but there’s a little more to it than that. We grew up together in Arrowhead Bay, so we knew each other before.”
“That’s the sanitized version,” Justin joked.
“And we won’t be discussing any of the details,” Blake warned.
“So, you guys in town for a while?”
“About a week,” Blake told him. “We decided to buy the cottage Sam was renting and keep it as our get-away-from-it-all place.”
“Good deal.”
“Yeah. I’m getting ready to tour for this latest book,” Blake explained, “and we wanted to get this done while I had a break. Then while I’m on the road, Sam’s taking a short assignment for Vigilance.”
“She doesn’t go with you?” Marissa asked.
Blake shook his head. “I have an assistant who works for me. Sam hits a couple of stops now and then, when her schedule allows it. So, you in town visiting?”
“No, I moved here about two years ago.” The story rolled out smoothly. “I got tired of the rat race in the big city and wanted someplace where the pace of living was slower. And running a gallery is something I always wanted to do.”
“Marissa owns Endless Art,” Justin added. “The gallery just two blocks down Main Street from here.”
“Maybe Sam and I will stop by. We’re looking for some things for the townhouse in Tampa.”
She curved her lips in her professional smile. “I’ll be happy to have you visit. We have some excellent pieces on display.”
“Good. Maybe we’ll see you later.” He started to leave, then turned back. “Oh, in case either of you might be interested, I’m doing an informal thing at Read the Book on Saturday afternoon. Part of the whole holiday weekend thing. Come by if you get a chance.”
“I’ll do it.” Justin nodded. “Thanks.”
“He’s very nice,” Marissa commented after Blake moved away.
“Yeah. Local boy makes good. Really good. Anyway, let’s get you some coffee and pastry. What’s your pleasure?”
The scent of the rich coffee mingled with the aroma of fresh cinnamon rolls. When Justin placed her mug and plate in front of her, his hand just brushed against her arm. She swore sparks were visible, jumping between them, and wondered if he thought the same thing. When she looked up into his face, she saw the hunger in his eyes, the blazing desire.
And she knew hers had to match his for strength.
Before she realized it, the little alarm on her watch went off, and she wanted to turn back the time.
“Time to get to work?” he asked.
“Yes.” She sighed. “This was very nice. Thank you for asking me.” She grinned. “Again.”
“My pleasure. And I hope we’ll do it a lot more.” He rose from his chair and gathered up their trash. “Come on. I’ll walk you down to the gallery.”
He cupped her elbow, steering her toward the entrance, and the heat of his hand seared her skin. She knew tonight when she closed her eyes she’d be dreaming about him again, maybe this time with his clothes off. And from the looks he’d given her across the table, she had an idea he would, too.
“Oh, you don’t have to,” she protested, even as she wanted to prolong the intimacy.
He held up a hand. “No problem. I’d like to look around, anyway. See what you’ve got that’s new.”
She cocked an eyebrow. “I didn’t know you were interested in art. You’ve never been by before.”
He winked. “I take a look through those big windows, whenever I walk by.”
“Well, come on in, if you’ve got some time, and take a real look around.”
The oversized display windows had made her nervous at first, exposing her to anyone and everyone. But you couldn’t drape or shutter windows in a gallery. The original windows, however, had been replaced with bulletproof glass, and the alarm was connected to Vigilance. A few other minor adjustments had been made to keep her as safe as possible.
Even with all that, she kept to either her office or the rear of the main gallery. And she always had her small 9 mm easily accessible. Arrowhead Bay might be a typical Southern tourist town, but she wasn’t taking any chances. Ever.
She unlocked the door, and as soon as she was inside, hit the code on the security system to shut off the alarm. She was faithful about always resetting it, even if she was just going down the street for a few minutes. Then she flicked on the lights and dropped her purse in the tiny office.
“Well, this is it.” She stood in the middle of the place, arms outstretched. “Welcome to Endless Art.”
Justin walked around, looking at the art hanging on the walls and those placed on easels at strategic locations. She noticed he stopped at several and spent a few minutes studying them.
“I see you have a lot of local artists here.” He turned back to her. “Is there a good market for them?”
She wiggled her hand back and forth. “Depends. I say for most of them. Are you looking for something for your place?”
She didn’t even know where he lived. Did he have a house? A cottage? There were no apartment complexes in Arrowhead Bay. The closest thing was a small community of duplexes at the edge of downtown. Where, she wondered, do all those agents live, anyway? She’d never thought to ask.
He laughed. “Not hardly. I have one of the suites on the top floor at Vigilance. It’s where Avery houses what she calls her homeless agents.”
Marissa studied him. “You don’t want a place of your own?”
He shrugged. “Not at the moment. I’m usually on one assignment or another, and it works not having to worry about maintenance and upkeep.”
“Doesn’t that make it a little difficult if you want to, uh, spend time with a woman?”
Oh, for crap’s sake. She should shut the hell up.
The look he gave her scorched her body to the soles of her feet. She had a feeling his own body was heating up, and she couldn’t help lowering her gaze to his crotch. Her eyes widened in reflex at the significant bulge.
“Yes.” He spoke in a soft tone of voice. “Sometimes I do. Like the one in front of me right now.”
“Oh.” She wet her lips. “Well.”
“You have to know I would love to get together with you for more than coffee.”
“I do.” She tilted her head in a tiny nod.
“But I’ll never push. It’s all up to you,” he told her in a soft voice. “I hope you’re reading my signals, Marissa. I think we could have
