“Maybe he’s laying low, someone who stalks but doesn’t talk to you.”
He nodded as he scanned the floor again. It was crowded, even for a Friday night.
“You’re looking too much like a cop.”
He frowned at her. “I am a cop.”
She sighed and tugged on his collar until he leaned down. “You’re supposed to be on a date with a woman you can’t keep your hands off of.”
She smiled when she said it, and he knew she was trying to lighten the mood. Especially his. He’d had a bad day at work with his normal work, then dealing with this case. It was starting to give him an ulcer.
“I just don’t know what to do,” he said, his tone filled with aggravation.
“How about have your drink and wait? It’s all we can do. Other than look into backgrounds.”
His phone rang, and when he pulled it out, he saw the dispatch number. He knew it wasn’t good.
“Yeah, Carino here.”
“We have a woman, dead over in Hawaii Kai.”
“Okay, I’m on my way.”
He turned it off and slipped the phone back in its holder. She was looking at him expectantly. “They found a girl. Not sure if it’s one of the killer’s.”
Maria nodded, and when she didn’t move, he leaned down, caging her in by placing a hand on either side of her on the bar. “You can come.”
She shook her head, regret filling her eyes. Knowing the kind of investigator she was, he knew it was probably killing her not to go. “If it is linked, it would be odd if you brought your...friend.”
He sighed, knowing she was right. And she was safe enough at the club. That he knew. But there was something that told him not to leave her alone. He glanced around the room, but there wasn’t anyone really watching them. They’d garnered a lot of attention when they’d returned, mainly because she was half naked, but he knew that it was normal.
“It might give us an opening.”
“I don’t like it.”
“Yeah, I get that. Go to work, Carino.”
He chuckled as he leaned in and gave her a kiss. She wasn’t expecting it, and why should she? They had shown some affection in public, but this seemed more normal, as if he were her boyfriend leaving her behind for the job. It was a simple kiss, barely a brush of his mouth over hers. But the warmth of her breath against his flesh sent a wave of heat sparking through his blood. Her bemused expression made him feel a little bit better about leaving her behind.
“You got the key to my place?”
“Yes,” she said with just a little bit of sarcasm. And why not? He was acting like an idiot.
“I’ll call.”
She nodded, and he turned to walk away. As he made his way through the club, he could feel the stares, knew that some of the men would move in on her. He told himself she could take care of herself.
“Hey, what’s up?’ Micah asked him at the door.
“Gotta call.”
“Someone we know?”
He shook his head. “Not sure. But they find a single woman, possible rape and murder, they know to call me now. I told Maria I’d call as soon as I knew.” He looked back to see her talking with Dee, both of them perfectly safe.
“I’ll keep an eye out for your lady.”
He glanced at Micah. “Thanks. And she’ll need a ride home if I can’t get away.”
Micah nodded. “It might give her a chance to get chatted up with you gone. You tend to give off the ‘pit bull guarding the henhouse’ feeling around her.”
He sighed. “Just make sure she’s safe.”
He glanced one more time at her. She smiled at him and waved, giving the idea that she was just a tourist there for fun for anyone watching. Then he turned and left, his mind on the work ahead, but his worries on the woman he had just left behind.
· · · · ·
“Anyone sitting here,” a deep, Australian accented voice said from beside her. She turned and at first couldn’t think.
A tall, blond god stood beside her. His skin was dark, as if he spent a lot of time out in the sun. He had one of those strong jaws, and from what she could see, a body that would make a nun want to sin. His icy blue eyes were oddly mesmerizing. Good lord, what did they do? Go out and find every hot nationality there was in the world and bring one guy into Rough ‘n Ready from each continent?
“Miss?”
She shook her head. “Sorry. Not used to the time change even after close to a week. Seat’s free.”
He nodded and slipped onto the stool.
“Drinking water?”
She nodded.
“Planning on a little play?”
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. “No, since my date is gone.”