Electrified(32)

Carson leaned back in his chair. “You’re still gorgeous, if you don’t mind me saying. I like this natural look. I didn’t know what to expect when you agreed to meet. I’ve only seen you at the club, so I had no idea what you’d wear outside in the real world, but I like it. I don’t know about the baseball team itself, but the cap is good. And you’re even more stunning without all the makeup.” He gave her a once-over, allowing his eyes to roam before he stopped at her eyes and gave her another wink.

Before she could blush, he pressed his forehead into the heel of his hand. “God, I’m such a dumb fuck. I told myself I wouldn’t make this meeting all about your looks, but rather get to know you. Yet here I’m going on about how you look.”

She smiled. “It’s fine. I’ve never done this before. I really don’t have much of a life outside the club. Just work, the other girls, and the rest of the time, I enjoy the quiet of my place. I don’t know what I’m doing here either.”

Sienna took a deep breath and somehow found the courage to add, “You’re handsome, too. I liked the way you looked when I saw you at the club, but you never smiled when you watched. It made me curious about you.”

Carson leaned back in the leather chair and stretched out his long legs beneath the tiny table between them. He laced his fingers together over his midsection as he said, “Well, it’s good to know that we’re both fascinated with each other. And that we’re out of our element.”

“Do you think this was a bad idea?” she asked while she sank back, trying to lose herself in the large leather chair she occupied.

His eyes widened. “Is that what you think? I don’t think it’s bad at all. I was captured by you and your mesmerizing eyes weeks ago, and I’m pretty damn happy to be here. I’m not one to go to a gentleman’s club every weekend, but your eyes drew me in deeper each time I saw you. You seemed like such a contradiction up there with your innocent stare under your big lashes, when your moves were so sensually loaded.” He reached a hand reached across the two armrests and stroked a finger up her arm, motioning for her not to drown in her seat.

“But you didn’t smile.” She stared deep into his eyes, determined to understand him better. “You really didn’t seem to like it.”

“I don’t think I smiled because I was trying to figure you out. I’m a private investigator, ex-FBI. I solve mysteries for a living, but I couldn’t put my finger on you. You were enticing and inviting, yet private at the same time. To say I was intrigued and riveted is putting it pretty mildly,” Carson explained.

Suddenly Sienna was overwhelmed, swimming in a sea of scents—cinnamon, fresh-roasted coffee beans, and spicy aftershave. She felt a tiny frisson of nerves wash over her when he mentioned solving mysteries. Schooled in appearing to be something she wasn’t, she hid her reaction and held on to her casual expression, even though she didn’t know if she wanted to climb the mountain of a man or bolt.

Of all the guys to meet and go to coffee with, I pick one who’s an expert in uncovering mysteries.

Taking a sip of her cappuccino, Sienna changed the subject. Aiming for something more mundane, she asked, “So, do you live in Henderson?” then winced. Asking where he lived wasn’t casual at all.

Carson raised an eyebrow at the abrupt change in conversation. “Actually, I don’t live here.”

She was in way over her head. The upside was that he didn’t live in Vegas, so he wouldn’t be around for long. And likely only looking for a good time.

“You don’t? But you come in to the club a lot. Where do you live? What brings you to Vegas so often?”

“I’m based in Philadelphia. I grew up outside Philly in the suburbs with my dad, and moved into the city when I got older. Now I travel a lot, so I just keep a small condo there. At the moment, I’m on a case out west. It’s silly to keep flying back and forth, so I come here on the weekends to unwind.”

He grabbed the last bit of scone and an exaggerated look of guilty pleasure washed over his face. She didn’t know if it was about the scone or being a regular at the Tunnel.

Is he sneaking around on a wife?

She sat forward and pulled her long ponytail out from the back of her chair, splaying it to the side of her neck, and tilted her head. “Don’t you miss home? You must have family or someone special back there.” Then realizing she was being pushy, Sienna said, “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”

Carson shook his head. “You’re not prying. We’re out for coffee, which I wouldn’t be doing right now if there was someone special. I travel way too much to be a tied-down kind of guy. My dad died before I went to college, so I don’t really have any family. I guess my situation makes me pretty well suited for what I do.”