building right now, waiting in the limo. She wanted to check you out first. That’s what the night’s adventures were about. Making sure you were the right fit. She’s sure now. Chloe wants you. The question is…do you want her?”
Chapter Five
Chloe sat in the limo. Her index finger tapped slowly against her thigh. She’d ditched her heels. They were tossed haphazardly on the floorboard.
Her hand turned over, and she frowned at the scratches on her palm. She hadn’t even realized she’d gotten those. Probably occurred when she’d been throwing her body at Joel so he wouldn’t jump into the road. Had her palm hit the sidewalk? She replayed the scene in her mind, slowing it down, moment by moment. Yes. Her palm had scratched over the rough edges of the sidewalk. She hadn’t noticed the brief sting of pain at the time. She’d been focused on other things.
Him.
“He’s coming back,” her driver announced.
Right on time. Punctuality was one of her brother’s better assets. “Go ahead and put up the privacy screen.”
It slid up with a soft hum. A moment later, the vehicle’s back door opened. Reese poked his head inside. His expression appeared extra grim. “Want to guess what he told me?”
She didn’t need to guess. Not when she already knew. “Fuck off.”
Reese grunted as he slid into the car. The door shut behind him. She knew her driver had shut it. Marie was good. Always standing at the ready. Prepared for any eventuality.
“He’s not going to take the job,” Reese informed her as he pawed at his tie. Reese hated ties. He hated suits. But he’d worn one for her. “He thinks you’re crazy. That I’m crazy. He thinks—”
“You told him the night was a test?”
“Yes, but…hell, was it? Who was being tested? Him? You?” He flopped back on the leather seat and closed his eyes. “I can never keep up with your games. And I detest it when you make me play.”
She wasn’t playing. Unfortunately, Reese didn’t understand that.
“Why isn’t the car moving yet?” He didn’t crack open his eyes.
“Because we’re waiting.”
“On what?”
On Joel. “The witness had no reaction to him. Not to his face—”
“If the killer wore a ski mask, that makes sense—”
“And not to Joel’s voice.”
“Hmmm.” His face scrunched up. “Maybe he was disguising his voice?” And the British accent Reese so often favored vanished instantly. He sounded as American as…he was.
“A possibility,” Chloe allowed. One she’d already considered and discarded. “But I was watching closely. He didn’t act as if any part of the club or as if the witness—well, Joel didn’t act like anything was familiar.”
“Maybe he’s just good. A good actor. Those exist in the world, you know.”
He’d have to be better than good to fool her.
A long sigh escaped from Reese. “You think the Joel Landry fellow could be a killer. That was the whole reason for this charade, wasn’t it?”
There were many reasons for what she was doing. But, after everything that had happened so far… “I don’t think he’s the killer that I’m after right now.”
“It drives me crazy when you’re all extra careful with your words,” he grumbled. “What do you mean? Do you believe Landry is a killer or not?”
It wasn’t that simple. Yes, he was a killer. Joel had killed the man who he believed had sadistically tortured him for hours. But was Joel killing again? “He didn’t murder Donnie Adams in that alley. It wasn’t Joel.”
“Then if he’s not your killer, why are we still parked here?”
Why? “Because I like him.”
Silence.
Reese finally opened his eyes. “Do you know how much that statement terrifies me?”
Not as much as it terrifies me. But she tried, very hard, not to lie to her brother.
“I offered him a job as your guard. He turned me down.” Reese spoke very carefully as he advised, “We should drive away now.”
“He didn’t want to be a bodyguard. He doesn’t want to stand on the sidelines.” Joel wasn’t the sideline type.
“It creeps me out that you already seem to know a stranger this well.”
She didn’t respond.
“What does he want?” The question seemed torn from Reese.
The privacy screen slid down a few inches. “He’s coming,” her driver announced. “And moving at a pretty good clip.” Marie’s voice was perfectly flat.
Just like Reese had been…Joel was right on time.
A few moments later, the back door was wrenched open. “You think you can buy me?” Joel’s angry voice filled the interior of the vehicle as he surged inside. He sat right next to her. His strong thigh