Page 25

Is Chad a liar? Yes. But dangerous? The jury is still out on that one. “Look, I’m a hairdresser. I have a pretty good read on people most of the time.”
His lips twitch. “I had no idea cosmetology was so similar to psychological profiling?”
I glower at him. “I've predicted seven divorces, two pregnancies, and three affairs, this year.” It also might be because I’m kind of nosy. “I’ll admit, a guy that insanely attractive and sweet has more than a few ghosts in his closet.” I don’t miss the way Caleb’s jaw ticks. “But a criminal?” I clamp my lips shut. Chad was smooth. Too smooth. And I did accuse him of being a spy during our dinner, maybe my subconscious was more aware than I thought.
Caleb scratches his jaw. “Well now that I’ve got your expert opinion, why don’t I run that information up to my boss and tell him we can call off the investigation.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “If I went on a date with a criminal, I’d like to know what crimes he committed.”
He looks away from me. “Those details are classified.”
“Let me guess, there’s no proof.”
“Technically,” he grounds out the word like it’s a rock stuck between his teeth, “no. But that only means he’s an expert at covering his tracks. Or he has other people do his dirty work for him.”
“Or,” I lean forward, drumming my fingers excitedly on my bare knee, “you’re following the wrong guy. This could be one of those identical-twin-swap kinds of situations. The FBI has been following the innocent brother the whole time. Boy, wouldn’t that be embarrassing?”
He practically vibrates with frustration. “So, you can’t tell me anything about him?”
I sit back in my very uncomfortable chair and cross my arms over my chest. “Now why would I do your job for you?”
Chapter 10
Caleb
This woman is going to be the death of me. Her and that baby-pink dress. I’ve considered tossing my jacket over her no less than twelve times so I will stop looking at her curves instead of focusing on this case.
Does she really expect me to believe that Liam Hawthorne is only here in Phoenix to test out the dating scene?
No way.
Why was she really with him? Doesn’t she know how dangerous he is? Or maybe she does and is purposely throwing me off-track because she’s working with him. Why else would she try to convince me he’s innocent?
“Can you tell me anything about him?” I say again and clench the small counter I’m leaning against trying to rein in my frustration. “Anything out of the ordinary at all?”
She folds her arms across her chest. “You mean did he mention that he was secretly into illegal activities? Nope. Can’t say it came up.”
I force back a groan. She has no idea what he’s done.
She tilts her head to the side and looks up at me. “You seem extra frustrated tonight. Well, every night. One might consider childhood to be the reason for this kind of prolonged behavior. What kind of daddy issues do you have that make you uncomfortable to be arou—“
“Don’t,” I warn her. I’m not about to spill my guts to her. That’s not what we are doing here. “I need you to focus,” I say, again. “Can you tell me anything?”
This time she actually closes her mouth and thinks. It doesn’t last long.
“He did mention he liked the outdoors. I thought that was strange.”
“Why?”
She tilts her head to the side. “Because it’s the outdoors.”
“Enjoying nature is a normal pastime.”
“Now who’s not being helpful?”
“Fine. That’s something, I guess. Does he own a cabin? A favorite hiking spot near his home?”
She stares at me like I’ve grown an extra head, then her eyes light up. “Ooh! He has a yacht. And a house in Turks and Caicos.”