft. “As you can see, it’s still under construction.”
Ever the gentleman, Baz opened the door, holding it for her while she stepped outside. She watched it close, then ensured the lock engaged before gesturing for him to shut the big barn door, concealing the other doors.
“I know it’s not my business,” he said as they walked toward their cars, “but are Brantley and Reese … together?”
“Yeah.” She peered up at him when she said it, gauging his reaction.
He glanced down, grinned. “No, I’m not homophobic, JJ. To each his own and all that. Just tryin’ to get a lay of the land.”
“Just makin’ sure.”
He laughed and she realized she liked the sound of that, too.
“And you?” he asked, pausing beside her car.
JJ stopped and stared up at him, directly into those teal-blue eyes. “What?”
“Is there a husband or boyfriend I should be worried about?”
So she hadn’t been imagining that spark between them.
It was her turn to smile. “No. I’m quite single.”
And she intended to stay that way.
Of course, if she really meant it, she would’ve said it out loud.
Chapter Fourteen
Telling the governor you had no news on his missing daughter was not something Brantley ever thought he’d be doing. It also wasn’t something he would’ve ever wanted to do. Unfortunately, that was the gist of their investigation and exactly what he relayed when he made the call later that night, despite the hour. There was no way he would’ve been able to hold off until morning. Gerard and Trina needed the updates, needed to hold on to hope that they would find their daughter quickly.
Brantley was holding on to that hope as well, although it wasn’t looking great. Aside from a grainy image of