Skin Trade(59)
“Why him and not me?” Olaf said.
I glanced back at the tall, black-clad man. He’d put the black wrap-around sunglasses back on. He stood there, looking like a Hollywood idea of a bad guy. “Because he doesn’t creep me out, and you do.”
“I am better in a fight than he is.”
“I’ll let you guys debate that some time, but for right now, I have an apology to make.”
“You’re really going to apologize to the doctor?”
“Yes.”
“An apology is a sign of weakness.”
“Not if you’re in the wrong, and I was.” I actually got to the door before he interrupted again.
“You were short with him, but not wrong.”
I finally looked at the big guy. “What’s with all the chatter, Otto? Afraid you’ll miss me?”
That did it. He turned and walked away. Bernardo came up to stand next to me like a tall, dark, handsome shadow. I pressed the button to let someone know we needed inside.
“Otto isn’t better in a fight than I am. He’s better with explosives, and he’s got me beat all hollow when it comes to interrogation, but he’s not better in a fight.”
“I didn’t say he was.”
“I just wanted you to know.”
I glanced up at him, that nearly heartbreakingly perfect bone structure. He had his long dark hair pulled back in a braid. With the heat, I was beginning to debate what to do with my hair, too.
“I know you’re good in a fight, Bernardo. Edward doesn’t hang with people who aren’t good.”
We had to press the button again and wait to be let inside. “Then why don’t you like me?”
I gave him a frowning glance. “I don’t dislike you.”
“But you don’t like me either.”
The door opened. It was Dale, with his short brown hair and his glasses. He let us in but wasn’t entirely pleasant. I couldn’t blame him. “You forget something?” he asked.
“An apology to Dr. Memphis. The case is getting to me more than I thought.”
Dale’s face softened. “It’s getting to all of us.” He let us go past and told us where to find Memphis.
I turned to Bernardo. “I don’t not like you.” I wasn’t sure on the grammar, but it said what I meant.
“Okay, then you’re neutral. You don’t like or dislike me; that’s weird.”
“Why is it weird?”
He actually stopped walking to spread his hands and do a voilà movement. I realized he was showing himself off. “I’ve had women not like me because I’m too ethnic for them. I’ve had women not like what I do for a living. Some chicks hate the violence. But that’s not it for you. You don’t care about any of that.”
“Are you asking why I don’t think you’re scrumptious?” I couldn’t help smiling.
“Don’t make fun of me.”
I shook my head and fought not to smile more. “I’m not, but I just find this an odd thing in the middle of a murder investigation.”
“I know, business first, and I’d have behaved myself if you hadn’t started getting all sexual tension around the big guy.”
“I am not reacting to Otto,” I said.
He held his hands up, like he was surrendering. “No offense meant.”
“I do not like him like that.”
“I didn’t say you liked him; I said you’re reacting to him.”
“And what’s the difference between liking and reacting?”
“You like Ted, but you don’t react to him. I know you’re getting all cuddly, but it’s to get Otto off your back.”
I gave him a hard look.
“Hey, I won’t spoil it. I agree that it’s creepy that Otto likes you the way he does. I can’t even argue with what you and Ted said at the crime scene.”
“Then what are you bitching about?”
Two women in the little gowns walked by. One stared outright, and the other did a more covert checking out as she walked past us. I might as well have been invisible. Bernardo wasted a smile on them both, then turned back to me as if nothing had happened.
I had a clue. “You’re used to women reacting to you, and I’m not reacting, and that’s bugging you.”
“Yeah, I know it’s shallow as hell, but it’s like you don’t see me, Anita. I’m not used to that.”
“I’m dating or living with six men, Bernardo.”
He gave me raised eyebrows.
“My plate is beyond full, okay? It’s nothing personal.”
“I don’t want to date you, Anita, I just want you to react to me.” He smiled, and it was a good smile. “I mean, sex would be great, but I think Ted would kill me, and that takes a lot of the happy out of it for me.”