for you...”
“Jules, we cleared every room in the house.”
“Cats are extremely intelligent and resourceful.” She shook the bag again. “Not to mention Lydia is very bendy.”
Mike smirked. “Bendy?”
Juliet’s blue eyes met his, humor lifting the cloud of sadness that had dimmed the light there. “You wouldn’t believe some of the places she’s squeezed herself into.” Shaking the bag a third time, she walked into the living room and called out for her cat again. “Lydia! Come on, kitty. Come get your treat.”
Worry had just started seeping into her expression when they heard a small noise coming from the overturned bookshelf to their right. At first glance, Mike thought there was no way anything could fit under there. But when a tiny gray and white face peeked out from a gap between the floor and the shelf, he knew his assumption was wrong.
“There you are.” Juliet walked over to the timid animal. “It’s okay, Lydia. You’re safe, now.”
As if the cat had actually understood what Juliet had said, Lydia squeezed herself out from under the shelf and went to her. Picking her up, Juliet cooed and cuddled the pretty feline, rubbing her nose across the top of Lydia’s head.
Hugging the cat to her chest, she talked to her pet as if she were a baby. “Were you scared? I bet you were, weren’t you?”
Biting the inside of his cheek, Mike tried to hide his smile. He failed.
“What?” Juliet caught sight of his grin.
“Nothing.” He quickly schooled his expression.
“Do you have any pets?”
Mike shook his head. “My job isn’t really conducive to owning a living creature.”
“What do you do, now?”
Damn it. He’d opened that particular door without even thinking. “I work for a security company.”
It was the standard answer he and the others often gave civilians until and unless they needed to know more. Not that R.I.S.C. was a big secret. In fact, it was well-known and respected by government and law enforcement officials around the country.
But since he hadn’t shared his true identity with Juliet yet, he figured it was the best place to start.
Surprise flashed across her face. “A security company hired you? Even with your record?”
Still quick on the uptake, I see.
“You’d be surprised how many places overlook criminal records. Especially when the applicant possesses specific skillsets they’re looking for.”
Another vague truth. There were a lot of businesses willing to ignore a guy’s rap sheet. They just weren’t the kinds of places Mike would ever work for.
Eying him closely, she continued to pet the purring cat as she asked, “Do I even want to know what skillset you possess?”
A muscle in his jaw twitched. So did his dick. “I’m a man of many talents, baby.”
Heat filled her baby blues as she picked up on the hidden meaning of his words. “I remember.”
Momentarily forgetting someone had broken into Juliet’s home for the second time in as many days, Mike started to lean toward her. At the same time, the cat jumped out of Juliet’s arms, breaking the electrifying spell.
“Guess she wanted down,” he muttered low as he watched Lydia take off in a sudden sprint toward the kitchen.
“Yeah.” Juliet smiled, the flush in her cheeks telling him she’d been just as turned on as he was. “She’s a very quirky cat. At one point, I actually considered changing her name to Spaz.”
Mike laughed “Spaz?”
“Trust me.” She snorted. “If you stick around a while, you’ll see why.”
“I’m not sticking around here at all, and neither are you. Remember?”
“I remember you telling me I was going to Dallas. I don’t remember agreeing to it.”
“You can’t be serious.” Mike rested his hands on his hips. “Look around, Jules. First, a guy breaks in here with the intent of killing you, and now this?”
“This isn’t your problem.”
“Well, I’m making it my problem. And if you think I’m going to walk away and leave you here to deal with this shit alone, you’ve lost your damn mind.”
Crossing her arms, Juliet jutted her adorable chin. “I meant it when I thanked you for what you did, but just because you saved my life last night doesn’t give you the right to tell me what I can and cannot do with it, now.”
“Whoever’s after you will come back. You get that, right?”
“Maybe, but—”
“You’re coming with me to Dallas, Jules,” Mike ordered the stubborn woman. “Even if I have to drag that fine ass of yours out of here kicking and screaming.”
“Oh, is that right?”
He stared her down. “That’s right.”
With narrowed slits, she glared up at him and