Page 47 of Mr. Perfect
Jude shook his head. “No. It’s a commendable trait, even if it’s delusional.” His voice was sad and tinged with regret.
“Then, why?”
Jude reached over and cupped Felix’s cheek. The move was so unexpected and tender that Felix flinched. Jude didn’t retract his hand though; he doubled down by stroking Felix’s flesh with his thumb. Felix wanted to moan and lean into his touch, but he couldn’t—wouldn’t.
“Why?” Felix prompted again.
Jude swallowed hard, and Felix could see the internal struggle raging in Jude’s gaze before he closed his eyes. Jude took a deep breath, then reopened them. Felix only saw determination in his midnight irises. Whatever conflict Jude had wrestled was settled. The sexy tilt of Jude’s lips promised trouble.
“It would’ve given me an excuse to be around you,” Jude said.
The words knocked the wind from Felix’s sails, and he nearly folded in on himself. It felt like Jude’s caress was the only thing holding him upright. No matter how hard Felix tried to convince himself otherwise, Jude still had the power to knock him for a loop.
Felix wrapped his hand around Jude’s wrist and forcibly removed Jude’s hand from his face. “Are we back to this again?”
Jude looked down at his hand, then made a fist like he was holding on to something. “We never left it. If you’d give me five uninterrupted minutes to explain, I—”
“We tried that Friday night. You didn’t use your time wisely.”
Jude snorted. “I spent most of it hauling you through the club to find a private spot. Have lunch with me tomorrow.”
“No.”
“Dinner? I’ll fix all your favorites.”
Felix shook his head. “Hell no.”
Jude chuckled. “What are you afraid of, Felix?”
Felix’s bark of laughter was sharp enough to cut glass. “First, you try to bribe me and now you appeal to the part of me that can’t resist a challenge.”
“Did it work?” Jude asked.
“Other than to remind me what a manipulative bastard you are?” Felix asked. “No, it didn’t.”
Jude’s nostrils flared, and his eyes glittered in the dark van. He wasn’t mad; he was aroused. Felix wasn’t the only one who loved a challenge. The air around them thickened, turning heavy and cloying. “That’s too bad. How else will you know if I’m involved in sordid activities?”
Felix quirked a brow. “Are you?”
“You think I’m just going to confess my sins in your van because you ask?” Jude briefly glanced toward the cargo area before locking his hungry eyes on Felix once more. “You might be able to drag me back there and coerce some answers from me. We’re kind of stuck here until the slimeball returns from exchanging pleasantries with the lady from the office.”
Felix leaned forward until his lips were almost touching Jude’s. “Unlike you, there are lines I won’t cross to get a story.” Felix started to retreat back to his seat, but Jude’s hand snaked out and grabbed the back of his neck, holding him in place.
“We’ll just see about that. My place tomorrow night. Six o’clock. I’ll text you my address.”
Jude released Felix and exited the van. Felix kept watching long after Jude disappeared into the night until metal clanking against concrete penetrated his foggy brain. Turning his head, Felix saw that Skeet had returned and lowered the ramp on the hauler.
He slid the NVGs back on and tucked the earpiece back in. “Hey, guys, I’m going to be pinned down for a bit.”
“I bet,” Rocky replied, making Jonah and Avery snicker.
“Smartass,” Felix replied dryly. “Skeet is back and unloading vehicles. I can’t leave without tipping him off, so I’ll record the activity instead. Maybe the hull ID on the ship will give us some answers.”
“Or you could just ask Jude tomorrow when you go to his house for dinner,” Avery suggested.
Felix groaned. “You guys heard that?”
“You pulled the piece out of your ear but didn’t power it down, so your microphone still picked up the conversation,” Rocky replied. “You were holding your own. I’m proud of you.”