promise.”
He didn’t regret it. Not at this very moment, with Chloe warm and pliant in his arms. He lowered his head and captured her mouth with his, hearing her tiny gasp of surprise. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her closer, relishing the way her body molded so easily against his own. Seeking an answer to the question that had plagued him ever since she’d tried to give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Now he knew for certain.
It hadn’t been a fluke.
The same strange current arced between them—making him feel almost as if their souls were connecting as well as their lips and their bodies. It exhilarated him—and terrified him.
He broke the kiss, pressing his cheek momentarily against her hair while he regained control of his equilibrium and his breathing. “This is quite a date.”
She laughed, sounding a little breathless herself. Then she stepped out of his arms. “Short but memorable.”
He frowned. “Does that mean it’s over?”
She nodded. “If I only have twenty-four hours to find Ramon, I need to begin looking right now.”
“Do you even know where to start?”
She picked up her purse off the coffee table.
“Ducky’s Bar on Benton Street. That’s one of Ramon’s favorite hangouts.”
“Benton Street?” he echoed in disbelief. “You can’t go down to that part of town alone at night. It’s bad enough in daylight.”
She slung the purse strap over her shoulder.
“I’ll be all right.”
“I’m going with you.” He pulled his car keys out of his pocket and headed toward the door. “I’ll drive.”
She stood her ground. “I think I should handle this on my own.”
“You’re wrong.”
Her eyes widened. “I’m wrong? Just like that?”
“It’s nothing personal,” he assured her. “Many women don’t realize what’s best for them. I’ve been to Ducky’s a time or two and it’s no place for a lady. I think it’s best if I go along for protection.”
She stared at him for a long moment. “Do you know what year this is?”
“Two thousand,” he replied without any hesitation. “I already told you, I’m fine. A blow to the head can’t stop Trace Callahan.”
“Too bad,” she muttered, as she watched him walk out the door.
DUCKY’S BAR sat nestled between Eve’s Tattoo Emporium and Barney’s Bail Bonds at the far end of Benton Street. Peeling yellow paint adorned the cinder-block wall on the outside of the bar. Black paint concealed the windows and the plate-glass door, giving the building an ominous appearance.
Humidity hung heavy in the air and swollen gray clouds stretched across the sky. Trace glanced at Chloe as they walked along the litter-strewn sidewalk. She looked grim, determined, and too damn sexy.
“Hold it,” he said, stopping in front of the door. “I’ve changed my mind. You can’t go in there.”
She looked up at him. “Excuse me?”
“Go back and wait for me in the car. I’ll check out the place and see if Ramon’s made an appearance.”
Annoyance flashed in her eyes. “I’m not waiting in the car. I can’t believe you’d even suggest such a thing.”
“And I can’t believe you’d even consider going into a place like Ducky’s Bar in that outfit.”
She planted her hands on her hips. “You don’t like the way I look?”
“You want my honest opinion?” He took a step closer to her. “I love the way you look. The problem is that every hoodlum in the bar is going to love it, too. I can’t help you find Ramon if I’m too busy fighting off all your admirers.”
“In the first place,” she said, her voice low and tight, “I never asked you to fight anyone. You’re barely able to walk, much less defend my honor. And in the second place, it may surprise you to learn that not every man looks at a woman as a sex object.”
His jaw tightened. “This has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with that blouse you’re wearing. Or should I say, barely wearing.” He frowned at the way the red peasant blouse exposed her creamy white shoulders and generous cleavage. “Don’t you have a sweater or something you can put on?”
“A sweater?” She rolled her eyes. “It’s ninety degrees in the shade.”
Standing so close to Chloe made it seem more like a hundred and ninety. He reached out and pulled up the elastic neckline of her blouse, tugging it up to her chin. “There. That’s much better.”
“I think you’re overreacting,” she muttered, tugging her blouse back down but keeping it on her shoulders this time. “But I don’t have time to argue. We’re here to find Ramon, remember?”
“Just let me do all the talking.” Trace moved toward the door. “This Ducky woman may be the owner, but I’ve heard she’s a real wacko. She’s been married four times.”
“That hardly makes her crazy,” Chloe said wryly. “Just unlucky in love.”
“Her husbands were the unlucky ones. They’re all dead.”
She stopped short.
“Just what are you implying?”
“I’m not implying anything. I’m just telling you she’s a rough old broad who needs careful handling.” He smiled. “But I’m sure I can soften her up. Women find it hard to resist me.”
“It must be your modesty.”
“Must be.” Then his smile faded as his gaze flicked to her blouse. “Let’s make this quick. And try not to draw attention to yourself.”
She didn’t say anything as he held the door open for her. He followed her inside, taking a moment for his eyes to adjust to the haze of smoke in the air and the low lighting. An old Hank Williams tune wailed from the jukebox, accompanied by the shrill bells and whistles of the two pinball machines in the corner.
Trace had only taken three steps inside the bar when a burly bouncer blocked his path.
“I’d like to see some identification.”
“What about her?” Trace asked, watching as Chloe walked past the bouncer unimpeded.
“What about her?”
“You didn’t card her, so why single me out? You can’t seriously believe I’m under twenty-one.”
“Must be your baby face,” the bouncer sneered. “You’re one of them pretty
