Up in Smoke - Tessa Bailey Page 0,41
up and demanding she answer his questions. Her arms were suspended above her head, body stripped of clothing, writhing as she tried to get free. The blood in his head rushed south, obviously taking his ability to reason along with it. Dammit, he couldn’t play those types of games with her. She wasn’t able, and it was selfish and inexcusable of him to want them.
He came back to himself with a jolt, realizing he’d been staring at Erin’s mouth. Unbelievably, she didn’t look unaffected, lips parted to receive her dragged-in breaths. Had she read his mind?
A low sound tripped out of him. “What’s happening inside that head?”
She fell back a step, giving a tiny headshake and breaking their spell. Before he could press for an answer, she skirted past him. “The bus stop is this way.”
He ate up the sidewalk separating them in two strides to walk beside her. “My car is parked in the garage around the corner.” When her step faltered, he cursed his own lack of foresight. “Are you all right to drive inside a car?”
“Yeah.” Soulful blue eyes flashed up at him. “No seat belt, though.” Connor didn’t like the idea of her in a moving vehicle without being strapped in. Not at all. He started to object, to say they would take the bus instead, but she cut him off. “So the cell mate’s answers sounded rehearsed. Do you think Stark got to him?”
This constant avoidance wasn’t working for him, but he sensed if he made an issue of the small stuff, he’d never get to the bigger ones beneath the surface. With a sigh, he followed her lead and changed the subject. “The prison manifest doesn’t show any visits from Stark or any of his closest aides. If he got to May, he was careful.”
“Or someone on the inside didn’t record the visit.” She appeared to be bracing herself. “In fact, I know Stark got an assist from someone in Cook County. The way he escaped was too convenient.”
Connor’s blood heated. Dammit. He didn’t like where this was headed. Had sensed something coming and wasn’t sure he could handle the rest of what she had to tell him. Already, the muscles in his neck were vibrating, his senses sharpening. “You want to tell me how you know that?”
She visibly shivered, probably over his tone of voice. “I’m working up to it.”
He jerked his chin toward a two-story parking structure, indicating that she should follow, using the time they spent ascending the two ramps to attempt to compose himself. His instincts were buzzing that he wouldn’t like the information he intended to get out of her. He kept seeing her nervous expression when she approached him, his intuition that she’d done something to make herself vulnerable. Stay calm. No matter what she says, stay calm.
They reached the roof, which was mostly deserted except for a half dozen cars. The notorious Chicago wind picked up her hair and streamed it out behind her, making her even more achingly pretty than usual. That same wind plastered her already-tight shirt even more provocatively against her body, highlighting the perky nipples standing at attention beneath. His gaze dipped to her belly and thighs, remembering how they felt sliding over his muscles with the aid of oil.
Connor stopped at a navy-blue SUV and waited, hands on hips.
Erin plunked down on the bumper. “There is a bar called Hanover’s a few blocks from Cook County. I took a wild guess that there would be some CO’s inside reliving their glory days.” She brushed her hair over her shoulder. “I went in and talked to one such working-class hero who’d had one too many whiskeys and he spilled the beans. It was actually kind of boring.”
“You think I’m going to buy that version?” He laid a hand on the car and leaned down toward her, his mind attempting to roadblock his anger, but a need for information drowned out his voice of reason. “I might not have gotten answers today, Erin, but I’m a trained interrogator. I’ve had terrorists where you’re sitting before, so don’t insult me.”
She frowned up at him. “Shouldn’t you care more about how May escaped?”
“I don’t. I don’t care more.” He felt a punch of satisfaction when her blue eyes widened. “There’s your answer. Now give me mine.”
“I flirted with the guy. Is that what you want to hear?” She shot to her feet and paced away. Connor just about caught himself before he could grip her shoulders