Strong, Sleek and Sinful - By Lorie O'Clare Page 0,139
obvious she’d labored over the task. Kylie stared at the picture, willing recognition to kick in. Who was Peter?
“Your job or a relationship?” Perry asked, his soft baritone doing a number on her almost as bad as when his dark eyes caressed her soul.
“What?” Dani asked, pausing in between the two of them and staring from one to the other.
“Pretty much.” She stared over Dani’s head into those compelling eyes of his, and her insides twisted into a knot of anticipation. There was an overwhelming urge to walk into his arms, to say to hell with supervisors and threats of job security.
“Uncle Perry doesn’t like it.” Dani lifted her drawing to eye view for Kylie.
Perry pulled his gaze from hers first, shifting his attention to his niece. “I never said I didn’t like it,” he said in that low, soothing voice of his.
“Fine. He said it wouldn’t help.”
Kylie pulled her attention and her focus to the drawing, then took it from Dani, staring at it. “You were pretty upset last night; maybe if you tell me again exactly what happened.” She stared at the drawing, understanding Perry’s comment. The cartoon caricature could be anyone.
“I’ve already told Uncle Perry twice,” Dani groaned.
Perry moved over to the couch, his expression serious and unreadable when he looked out the window. Then reclining, stretching his long legs out before him with cowboy boots making them look even longer and more muscular, he rested his arm on the back of the couch and looked at Kylie.
Every inch of her tingled when she once again lost herself in his dark, brooding stare. If she was going to learn anything during this meeting, though, she needed to keep her thoughts off how his hands felt when he touched her.
“This is a good picture,” Kylie said, turning her attention to Dani and trying to reassure her. “Is this a ball cap?”
Dani walked around the coffee table and sat right next to her uncle, sitting cross-legged and brushing her long brown hair over her shoulder. “Yes. I don’t remember what it said on it, but I think it was red, so that is what color I made it.”
Kylie nodded, taking the other end of the couch and leaning against the side so she faced Dani. Her gaze shifted to Perry’s long fingers, relaxed behind Dani’s head on the back of the couch, but she diverted her attention again to the picture.
“So his hair is dark and his eyes are blue?” That much information eliminated Perry from any line of suspects, not that she believed his chief suspected him or he wouldn’t have put Perry on the case. His eyes were definitely not blue. “Can you describe his build?”
Kylie already guessed John would be wary of any statement coming from Perry’s niece. She wasn’t sure why John didn’t like Perry, but it was obvious he didn’t.
“Now you’re asking questions like my uncle.” Dani narrowed her gaze on Kylie. “How much time are you spending with Uncle Perry?”
Kylie wasn’t sure why a wave of relief washed over her, but she grinned easily, grateful the smart and attentive teenager didn’t bust her for being more than a college student and friend. She focused on Dani’s soft green eyes. Of all his nieces, Dani probably looked the least like Perry.
“You know, you look a lot better without all that eyeliner.” Kylie meant it, too. Dani was very beautiful and minutes away from looking like a young adult instead of a child.
Especially when she narrowed her gaze and made a tsking sound with her tongue. “And you suck at avoiding answering questions,” she retorted, lifting one eyebrow and looking rather haughty. “What are your intentions with my uncle?”
“Dani!” Perry exploded, coming forward on the couch and practically knocking Dani onto the floor.
“It’s okay.” Kylie held her hand up, grateful for his outburst so the focus wouldn’t be on her while she struggled for an answer. I just want to fuck him as much as I can before I leave. That wouldn’t be an answer Dani would tolerate. Hell, Kylie was having trouble tolerating that conclusion.
“You want information from me. Well, I want answers, too.” Dani adjusted herself on the couch, facing forward now so she could look at her uncle before returning her attention to Kylie.
“You’re out of line, young lady,” Perry said, his tone cool and reprimanding. “You will answer any questions we have. They are imperative for an investigation and you know that. As for—”