Table confirmed empty, Brenda nowhere to be found, Nicole pushed to her toes, whispering in his ear, as he had hers. “Just talk, right?” she asked, easing back onto the balls of her feet to look into his face, her eyes probing his. Hesitation fanned her delicate features.
He’d asked her to the bar, not to bed, though he’d prefer the latter. A warning went off in his head—the bold attorney who charged at a drug lord was hiding from him. Why? Suspicion flared. What was she afraid of? Her own secrets? Someone else’s?
Concerned he might spook her if he pushed, he winked, and held up two fingers. He needed to get past her walls, to reassure himself of her innocence. “Just talk. Scout’s honor.”
She let her brow inch upward as if she didn’t trust his vow. He laughed. “Okay, so I was never a Scout,” Constantine admitted. “I thought about it, though. Does that count?”
“Not really,” she said, her expression serious. Then, she smiled, the tension from moments before fading. “But I’ll accept it anyway.”
She had a beautiful smile, he realized. One he’d seen rarely in the past few days of watching her. Why was that? He found himself determined to find out. Protectiveness flared in him. He told himself it was duty, honor. Nothing more. Taking her hand, he led her through the crowd. They cleared the exit and stepped into the modern-looking lobby. Abstract paintings filled the walls with splashes of red to accent the matching chairs.
Constantine turned to face Nicole, startled by what he found. Light illuminated Nicole’s ivory skin and deep blue eyes. A cuty pointed chin and heartshaped face spoke more of an angel than the tough-edged prosecutor she showed the world.
His gaze dropped to her red-stained lips. Red that said, kiss me. He wanted to kiss her. No. He wanted to take her to his room and lick every inch of her body. Which wasn’t an option. That would be going way over the line, and he knew it.
“You didn’t tell me your name,” he said, hating the charade he had to play. He lied in his world all the time, as part of his job, his cover. But Nicole wasn’t like the criminals he locked away. He’d have to face that later…along with his lies. Though what options did he have? He had to evaluate her, to do his best to know she wasn’t compromised by Alvarez’s influence before he revealed his identity. His life depended on it.
“I guess I didn’t tell you my name,” she said, smiling again. “But then I don’t remember you asking.”
“I’m asking now,” Constantine said, his brow inching upward when she didn’t immediately answer. “Is it a secret?”
“Nicole! There you are!” Constantine turned to see Brenda rushing forward, an athletic-looking guy by her side. Constantine eyed Nicole. “It’s not a secret anymore,” he said, flashing her a grin. “Nicole.”
She laughed and focused on her sister. “I was just getting some air.”
Brenda detached herself from her man and went to Nicole’s side, giving Constantine a blatant once-over. “I see why.” Still inspecting Constantine, she said to Nicole, “I’m headed out.” She dragged her gaze back to her sister’s. “Looks like you don’t need me.”
Constantine couldn’t believe his luck. With Brenda out of the picture, he would have Nicole all to himself.
Unfortunately, Nicole didn’t seem to share his opinion. She snagged her sister’s arm and eyed Constantine. “This is my sister, Brenda, and we need to talk.” She held up a finger. “Be right back.”
Constantine exchanged a quick glance with Brenda’s date for the night, a guy who looked barely old enough to be inside the bar. They both shrugged and turned their attention to the ladies.
Constantine noted the stern look on Nicole’s face and knew what she was saying to Brenda. She was warning her to be careful about strangers. Constantine agreed, and couldn’t help but think well of Nicole for being so caring.
Nicole’s expression turned softer, and Constantine saw her transform from tough older sister to a nurturing one, reaching out and brushing hair from Brenda’s eyes before planting a kiss on her forehead.
His chest tightened at the display, an old emotion he’d thought buried flaring inside him—the pain of losing his younger brother a year before. He had died in the line of duty, killed by a perp who’d gotten off on a technicality. Constantine had been undercover with Alvarez then or he’d have seen justice done.
Facing his loss and the failure of the system, Constantine had wondered at his own career choices, and the price they demanded. He shoved away the thought as Nicole and Brenda approached, clearly done with their talk.
A few mumbled goodbyes later, Constantine and Nicole stood alone again, except that Nicole’s mood had shifted to one of retreat, not surrender, her arms crossed protectively in front of her body.