Jules drew in a deep breath, and with it came Dalton’s masculine scent, which seemed to be all over her, drenching her skin and clothing. “I have to go,” she said, trying to move away quickly and regain her perspective as well as her common sense. She could just imagine what Jace thought.
Dalton reached out and grasped her arm to pull her back into him. “Not so fast. We didn’t finish our conversation.”
She glared up at him. “And whose fault is that?”
“It’s not a question of fault, Jules,” Dalton said in a husky voice. “For us, it has become a question of sanity. You know what I want, and I know what you want. Why are we fighting the inevitable?”
That was a good question, one she wasn’t ready to answer. “I need to go say goodbye to Dad.”
He held firm to her hand. “Come by my place later. We do need to talk.”
She shook her head. “No, not your place.” Not when he’d pretty much spelled out all the areas in his home where he wanted to take her. Just her luck, she’d be weak and needy enough to let him do it.
“Then your place.”
That was even worse. He probably wouldn’t make it over the threshold before she would be tearing the clothes off his body. Especially tonight when she was so wound up for sex. “No. If we need to talk...and only talk...we can do so over coffee at Manning’s parents’ restaurant. They stay open late on the weekends.”
“Who’s Manning?”
“My administrative assistant. And the restaurant isn’t far from here.” She paused. “So far, you’re the only one who knows that I intend to find your mother’s killer. I don’t want anyone else to know just yet, until I finish my preliminary research on the case.”
A deep frown covered his face, and she could tell he hadn’t liked what she’d said. “I don’t like the idea of your getting involved. I told you what happened to the last PI who was hired. You’re placing yourself in danger.”
She shrugged. “Better me than my sister and her unborn child.” She then rattled off the address of the restaurant. “Give me about half an hour, and I’ll meet you there.” And then she quickly left.
Jules paused briefly to glance over her shoulder and saw Dalton following her back inside from the patio. She glanced around and saw Shana wearing one of those I-know-what-you-were-out-there-doing smirks. Jules didn’t have to wonder why. Chances were good that Jace had told Shana about the kiss he’d interrupted.
Fifteen
Sitting at a table in the back of the restaurant, Dalton watched as a smiling Jules entered the establishment and hugged the older couple that greeted her. And then with much too much familiarity for Dalton’s liking, she gave a huge hug to the muscular guy who came out from the back. Who was he? A former lover? A present one?
And why do I care? That was the same question he’d asked himself earlier after he’d come in off the patio and scanned Shana’s party for Gary Coughlin, who was nowhere in sight. Dalton assumed he must have left.
He sighed deeply, feeling annoyed with himself. When had Dalton Richard Granger begun feeling territorial about any woman? Especially the one walking toward him. The one who looked like she would prefer to be any place other than meeting with him tonight. And she also looked damned good. Too damned good, which is why Coughlin had been all over her. What man wouldn’t have been? Her blue wool dress clung to her curves in a way that should be outlawed, and her boots, a different pair than she’d had on the other night, looked good with her outfit, giving her an overall sexy look. Hell, as far as he was concerned, Jules wore sexiness like she outright owned it. She was different from any woman he’d ever wanted to make love to, and for some reason, he felt his desire for her stemmed from more than just her sexiness and beauty. More than the fact he wanted at least one night—one whole fucking night with her, doing just that.
She didn’t acknowledge his presence but merely slid into the chair across from him and picked up a menu. “Glad you could make it,” he said easily, deliberately drawing in a deep breath so he could inhale her scent.