Now I was intrigued. I got word of mouth work often, but a runway model had never shown up before.
“If you’re not willing to tell me what the job is, tell me who
referred you.”
He shook his head. “No, I can’t do that either.”
“Then I’m sorry to say this is the end of the conversation.” I closed the distance between us and clapped a hand on his shoulder. Mostly to see if he was as ripped as I thought under his baggy clothes. A costume for him. He likely swanned around in fitted suits and fancy shirts that required cufflinks.
He didn’t move out of my way, but held his ground. I didn’t want to shove between him and the wall to get out of the alley, but I was starting to feel claustrophobic.
I shifted around him and started walking out of the alley. All my energy focused on not running away while my back was to him.
He caught my elbow in one arm. I raised the other to clap it down on his forearm so he would release me.
My whole body froze. Just stopped moving as he met my eyes. Fucking glamour. I hated it so much.
“Get out of my fucking head,” I hissed through my teeth. “If you want me to work for you, this is not the way to make me like you.”
He smiled, all full lips and gleaming teeth. “Oh, darling. I don’t give a shit how you feel about me. But don’t worry, you’ll change your mind when we have coffee together.”
He curled my arm through his like we were taking a walk down to catch the waiting carriage and led me down the sidewalk. I went because at this moment I didn’t want to do anything but to go with him.
I just hoped they would find the pieces of my body when he’d finished with me. I’d always wanted to be buried next to my parents.
Chapter Five
We headed around the corner to my favorite coffee shop and took a back booth. Coffee and cinnamon surrounded me, a scent I usually found comforting, but now I could feel my heartbeat in my ears as I glared across the booth at my captor.
I should be terrified, my heart in my throat. But the glamour stopped me from panicking as well.
It was still early, and few patrons sat around the spacious café.
He snagged my hand and tugged it toward him across the worn wood table. I forgot why my body ached. Why I glared across at the man who ran his thumb over my knuckles so sweetly.
“What are we doing here?” I asked.
He released my hand with a pensive smile and stood. “Coffee, black, right?”
Before I could summon an answer, he walked over to the counter. A tiny part of my brain told me to run, but every part of my body didn’t want to move. Too quickly he returned and sat a steaming coffee mug in front of me.
I cupped it in my hands and murmured, “Thank you.”
He unzipped his hoodie and removed it. I scanned his torso and then his bare forearms. No weapons. Good. Not that it mattered given how easily he’d dragged me into the café.
He settled into the booth and hooked his hair behind his ears. “Now then, Zoey—may I call you Zoey?”
“Do I have a choice?”
The edges of his lips ticked up in a hint of a smirk. “Zoey, you’re a remarkable woman.”
I looked around the booth and then behind me. “Why are you complimenting me? We aren’t on a date. You’re crazy. And holding me captive in a coffee shop. Get to the point already.”
He cupped his coffee between his hands and met my gaze, as if he waited for some epiphany to strike me down. I stared back because it was all I could do.
When he laughed and glanced away, I relaxed, physically sagging against the worn leather booth back.
“No really, it wasn’t meant as a compliment in that sense of the word,” he said. “I only meant to imply I’ve done my research on bounty hunters in the area and you are by far the best. Not without some colorful stories, of course. But I couldn’t find another hunter worthy of the task I wish to hire you for.”