My eyes drop to his lips, tracing the soft curve of his lower one.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I say, trying and failing to hide the desire tightening through my body.
His gaze flicks to my mouth, darkening, and I lick my lips without thinking.
The tension sharpens, something low and charged humming between us.
God. I shouldn’t be doing this. I’m not here to flirt. I’m here to infiltrate a probable cult and expose it. This is supposed to be a business trip, not a pleasure detour.
Then again… there’s nothing wrong with a little side distraction, a bit of harmless pleasure mixed in with the mission, especially with a man I fully intend never to see again.
He smirks. “Where are you headed?”
“New Life Wellness Retreat. Heard of it?”
“Yeah.” His eyebrow lifts. “Didn’t take you for one of the crazies.”
I laugh. “I’m not. One of my clients is there, and I need to check on her. I’m trying to figure out what kind of mind-control mess they’ve got going on up there.”
“You think the visitors at the retreat are being mind-controlled?”
“Only way I can explain it.” I shrug. “Can you get me there?”
“Of course. Grab your bags.” He steps back and opens the passenger door of his truck for me.
“Are you sure?” I ask as he closes the door and gets into the driver’s seat. “I hope it’s not out of your way.”
“Nah. I’m headed there too.”
“What? Why?”
“Because, darling, I’m one of those mind-controlled crazy people you’ve been talking about.”
“Oh.” I clap a hand over my mouth. “I’m so sorry?—”
“Forget about it.” He waves a hand. “I know exactly who and what I am.”
“Yeah, but I didn’t mean… oh God, that was really insensitive of me.”
“I’m the one who started with the ‘crazies’ talk,” he says with a smirk. “Besides, I’ve never been the sensitive type. You’re fine.”
“Oh.” He really doesn’t seem offended, so I relax. As he pulls out, I feel comfortable enough to tease. “Well, it’s good you’re not offended. I was going to try to make it up to you.”
He raises an eyebrow, flicking me a glance. “Make it up to me how?”
I shrug, letting a hint of flirtation slip into my voice. “However you want.”
His eyelids lower, desire sharpening his features. “Well, in that case, forget everything I said. I’m real sensitive. Highly offended. You absolutely have a duty to make it right. Starting as soon as you like.”
I laugh, and he smiles again. “You’ve got a pretty laugh.”
“And you’re a shameless flirt.”
“Hey, you started it.”
“I never said I wasn’t a flirt too.” I tilt my head, enjoying this far more than I should as a breeze slips through the open window and plays with my hair. “Tell me—what’s your experience been at the retreat so far?”
“Great at first,” he says. “Lately, though? Very annoying.”