“Doesn’t mean you can’t have a little bit of fun before he returns.”
She couldn’t believe his audacity, but when she turned to face him, she couldn’t help but return the smile he offered her. He was gorgeous, that’s for sure, and definitely dangerous. But he had one of those little boy smiles that told you he got just what he wanted from women.
“I have a feeling Rome wouldn’t be too happy.”
“Hmm.”
“Hey, Eli, back on the island for a bit?” Dee asked.
He smiled at her. “Yeah. Just the weekend.”
“You flew all the way here from Australia for the weekend?” Maria asked.
He laughed. “No, love. I live on the Big Island.”
She nodded and took a sip of water.
“I’ll take a soda, Dee.” His eyes twinkled as he settled his elbows on the bar. “You’re looking especially fine this evening.”
Dee laughed and shook her head. “I thought you learned last time not to flirt with me.”
“No one will ever tell me that flirting with a woman is dangerous.”
“Maria, meet Elias St John.”
“Nice to meet you, Maria. Did you just move here?”
She shook her head. “Just visiting.”
Dee gave St John his change. “Thanks, love. Have you seen Isabella? I was supposed to meet up with her tonight.”
Dee frowned. “Bella Sullivan?”
He nodded.
“No, sorry.”
She moved down the bar to a new customer.
“So, we’re both drinking non-alcoholic beverages and are free for the evening.”
She laughed. “First of all, Rome got called to work, so I’m not really free for the evening. You were chatting me up before you even knew your date had left you out to dry.”
A flash of something she couldn’t discern brightened his eyes before he tamped down on it. It had been hot and lethal. She knew without a doubt this was a man you didn’t mess with. He might let everyone think he was just a laid back kind of guy, but he wasn’t. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that this man could be deadly when he wanted to be.
“It’s odd, that.”
“That she stood you up?” she asked lightly. He nodded. “Happens all the time.”
He threw his head back and laughed. People turned and looked at them.
“Sorry, that was a right good joke. Yes, it happens to other people, not me.”
“Let me guess? No one ever calls you modest?”
“Nope. But then, I don’t see a reason to.”
His gaze stuck on someone behind her. She turned around and noticed a tall brunette watching them. He refocused on Maria. “So I take it the answer is still no?”
She nodded.
“Well, I’m off for the hunt.”
The way he said it sent a chill of ice slicing through her blood. She fought the shiver that sliced through her at the words. With considerable effort, she summoned up a smile.
“Have fun.”
He offered her that boyish grin. “I always do, love.”
He sauntered off, his gaze on the rather tall woman with the long, dark hair.
“He’s not in here that much. He runs a ranch on the Big Island.”
She glanced at Dee and nodded. “There was just something there that bothered me.”
“What?”
She shrugged. “Not sure. I’ll check him out, though. Shouldn’t be too hard to find stuff on him.”
“As I live and breathe, Maria Callahan in Rough ‘n Ready.”
She turned toward the deep, southern voice and swallowed. Her old lover, Malachai Dupree, stood inches behind her, a big smile on his face.
Well, crap. Now she really was in trouble.
Chapter Twelve
By the time Rome made it to the scene, something prickled at the base of Rome’s spine. There was something wrong. As he made his way up the walkway to the house, he realized it was early in the evening. None of the other killings happened this early. It was usually the dead of night that they found the victim. This was a residence in a pretty decent part of Honolulu. That fact alone had his gut churning.
When he walked up to the crime scene, he was greeted by a patrol officer. Rome showed his badge.
“Detective Carino.”
The young officer nodded. “She was found by her mother.”
He glanced over at a sobbing woman. A female officer was talking to her. Rome had a really strong gut feeling this wasn’t The Dom. It felt wrong, very wrong. Just the fact that the woman had been found in her home should have been the biggest clue. Their killer liked to dump them in the worst parts of town to humiliate them. The moment he walked in, he realized he’d been right. The living room was filled with blood. It was splattered over the walls. The smell of it tinged the air.