“I’m looking forward to working with you, and getting to know you, Ellie. Now let’s enjoy dinner and then we can work out a schedule for the coming few months.”
He eased away from her, her heart pounding, her hands instantly clammy now that she could breathe again. The man was a force, and very demanding. But he was also sexy and attractive, with oodles of appeal. She smiled, feeling pretty damn happy for getting this job, and hoped she could pull off what he wanted.
“Oh, and please call me Renaldo.” He covered her hand with his and gave it a squeeze as he winked.
The rest of their time together flowed smoothly, and Ellie couldn’t help but to think of her conversation with Donella today. Could she take a chance and try dating again? Was Renaldo right for her, or would he be a mistake? Or, could she be so brazen as to entertain a sexual fling, no strings attached, in order to help her get over the fear Paul put into her? She wondered and then thought about Paul and his text messages. How could she move on when the man who’d destroyed her life, gave her all the fear and trust issues she had, still held power over her. Even if it was the power of fear?
* * * *
“Did you guys have a good time last night?” Vin asked Justice as they drove out of the police department and headed to interview Luke Phillips.
“Aside from that bitch Ray Anne saying that shit about Hunter, yeah, it was an all right night.”
“Would have been better if you guys hooked up with Sam’s friend, Ellie. She’s gorgeous.”
Justice glanced at Vin and then back toward the road.
“She seemed nice.”
Vin chuckled. “Nice, my ass. The four of you couldn’t keep your eyes off of her. I thought Seno was going to start a fight with that guy, what’s his name? Oh, Hartford, something Hartford. That guy has got the touch with the ladies, but your little spitfire wasn’t biting.”
Justice smiled to himself. Seno was going to go over there and rip the guy’s arm off. Every time Hartford moved his hand over her waist and then grazed her ass, Seno wasn’t the only one seeing red. The woman had a great ass. It stuck out, and her dress accentuated the roundness of it. She may be petite, but she had sexy curves. She wasn’t skin and bones, nor was she what he considered chubby. She was perfect.
“She turned him down, too.”
“She sure did. Maybe she’s seeing someone.”
“Sam said she isn’t. After you basically had Sam give Moira the third degree.”
“So we’re interested but Ellie said she doesn’t date. Maybe the whole ménage thing intimidates her?”
“Well, it sure as shit doesn’t intimidate Moira.”
Justice looked at Vin and saw the odd expression. “What’s up? I thought you guys were all interested in dating Moira?”
“Oh, we are, it’s just that she’s a bit young, inexperienced, and we’ve been down that road before. It wasn’t pretty.”
“Oh yeah, with Tara. She was too young, and wanted to party all the time.”
“Exactly. But she was something else in bed.”
Justice chuckled. “That right there probably added to how it went all wrong.”
“What the hell do you mean?”
“You thought more about how the sex was with her instead of the strong feelings, the bond and connection that sets a ménage apart from a damn orgy.”
Vin chuckled. “You’re right. But it wasn’t our fault. The sex was the best, but as far as bonding or having a connection, it wasn’t there at all.”
“Do you think it could be there with Moira?”
Vin looked out the window. “I’m not sure. We don’t want to rush into it, so being friends right now, flirting a bit, is fine. If it turns into something more, then we’ll just have to wait and see. So when are you going to try and snag Ellie’s attention and get her to give you guys a chance?”
Justice smiled. “The next time my brothers or I see her, we’ll be sure to start getting her to be more comfortable with us. I guess the friends and flirting thing will be first for the four of us, too.”
“This may call for some sneaky planning.”
“What do you mean?”