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He smiled and he looked so damn desirable and so hot in that expensive suit.

I’d been scoping him out when he wasn’t looking and admired once more his nice broad shoulders and how they pulled at the fabric of his jacket. I also noticed his nice narrow hips when he slipped a hand in his pocket and his jacket fell open. He smelled great. He was all man.

There was nothing about him that wasn’t appealing but still I hesitated. I had no idea who he really was, and I was planning to work with the FBI... They expected discretion from their employees. When I’d applied to do a paid internship with them in the spring, I had taken a polygraph test and answered a series of questions, which seemed to focus on whether I engaged in risky behavior in my personal life. I had answered no, truthfully. So here I was, contemplating hooking up with Beckett.

“So, come have a coffee with me? Talk?” he said softly.

“I don’t even know anything about you,” I said. “For all I know, you could be a psychokiller, who’d tie me up and beat me black and blue.”

He laughed at that. “I might tie you up, if you wanted me to,” he said and leaned closer, smiling broadly, “but I’m not into pain. Besides, I don’t know anything about you either. You could be a crazy bitch who wants me only for my money and that would make me so sad…” He pouted and then grinned widely, his smile brilliant, his eyes twinkling.

“Look,” he said and stepped even closer, touching my chin with a finger. “We’re both young and good looking and attracted to each other. Let’s go to my hotel. It’s very nice. We can have a drink and you can decide if you want anything to happen.” He brushed a lock of my hair back. “You have nothing to fear from me.”

“I’ll think about it,” I said.

“If you don’t want to go to my hotel room just yet, why not go out for something to eat? There’s a great bakery that stays open late. We could get a coffee and a pastry. They do a great Napoleon slice.”

I inhaled and made a decision I hoped I wouldn’t regret. “Sure,” I said. “Coffee sounds great.” I took out my cell and sent Leah a text.

I’m leaving with Beckett for coffee. I trust you’re a big enough girl to get home on your own…

Then I turned and followed Beckett, my hand in his. Before I got outside, I turned back and saw Steve following us with his eyes. I wished he would just get a life and quit being my big brother. Then I put Steve out of my mind and I let Beckett lead me outside and into the warm summer night.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Beckett

I took her hand and pulled her out of the club. The vehicle that I had hired to ferry my guests around the island waited at the curb. The driver threw down his smoke and opened the rear passenger door when we walked up.

“Sir.”

I shook my head. “We’re walking down the street to the bakery. Follow us and wait outside.”

The driver nodded and got inside the car, starting the engine.

“You have a driver?” Miranda said, surprise evident in her voice.

I shrugged. “Just for the weekend. I don’t drink and drive.”

I took her hand and we strolled down the street. I enjoyed the warm night air and the prospect that if all went well, Miranda might actually come to my hotel room with me.

As we walked along the boardwalk, we talked about ourselves. She told me about her degree and classes and I told her about mine. I already knew most of what she told me and felt like a complete fraud when I pretended to be surprised, but I was in so deep at that point, I had no idea how to extricate myself even if I wanted to.

“You went to business school?” she asked, her eyes bright.

“Stanford, after I came back from Afghanistan.”

“Stanford? Beauty and brains,” she said and smiled, mirroring my own words. “My favorite combination.”

I laughed. “You see?” I said and squeezed her hand. “You should just come to my hotel room and fuck me now.”

That got her attention and she gave me a laugh, shaking her head at me. I was blunt, but I didn’t like to lead women on. If I wanted one, I let her know. I let her know what I wanted and what she could have from me beforehand so there’d be no miscommunication. No regrets.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I said, smiling. “It’s true. We’d be almost at my hotel if you agreed and in no time at all, we’d be getting off on each other’s bodies.”

She looked away. “If all I wanted was an orgasm, I could get one myself easy enough with my magic wand.”

Oh, man… That got me right in the dick. I loved that she could dish it out as much as take it.