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“Are you going to tell me your name or not?” she snapped because his eyes roving her body and his heated gaze were stirring up a tingling deep in her belly that was completely inappropriate given what had just happened.

“Eli Lennox,” he said with a grin. “And you are?”

“Florence Harris,” she replied, leaving out for the moment that she was a cop.

“Nice to meet you, Florence Harris.” The way he said her name had her pulse fluttering wildly. There was something about this man that made her go all weak at the knees. “Any idea why someone just tried to kill you?”

“We don’t know that he tried to kill me,” she immediately protested.

The man arched a dark brow. “Cars trying to knock you down just part of your daily routine?”

“No, but …”

“But nothing,” Eli interrupted. “That car was aiming straight for you, if I hadn't pushed you out of the way then you’d be dead right now.”

Florence sighed.

Unfortunately, he was right, and there was no use pretending that he wasn't. Whether it had been random, related to her case, or the serial killer she’d been hunting here to leave his next body in the dumpster she’d just checked, that car had intended to run her over.

Could it really have been the Dumpster Killer?

Could she really have figured out his pattern?

“Something occurred to you just then, your eyes lit up.”

She blinked and looked up, disconcerted to find that Eli Lennox was standing directly in front of her.

Close enough that he could have swiped the gun from her hand if he’d wanted to.

Since she didn't think that he was involved, and she didn't want to shoot him, she’d never had to take a life before and she hoped to make it through her career keeping that record, she slipped her gun back into its holster.

“I'm a homicide detective, I was just wondering if what happened was related to a case I was working. What exactly did you see?” Her position, bent down picking up the glove, meant she hadn't had as good a vantage point as he would have had standing up.

Instead of answering her question, Eli reached out and wrapped a hand around her elbow, gently lifting her arm so he could examine her wrist. “You were favoring your other hand, did you hurt this one when I saved your life?”

“Are you going to keep harping on that?” When she tried to pull her arm free, he tightened his hold. His fingers were firm but gentle, and he was careful not to hurt her while still keeping her arm in his grasp.

Shooting her a cocky grin, he said, “You know it’s an old Chinese proverb that if you save someone’s life, you’re now responsible for them, it’s your job to make sure they’re looked after.”

His fingertips brushed lightly across the sensitive skin on the inside of her elbow, and even though his touch wasn't directly on her skin, she couldn’t stop a shiver rolling through her body. Of course Eli noticed, and that cocky smile of his grew bigger.

“You cold?” he asked, his voice husky now. Without waiting for her response he whipped off his coat, wrapped it around her, and then scooped her up into his arms and carried her across the street.

“What are you doing?” Florence asked, both confused and enjoying being cradled in a strong pair of arms a little more than she should.

“Taking you inside out of the cold,” came Eli’s smooth reply.

“But I need to call my boss, report what happened.”

“You can do that inside. We’ll call an ambulance too.” Eli carried her across the street and inside the lobby of an office building.

“I don’t need an ambulance.” Spending the night in the hospital was not on her to-do list. If she was right and she’d managed to figure out the Dumpster Killer’s pattern, she needed to call her partner, get their maps out, go over things, and see if they could use her pattern to figure out where he would go next.

If they couldn’t get ahead of this man then how would they ever catch him?

“Your wrist looks broken,” Eli said as he set her down on a couch off to one side of the foyer. “You’ll need x-rays and a cast.”

Florence shrugged off his apparent concern. “I’ll wrap it when I get a moment.”

His lips quirked up in amusement. “Babe, while I love your confidence in your own abilities, you need a doctor. If you don’t want an ambulance I can always drive you to the hospital. Then take you out for coffee afterward.”

“What do you mean, coffee?”

“You know a guy, a girl, a quiet little café, coffee, maybe baked goods of some sort, a date.” He knelt before her, one hand cradling her injured wrist, the other rested on her knee, the heat of it seeped through her jeans and into her skin, warming her entire body.

“A date?”

“Unless you're involved with someone?” He arched a challenging brow.

Why did he have to sound so confident that she was single? “I don’t date guys I don’t know.”

That made him chuckle. “Isn't that the whole point of dating? Getting to know someone?”

The smile he shot her was at a hundred charming watts, and she assumed it was the kind of panty-melting smile he used to get women to agree to whatever he wanted.

Too bad for him her panties were made of stone, they didn't melt for guys no matter how sexy they were, and this particular one was off the charts sexy.

Florence was sure he had women falling all over themselves to go to bed with him, and she didn't want to be just another conquest.

“How about I make you a deal?” Eli said.

That got her suspicious hackles rising. “What kind of deal?”

“You tell me that you're not attracted to me, and I’ll wait here until your cop buddies show up to make sure that guy who tried to run you down doesn’t come back, and then I’ll walk away. But …” he drew the word out, “if you find me attractive, then I get to take you on a date to Florence.”

“Florence?” Her eyes bulged at the notion.

“Anyone whose name is Florence should go to Florence at least once in their life.”

He had to be joking because being rich enough to take her to Florence for a date on top of being this sexy was just another mark against him.

“Well, Florence, say it,” he goaded. “Say you don’t find me the least bit attractive.”

“I … I … I …” she stammered, annoyed the lie wouldn’t fall from her lips.

“Thought so,” he said smugly. “Looks like we’re going to Florence.”

“I am not going to Florence with you, and I am not going on a date with you. There’s really no need for you to hang around.”

“Don’t I need to give a statement?”

Darn, she’d forgotten that. “I have to call my boss.”

“You can do that, I’ll wait till you’re done then have my driver take us to the hospital to get your wrist looked at.” He produced her bag, which she hadn't even given a second thought to since those headlights had blinded her.

“I'm not going to the hospital with you.”

“So you do want me to call an ambulance.” He issued another silent challenge.

“I thought not.” He gave another smug smile when she didn't say anything. “Call your boss, then once we both give our statements, I’ll take you to the hospital and then for coffee. Florence will probably have to wait for another day.”

“I'm not going on a date with you.” Florence was pleased when her voice was firm even though her insides were quivering. It had been a long time since she’d felt this immediate and visceral reaction to a man—especially one like this.

Eli Lennox was big, strong, powerful, and charming, he practically oozed power and wealth and control.

When she dated she preferred quieter, less confident men.

Computer geeks, accountants, insurance salesmen.

Men with flabby stomachs and receding hairlines, who didn't work out at the gym every day or ride motorbikes.

Men who preferred to spend the evening on the couch watching TV, than in a bar drinking and partying, men with nice boring jobs and nice boring lives.

Eli was none of those things.

He screamed danger.

Not physical danger, but he held the ability to crush her heart in his big, capable hands.

“You will,” he said confidently like it was already a foregone conclusion.

Yep, he was dangerous all right.

Cocky alphas were her kryptonite. They had the ability to make her body ignite, her mind flee, and her heart crack.

It was why she had long ago decided that the single life was the life for her.

She was done being hurt, she was done being a victim, Eli might want to get her into bed, but there would never be anything more between them than hot sex.

He’d walk away happy and fulfilled, she’d walk away with another piece of herself missing.

She would either fall in love with a nice, safe, boring man or she would remain alone. As far as she was concerned, there was no place in her life for a man like Eli Lennox.