Page 41 of Desperate Justice

“The real question is how do I bother you? Annoying bother? I think not. Bother in the way a woman is bothered by a man she’s attracted to...”

“Attracted to you?” Her laugh sounded fake even to her ears. “I’m not going to sleep with you, Rafe.”

“Did I suggest us sleeping together? I was thinking more along the lines of a first date, not in bed, but a restaurant.” Rafe’s gaze caressed her like a lingering stroke.

“Like this one? How romantic.” She waved a hand at the service plaza.

Suddenly he frowned. “Speaking of food, where’s your lunch?”

“Diana promised to get me something...”

Diana finally emerged from the building, carrying a sandwich. “Here.”

Allison unwrapped the sandwich.

Meatball parm. Biting back her irritation, she debated. Eating this would give her indigestion all day.

She handed it back to Diana. “I’m not hungry. Where’s my drink?”

“Forgot. Sorry.”

Diana shrugged and ate Allison’s sandwich, walking away to talk on her cell phone between bites.

The sisterly bonding this trip wasn’t off to a great start.

Giving Diana a thoughtful look, Rafe went inside. He emerged from the service plaza, a paper bag and a bottle in hand. He handed it to her.

“Turkey on whole wheat, tomato, lettuce, light mayo. And a wild cherry sports drink.” His mouth twitched. “I remember from that time when I took you to lunch.”

She peered into the bag with delight. Her stomach rumbled.

How was it this man knew her preferences better than her own sister who she’d grown up with?

She gulped down a bite.

“Slow down or you’ll get sick. And I’m not a nurse.”

“You said we had to leave in forty-five minutes. Don’t have much time.”

“I’ll make time for you,” he said softly. “Eat.”

Such consideration warmed her. “I remember that lunch. You gave me the ultimatum—work as a confidential informant for you or go to jail for aiding and abetting a criminal. Even though I didn’t know he was a criminal and I was only treating a gunshot wound.”

“You treated him.”

“I’m a nurse. What do you expect?”

His mouth twitched again. “Take your time with your sandwich.”

She drank some, polished off the sandwich in a few bites and balled up the wrapper.

“You eat faster than I do,” he said.

“Like I said, I’m a nurse. I don’t get much time to eat on the job. Sometimes I get so busy I can barely gulp down a meal, so when I do get a break, I take advantage of it.”

“Unlike your sister.” He inclined his head at Diana, still walking around the parking lot and talking on her cell, ignoring everyone else.

Allison drank her sports drink, eyeing him. He looked anything like a cop, which could be a good thing. Wind ruffled his hair. Her gaze traveled over the waistband of his jeans, caught a glimpse of a holster.