“Tell that to her,” Jake said, thrusting a thumb Maria’s way. “You might also want to ask her what she’ll do if you don’t agree to let us check out Missy’s Place.”
When he winked at her, something warm and fuzzy fluttered in her stomach. How did he know her so well? That Jake understood she needed to do this maybe wasn’t so surprising. That he knew she’d go no matter what Detective Nolan said was a bit alarming. How was she supposed to get away with anything if he was always two steps ahead of her?
The detective turned his attention to her and narrowed his eyes. “Is he saying you’ll go there even if I order you not to?”
Refusing to be intimidated, Maria returned his stern look with a smile and nodded.
The man threw his hands up. “I give up. Call me if you learn anything.”
Jake held the car door open for Maria. “Follow my lead.” The smile she gave him was too sweetly innocent for his comfort.
“Stop worrying. Nothing’s gonna happen to me as long as you’re with me,” she said.
He didn’t like bringing her to where Fortunada worked—or had worked—but he’d known without asking that she was determined to do this. He doubted they would find the man behind the bar pouring drinks, which was the only reason he’d helped set this visit in motion. Glancing at the building, he was relieved it didn’t appear to be some kind of biker bar or strip joint.
Maria slipped her arm through his, and he wished she would stop touching him. He also wished she’d worn something more conservative instead of the sheer, red silk blouse, the tight black jeans, and those do me shoes with the spiked heels and black straps.
It was impossible to keep his eyes off the red lace of her bra peeking out of the blouse, and her red-painted toenails. And why couldn’t she have wound her hair into some kind of nun type of bun instead of letting it fall loose down her back?
She was so damn hot he didn’t doubt he’d end up in a bar fight before the night was over. The first man to look at her wrong was toast. The tips of her fingers pressed into the skin of his arm. Seriously, she needed to stop touching him.
Jake escorted her into Missy’s Place, his gaze sweeping the interior. It was nicer than he’d expected. An R&B band played on a small stage, and the tables were filled with well-dressed couples drinking wine and fancy drinks. He spotted two empty barstools and guided Maria to them.
“What can I getcha, beautiful?” the bartender asked, his gaze only on Maria.
A smile lit her face. “A chocolate martini, please.”
Jake gritted his teeth and ordered a Glenlivet neat. The bartender might have some answers for them, so it wouldn’t be wise to give him a bloody nose. This jealousy thing was not only uncomfortable, it was also unwelcome. He’d never felt it before and didn’t like it one bit. If a woman he was out with saw a man she liked better, then she was free to go. There was always another waiting to take her place.
He turned a moody gaze on Maria. What was it about her that got under his skin? Putting aside the fact that she was gorgeous, he couldn’t think of anything they had in common. He was a warrior; she the untouchable princess in the castle. She put food in her body that made him want to cringe. She loved the beach; he hated getting sand in his butt crack. She—
“What?”
He blinked. “What, what?”
“You’re staring at me as if I’m some kind of weird puzzle.”
She was a puzzle all right, but he doubted she’d appreciate him agreeing. “You really are beautiful.”
Her eyes warmed. “Thank you.”
It was the first thing he’d thought of to divert her attention, but now she’d gone all soft and doe-eyed on him. His finger seemed to have a mind of its own because it trailed a path down her cheek. Hell. Now he was touching her when he’d sworn it was hands-off where she was concerned.
“Here’s your martini, gorgeous.”
The bartender slid Jake’s scotch to him, not taking his eyes off Maria. Smothering his urge to smash something, Jake considered how to bring up the subject of Fortunada.
“Is my Uncle Hernando working tonight?” Maria said.
Jake swung his gaze to Maria. He’d been right not to trust that sweet smile when he’d told her to follow his lead, but for openings, it was a good one. The man leaned on the counter, his face too damn close to Maria’s.
“Hernando’s your uncle?”
“Yeah,” she said and leaned her head on Jake’s shoulder. “I was hoping he was here tonight so I could introduce him to my husband. We’re newlyweds and my uncle’s never met Jake.”