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“Sure.” She leaned back in her chair and kicked up her jean-clad legs, crossing them at the ankle on the edge of her desk, a sardonic smile I knew far too well curving her lips. “I’ll be done...never. Will that work?”
“Gianni, I’m not in the mood for bullshit.”
“Neither am I.” The smile had gone, and she dropped her legs and grabbed her phone from the corner of her desk. She tapped the screen, then looked at me.
The irritation sparking in her eyes left me with the urge to shift uncomfortably. I smothered it, barely.
“Alright, look...I’m sorry I hounded you so much last night. That was uncalled for.”
“James.” Elbows braced on the table, she sighed. “It’s not just that you kept me up. It’s that you texted me seven times about this woman. Now you’re here, in my office, on the opposite side of the city from where you and I both know you would be if you hadn’t met Tina Siegler. And you want me to find out why the hell she’s not returning your calls.”
Flinging her hands up in the air, she glared at me.
“Yes. That’s exactly what I want.” Scowling at her, I beat my fingers on the arm of the chair a little harder. “I pay a solid monthly retainer to you, Gianni, so I don’t see the problem here. It’s not like I’m asking you to gather up her credit card history and social security number so I can steal her identity or some sort of...nefarious bullshit.”
“No, you’re right.” Gianni’s no-bullshit expression didn’t change. “You’re not asking me for any nefarious bullshit. But you’re not asking for business-related information either. You’re asking me to dig up private personal information. Get it on your own. This isn’t information you hire your sister or any private investigator to get!”
“She won’t fucking talk to me!” The sound of my voice, halfway to a shout, echoed back to me like a slap in the face, and I swore. Shoving up from the chair, I started pacing. “Sorry. I’m in a shitty mood, and I don’t need to take it out on you.”
“Hell, James. If I can’t handle you yelling, I’m in the wrong business.”
I had my back to her, but I could practically hear her rolling her eyes. It didn’t improve my mood.
“I can’t figure this woman out. I need your help.” Turning to face her, I jammed my hands in my pockets. “Please.”
She closed her eyes and lifted her face to the ceiling, lips moving silently.
After opening her eyes, she rose and came to stand in front of me. “James, no. I’m not doing this, even if you stand there and give me that serious broody look that probably works on just about every other female you’ve ever met.” She cupped my face in her hands when I tried to look away, irritated as always by how easily she seemed to see inside me.
“Fine.” Wrapping my hands around her wrists, I tried to tug her away.
“Listen to me, James.” She twisted free of my grasp, then linked our hands when I went to back up. “You can’t expect other people to do the work for you when you’re trying to get to know somebody. That’s not how relationships work.”
“Why the hell did you help me out last time, then?”
“Frankly, because you caught me by surprise when you asked.” Squeezing my hands, she let go and went back to her desk. But instead of sitting in her chair, she leaned against the heavy oak surface and braced her hands on it. “James, you’ve never shown that kind of interest in a woman before. Ever. So, when you asked, I was...surprised. Then I was curious. So even though it wasn’t the best idea, I went ahead with it and did the basic background check on her. But that’s all I’m doing. You can’t skip the basics that go into creating genuine relationships. You just can’t.”
Blood crept up my neck, a self-conscious reminder that I knew absolutely nothing about relationships. All my relationships had happened by pure luck—and not a single one was romantic.
“Look.” Frustrated, I shoved my hands through my hair. “I– this thing with Tina, I... son of a bitch.”
Spinning on my heel, I stalked over to the window.
“I don’t know how to do this shit, Gianni. I just don’t.”
“Trust me. I’m aware.” She joined me at the window, nudging me with her elbow. “But you are going to have to figure it out if you want things to go anywhere with this woman. The little I know of her tells me one thing—you can’t cut corners with her, James. Be real, or she’ll not be interested. That means you have to be the one to get to know her. Be the one talking to her.”
“How can I do that when she won’t talk to me?” Bewildered, I glared at her. “Fuck, maybe I should just give up the whole idea.”
“Oh no...” She caught my arm when I went to turn away. “You’re not taking the easy way, my dear brother. That’s being a quitter and a coward. You’re neither.”
With a baleful glare, I pointed out, “I’m not a kid you can provoke with reverse psychology taunts or dares.”
“I know.” She shrugged. “I’m not attempting any of those tactics. I’m just pointing out the truth. And you know it.”
“Fuck, but you can be a bitch,” I grumbled.
“Buddy, you need somebody who can be a bitch with you. You intimidate the hell out of lesser beings, and that will not help you here.” She fluttered her lashes at me and smirked.