Electrified(35)

“I want to, but I was afraid to show up without your okay. I know it’s your job and I don’t want to disturb you.”

Sienna nodded slowly. “I think you’re right. I was just thinking that I may prefer to wait and see you for lunch tomorrow.”

“Okay. Until then,” Carson said as he took her hand back, lifted it to his lips, and placed a gentle kiss on the inside of her wrist.

She had never been kissed on the wrist before. It felt so erotic, and yet affectionate. The warmth that shot through her surprised her, since no one had ever made her feel that way.

Suddenly, she knew she had to get away before she stuck her foot in her mouth any further, before she deluded herself into thinking they could have a life together, and begin wanting the fairy tale. Yet a few minutes ago, she had wanted the whole coffee date to end, and was glad that he didn’t want a commitment.

With her thoughts all jumbled, Sienna stood up and gave him a smile she hoped looked genuine. “Good-bye.”

Carson lifted an eyebrow and looked up at her. “Are you going to take something back to the big guy watching us from the SUV, third row, front spot?”

She inhaled sharply; his question had shocked her, but she wasn’t going to lie. “What? How did you know he was there, watching me?”

He chuckled, stood up, and gathered her slightly into his side. He whispered, “I’m a detective, Sienna. And after working at the FBI, I know when I have a tail. Besides, I’m pretty sure he wanted me to know he was there watching you, he didn’t exactly try to hide it. I made him as soon as you parked, and knew right away he wasn’t a jealous boyfriend. He’s obviously a friend looking out for you. You must be important to a lot of people.”

Sienna blushed, not sure how to respond to that or the semi-embrace she found herself in. He’s not the most obvious choice for me to get mixed up with—ex-FBI and all—but I want to.

His expression turned serious, and he said, “To be honest, I’m happy to see you have someone watching you. You’re a bit of a celebrity. I just hope you trust me enough one day to allow me to do the protecting.”

At a loss for words, Sienna pointed to the coffee bar and finally found enough breath to say, “Actually, I’m going to get Mike a coffee before I head out. Thanks for the cappuccino and the scone, Carson.” She freed her body from his warm grasp and felt a cold chill almost immediately.

Carson gave her a big grin that warmed her to her toes. “See you tomorrow, Sienna.”





CARSON THREW his room key onto the desk, cracked open the mini-bar, and sank into the couch in the corner of his room. Not accustomed to dealing with emotions all that well, or regularly for that matter, he decided a large shot of scotch was in order.

As he tossed back the liquid, wincing with satisfaction at the burn sliding down the back of his throat, Carson tried to organize his thoughts. He needed to be with a woman. Not just imagine being with the woman of his fantasies while he used his own hand, but really be with a woman.

Obviously, it had been way too long and his body had grown desperate. He was so starved for sex—for some type of release or something, he didn’t even know what—he was actively seeking a relationship with someone he didn’t really know.

A relationship, for God’s sake!

One moment he was telling Sienna he was a no-strings-attached type of guy, and in the next, he was making gentle declarations of wanting to see where they were going.

What. The. Fuck?

As they’d talked, Sienna had kept chewing on her lip, which to him looked like part nerves and part sexual tension. No matter what brought it on, the action drew him to her like a card counter to a casino.

Carson knew he had a heart deep down inside, but yearning for a relationship was completely out of character for him. It wasn’t that he was a cold and soulless man, but he never really allowed much of that side to show. It was a vulnerability that he couldn’t afford.

Why now? And what was it about Sienna that coaxed his more caring and sensitive side to come out?

He kept calling her “Sienna,” and yet he wasn’t even sure if that was her name. Didn’t all strippers go by stage names? Was that why a little flash of panic crossed her face when he told her he was a PI?

So she was probably using an assumed name. Was it really such a big deal? After all, she was in the entertainment business, and that was par for the course.

Could her expression have been his imagination? Or was she hiding something else?

Questions and possibilities banged around the inside of Carson’s head like the ping-pong balls in a bingo cage, turning and tumbling in a chaotic whirl. Needing a distraction, he grabbed the remote from the bedside table and turned on the flat-screen TV that sat atop the low dresser, then pressed the channel button distractedly, trying to find something else to think about.