He opened his mouth, and she held up her hand to forestall any comments.
“I agree, he should have removed himself from the case. I would have, and I am pretty sure you would have.”
“You can be damned sure I wouldn’t. I just wouldn’t let it interfere.”
Okay, so he was sort of like the other men she knew. They all thought they were ten feet tall and bullet proof. Like her father up until the bitter end.
“It started in Phoenix at a club called The Velvet Whip.”
“I thought it was at The Dungeon in Seattle?”
She shook her head. “Those were the first reported incidents, but the MO of the killings in Phoenix were a lot like the others. In fact, just about down to a T, but he did make a few alterations. They tend to do that.”
He nodded and continued to watch her. She had a feeling she was being weighed and measured on a professional level. She was used to it from everyone she worked with. For some reason, though, his contemplation irked her.
“Why don’t we go back to my place? I think we have a lot to talk about, and I haven’t had anything to eat.”
She glanced at him out of the corner of her eye. Normally she would say no. She didn’t feel like going. It had been a long trip over, and she was on hour forty-something of being awake. She knew the drill, too. Most of the time, something like this was a prelude to him trying to get her in bed. But she had a feeling with Carino, it wouldn’t be a problem. This was a man who never mixed business and pleasure. Besides, the one little tidbit she did know about him was that he was a practicing Dom. Since no one would ever call her a submissive woman, it was a pretty sure bet he wouldn’t be interested in her. Still, it would probably get them off to a good start of working together. If she could control her attraction and not slobber on him, she would be good to go.
“Sure, why not?”
· · · · ·
Rome tried to keep his head straight as he turned the car onto his street. He’d suggested going to his house because seeing her on that hotel bed had been a little too much temptation. But now, he felt an odd sort of thrill that he would see her in his house. He was having a really hard time keeping himself on the straight and narrow, and it made no sense. She wasn’t his type of woman. Or, he thought she wasn’t. It had nothing to do with her looks. She was like most women in her career field. Almost every one of them dressed like they thought a man would dress if he were a woman. Callahan was no different. But, he would bet there was a tight, athletic body beneath the ugly suit. Not to mention the legs that seemed to go on forever. She didn’t wear much makeup, but, truthfully, she didn’t really need it. Amazing skin, sculpted cheekbones, and those electric blue eyes. There was enough there to make a man want to look beneath that tough surface.
For some reason, though, his body didn’t care that she probably wasn’t a sub. Every time he was around her, there was a low-level hum that filtered through his blood. It was enough to drive a man crazy. He sighed, trying to keep his mind on the objective. He wanted this bastard and so did Callahan. Thinking about a woman who didn’t want him would only cause problems. Besides, Rome didn’t get involved with female partners. Not after what happened in Seattle.
Again, she pulled him out of his thoughts. “I’m sorry for butting into the investigation.”
God, that voice was going to drive him crazy. It was so sultry, seductive. It was making his body ache to hear her moan. It was totally at odds with the woman she presented to the world.
“First, be truthful. You probably had to fight tooth and nail to get over here. They pulled the case from someone else, but they gave it to a younger agent, someone with no background in the field.”
“Except she was trained by the best serial killer hunter who ever lived.”
He heard the pride in her voice, just as he had earlier. There were definitely some issues there, but she had been very proud of her father’s work. “To get back to your earlier comment. I have no problem with it, especially the way we are going to handle this. We need the capabilities of the FBI.”
He sensed her nod as he turned into his carport. He turned off the car and then noticed she was staring at him.
“What?”
She shook her head and said nothing as she slipped out of the car. He followed suit, and then lead the way to the front door. After unlocking the door, they both stepped into the foyer, and he was glad that he’d hired maid service to come in once a month. And thanked God it was the day after a visit.
He led her into the living room, and after they settled down, he said, “Okay. Go.”