Okay, so maybe he was feeling as much at sea about his feelings as she was about hers. She didn’t have to be told he didn’t share easily or much of himself with others. She supposed that came with the territory of being an officer of the law. Or, something else entirely was going on. That made her really really look at him. And reevaluate.
He looked exhausted, and tense as newly strung barbed wire. She remembered what he’d said over the phone about being followed. Her playful mood evaporated.
“Maybe we should find a more private place, to talk.”
“Damn straight.” His gaze generated enough heat to perk coffee before he looked away and put the truck in gear.
As they pulled out of the parking lot, Carly hauled into her lap a large purse Noah hadn’t noticed her carrying. Some detective. Just the sight of her screwed with his ability to think straight.
In quick order, she pulled out another hoodie, olive drab, and a pair of plain white sneakers. Faster than he’d have thought possible in the small space, she changed and tucked away the spangles and stilettos. But not before he noticed that she wore only a lace cami under her hoodie. It was stretchy and clung to her body, revealing the milk chocolate aureoles of her nipples behind the gauzy material. Lust shot through him like a backdraft, blowing his control all to hell.
Noah tore his gaze away, grinding his teeth. He didn’t check her out again until she had pulled out a black knit stocking cap and pulled it down over her head, covering her fountain of curls.
She turned to him. “Better?”
“I don’t know. Maybe.” He shook his head like a bear with an earache, trying to hold on to his scowl. But it slipped into a curve of exasperation. “Hell. You’d stop traffic wearing nothing.”
She cocked a brow at him. “As I recall, you make a pretty bold statement that way yourself.”
They both broke into laughter. But it didn’t mend the rift. Once the humor died down there didn’t seem to be an easy way to continue. They glanced at each other uneasily several times, neither wanting to be the one to break the silence that might have consequences that Noah, at least, was certain he couldn’t afford.
Out of sheer desperation, he turned on the radio to fill the vacuum. After a few moments of “I’m to Blame” blaring in accusation at him, he switched to a jazz station where the lack of lyrics wouldn’t blast his shortcomings in his face.
Carly pulled her feet up on the seat, wrapped her arms about her legs, and leaned her chin on her knees. Tucked up like that, she looked younger, and fragile, and vulnerable. Part of that had to be that she wore no makeup. Her skin was perfect without any artifice. That stunned him. No false eyelashes or goopy mascara or sticky lipstick for Carly. She was dressed down, as he’d asked.
So, her original getup had been a tease. He wished he’d been in the mood to enjoy her sense of humor. All he could be grateful for now was not having to talk while he watched for signs that the tail he’d lost might have found him again.
He’d gone home to change and feed Harley after the Speedway job, risking being picked up again by a determined tracker. But at least he’d been on his home ground, with all the resources that implied. He was prepared to hunker down until morning, when he planned to confront Durvan with his theory. Then his cell rang.
Carly’s phone call had scared the crap out of him. She was poking around in things that could get her hurt, or worse. Still, if he didn’t hear her out, she would continue without telling him. That much he’d learned about her. Nothing stopped this determined woman. Not even the threat of being burned up.
Protecting her sat uppermost in his mind. That’s why he’d agreed to see her. At least this way, he could be with her for a while without feeling that he was breaking his promise to himself not to further involve her in his personal life.
Except that, now that she was here, he knew it was mostly a lie. He wanted her, to be with her, in every way possible. And some he’d be making up in his head as he went along. One touch and he combusted around her. Like a teenager with his first hard crush. Only he wasn’t inexperienced and nervous. He knew exactly what he wanted and how to get it with a woman. And, he wanted it only from Carly.
He glanced at her. She wasn’t only beautiful, she was smart, and tough, and loyal. She didn’t have to be here with him. Ninety-nine out of a hundred people would have run from the situation. Hell, women and men opted out of relationships every day for much less reason. Not that they were in a relationship. One night of screwing didn’t make a relationship.
“Is your son okay?”
He jumped inwardly. “Yeah. Fine. With my parents in south Texas until this blows over.”
“You’re lucky to have parents for backup.”
“Uh-huh.” Damn. She’d asked about his family. What had he told her about Andy? He couldn’t remember.
He wondered fleetingly if Andy would like her.
His hands tightened on the wheel as he glanced in the rearview mirror.