He gave her a humourless smile. ‘Do I look American to you?’
No, he looked like a man who could tempt a nun to relinquish her vows. And he knew it. ‘No. Sorry.’
‘So what are you doing here?’
She let out a breath and pulled herself together. She didn’t know whether to hold the photo of Chad out to him or not. Despite his relaxed slouch, he looked as if he was ready to pounce on her if she so much as blinked the wrong way. ‘I’m...looking for someone.’
‘Someone?’
‘My brother.’ Deciding there couldn’t be any harm in showing him the photo, she extended it across the table, making sure their fingers didn’t connect when he took it. His eyes held hers for a fraction longer than necessary as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. Which she hoped wasn’t true because she was still stuck on the whole sexual attraction thing. ‘Have you seen him before?’
‘Maybe. Why are you looking for him?’
Regan’s eyes widened. Hope welled up inside her at the thought that she might have finally found someone who would be able to help her. ‘You have? Where? When?’
‘I repeat, why are you looking for him?’
‘Because I don’t know where he is. Do you?’
‘When was the last time you heard from him?’
His tone was blunt. Commanding. And
suddenly she felt as though he was the one looking for Chad instead of her.
‘Why won’t you answer my questions?’ she asked, her instincts warning her to tread carefully.
‘Why won’t you answer mine?’
‘I have.’ She shifted uncomfortably in her seat. ‘How do you know my brother?’
‘I didn’t say I knew him.’
‘But you did...you said...’ She shook her head. What exactly had he said? She lifted her hand to her head where it had started to ache. ‘Look, if you don’t know him just say so. I’ve had a long day and I’m really tired. Not that you care, I know, but if you know where he is I’d really appreciate you telling me.’
He looked at her for so long she didn’t think he was going to say anything. ‘I don’t know where he is.’
Something in his tone didn’t sound right but her brain was so foggy she couldn’t pick up on what it was. All she could focus on was a growing despair. After the surge of hope she’d felt moments ago it seemed to weigh more heavily on her than it had all day. ‘Okay, well—’
‘When was the last time you heard from him?’ he asked for a second time.
Regan paused before answering him. She didn’t know this man from Adam. He didn’t know her either for that matter. So why was he asking her so many questions? ‘Why do you want to know that? You already said you don’t know where he is.’
He shrugged his broad shoulders. ‘I don’t. But I didn’t say I wouldn’t help you.’
Their eyes clashed and Regan had a sudden image of a lethal mountain lion eyeing off a prairie rabbit. ‘Help me?’
‘Of course. You look like a woman who is almost out of options.’
She was a woman who was almost out of options. But how did he know that? Did she look as desperate as she felt?
He smiled at her but it held not a hint of warmth. ‘Are you going to deny it?’
Regan’s brows drew together. She wanted to deny it but she couldn’t. And really she could use some help right now. Especially from someone who was a local and knew the area well. Someone who might even know Chad. But this man had already admitted that he didn’t, and frankly he unsettled her. She’d thought he was dangerous when she’d first spotted him from across the room and, while closer inspection might have confirmed that he was incredibly good-looking, it hadn’t shifted her initial impression one bit. Which was strange because he hadn’t made a single threatening move towards her. Still, she listened to her instincts and there was something about him she didn’t trust. ‘Thanks anyway, but I’m good.’
‘Good?’ He gave a humorous laugh. ‘You’re a foreign woman in a bar, alone at night in a city you don’t know. Exactly how are you good, America?’
She pursed her lips at both the nickname he had given her and the element of truth behind his words. When she’d first set out it had been early evening and she hadn’t given much thought to the time. All she’d considered was finding information that might lead to Chad. But she wasn’t completely vulnerable, was she? She had her mace. ‘I just am. I’m from New York. I know what I’m doing.’