“I can pretend. But I’m not a party girl. I’m not a lot of things.”
Before Rome could say anything, Micah intruded. “Hey, Rome. Maria.”
Micah was studying her, as if trying to figure out what was going on. If he did, she would pay money to know what the hell was wrong with Rome. She had a feeling the club owner knew something was up between the two of them, but he was too polite to say anything.
“Rome, I was wondering if we could have a chat alone.”
Rome looked at her. “Well, Maria—”
“Is a big girl, and she can take care of herself,” Maria said, cutting Rome off. She needed a break from having him touch her.
“Okay, don’t go anywhere.” He leaned in and gave her a simple kiss. She could feel the heat of his body and could smell the wonderful unique scent of him. Then he pulled away. She watched them walk up the stairs together and sighed. The plan had been hers, all hers, and she had no one to blame but herself.
“Now, you don’t sound very happy, hun.”
She wanted to jump the moment she heard Eli St John’s voice, but Maria forced herself not to. Slowly she turned and found him standing behind her.
“Of course, I’ve just been left at a table by myself.”
He chuckled and sat down without invitation. She raised one eyebrow.
“If I waited for an invite, you might never ask me. This way, I can get my objective done and fast enough so I don’t have to deal with your boyfriend.”
She blinked. “I don’t have a boyfriend.”
He cocked his head to the side and studied her. “Looked like it from where I sat.”
He’d been watching her. It didn’t give her the same feeling as when she knew Rome was watching her. This made her feel…dirty.
“What do you want, St John?”
He laughed then, a loud one that boomed off the walls. It was so loud people at the surrounding tables heard it over the music.
“I sure do like you, Maria. Why are you wasting time with Rome Carino?”
“You think I am? Why is that?”
“Word is that he doesn’t last too long with women. A few weeks here and there, maybe a month or two, then he tosses them aside.”
Was that what he was doing? Probably. But she refused to let St John know. He wasn’t a suspect, so she relaxed against the seat and decided to flirt. It would be good if the killer saw her being flirty with another man. It might draw more attention to her.
“And what is it you’re offering?”
“Well, now, I can offer some fun on a ranch. Do you like horses?”
· · · · ·
Rome could feel his skin crawling. It felt as if there were thousands of ants climbing all over him. He rolled his shoulders and tried to pull himself back under control.
“So you have no other evidence?” Micah asked.
“No. He’s getting bolder and more violent. Much more violent.”
Micah nodded as Rome rose and started pacing the office. He couldn’t sit still. Granted it was his fault. He hadn’t touched Maria in the last two days other than their time at the club. If she knew just how each little brush of his fingers on her flesh drove him insane, she gave no indication. Worse, it put him in the mood for a fight. He needed some kind of physical release.
“You need to just give in, bra.”
He stopped and frowned at Micah. “What the fuck are you talking about?”
Micah grinned. “Jesus, you’re as bad as Evan. Give up, you’re lost to her now.”
“I’m not lost at all.”
“You’ve been up here less than five minutes, and you can’t stand it.”
“She’s made herself bait to a killer.”
“And she’s in the middle of a club. He didn’t abduct them from a crowded area. We would have heard of that by now.”
That much was true, but he didn’t care. “Still.”
“There is something else bothering you. And it has a lot to do with the woman and not the case.”
“They’re one in the same.”
“Really? So when this is done, you won’t touch her again.”
“I’m not touching her now.”
Micah snorted. “You don’t have to lie to me.”
“I decided two days ago I’d lost my focus.”
For a moment, his friend said nothing. “And so you decided to pull back, to not touch her.”
Rome nodded once.
“Romeo, you definitely don’t live up to your name.”
“Fuck you.”
“Well, two uses of fuck in one night? You really are frustrated.” Micah shook his head. “You’re focus is for shit because all you can think about is her.”