By now, she knew that Imerson had worked alone out of an office on North Sampson, which was a ritzy area in Charlottesville. That meant his clientele was high-end and could afford the exorbitant fees he probably charged. Clients like Richard Granger.
Imerson had a good track record of solving cases other PIs couldn’t, and since he worked alone, it took him a little longer. But he had a reputation for being thorough. Jules couldn’t help wondering what he’d uncovered about the Sylvia Granger murder that could have gotten him killed...if that was the case. Sheppard Granger certainly thought that it was.
She had planned to read until ten o’clock and then stop to watch her favorite television show. But the show had been preempted by media coverage of a small earthquake in California. With nothing else to do, she had continued reading. It was either that or let those memories of her days and nights in Miami get the best of her.
An hour later, she was tired of reading but not sleepy enough for bed. She could call and chat with her father but figured he was occupied with Mona. And, of course, Shana probably had her hands full of Jace. She smiled at the thought. Naughty, naughty thoughts.
Jules figured she would enjoy a glass of wine and surf the television channels for a decent movie, and she was about to head for the kitchen to get the wine when there was a knock at her door. No one would be visiting her at this time of night and definitely not unannounced. She quietly padded across the room to retrieve the Glock, which she kept in a decorative ottoman beside the fireplace. In her line of business, you could never be sure who might come calling.
She eased to the door and looked out the peephole. WTF? Dalton! How dare he show up at her place? And how did he know where she lived? She was certain Shana would not have told him. And even worse, he was reneging on their agreement. She snatched open the door. “What do you think you’re doing, coming here?”
He stood leaning in the doorway the same way he walked...with casual arrogance. He acted like he had every right to show up at her house at this hour, unannounced...not that it would have mattered if he had called first. The point was that he should not be here.
His tie was loose around his neck, and his sleeves were rolled up. The jacket of his Armani suit was thrown over his shoulder and, to her downfall, he looked too sexy for words. Tall, dark and predatory. Way too predatory, and she couldn’t help noticing his focus was entirely on her.
“You plan on shooting me, Jules?”
She realized then that she was holding her gun, although it wasn’t pointed at him. “I might,” she said, placing the gun on a table near the door. “I thought we had an agreement, Dalton.”
“We do.”
“Then why are you here?”
Instead of answering, he said in a deep, husky tone, “Invite me inside, Jules.”
A part of Jules wanted to slam the door shut in his face at that request. But then another, the one that recognized an electrical current flowing between them, wouldn’t allow her to do that.
“I brought you something.” She watched as he pulled a bag from behind his back. A bag from Parker’s, known for their delicious apple pies. When they were in Miami, why had she mentioned her addiction to them?
“I thought you would like a slice.”
She frowned. He hadn’t thought anything. He had known she would want a slice. But that was no reason for him to default on their agreement. “I was just about to have a glass of wine.”
“Then think of just how more enjoyable your glass of wine will be with this,” he said, holding up the bag.
“Hmm, you’re right.” She snatched the bag from his hand and was about to slam the door in his face when he stuck out his foot and stopped her.
“I forgot to mention that I come with that bag.”
Devious bastard. She should have known he hadn’t appeared on her doorstep with a Parker’s apple pie just because he was a nice guy. Dalton Granger had an ulterior motive for just about everything he did.
She looked at the bag and then back at him. Both, she knew from experience, were sinfully delicious. She licked her lips while wondering which she preferred tonight.