The stranger’s single, explicit curse flattered Arianna, but before she could decide why, he took a step back from her. Regret and relief assaulted her simultaneously. She was aroused, more than she’d been in a long time, and she’d known him for ten minutes! She should be grateful that Scott had come along….
But she wasn’t.
“Everyone has unmasked,” Scott said, grinning as if something momentous was about to happen.
Arianna glanced at the man dressed as Zorro. Would he take off his mask? He seemed reluctant—or maybe he was still caught up in what they’d just experienced. She’d danced with him because she’d recognized something even his mask couldn’t hide—a kindred spirit. Battle weariness. Like her. So they’d distracted each other from whatever demons haunted them.
Arianna lifted her mask away. He seemed to stop breathing. She saw his eyes close for longer than a blink, then he took off his hat and untied his mask.
“Yes, we’ve met,” he said to Scott, but looking at her. “Ms. Alvarado. It’s nice to see you again.”
She wanted to punch Scott in the mouth. Anything to wipe that stupid grin off his face. “Detective,” she said calmly to the man she’d come to the party hoping to see. “How’ve you been?”
“Business, my ass,” Scott said before he left them alone.
“What was that supposed to mean?” Joe asked.
“Does anyone know why Scott says the things he does?” she replied, her fists clenched. She ran a few sentences through her head. Everything sounded inane. “Well,” she began.
One corner of his mouth lifted. “That was interesting.”
Her shoulders loosened. “‘Interesting’ tells me nothing.”
“Care to put your spin on it?”
She settled on honesty, especially since she had a favor to ask of him. “I don’t usually come on that strong.”
His brows lifted as if he didn’t quite believe her. He tucked her rose back in her hair. His fingertips grazed her ear then her neck, his gaze serious. “Thank you for the dance.”
She shivered. Annoyance came hard and fast. What was going on? She knew how to control her reaction but made no effort to. That attraction she’d felt last December was as strong as ever. “You’re welcome.”
She wanted to ask him why he’d come, since Scott had been adamant that Joe wouldn’t dress for Halloween. “I like your choice of costume,” she said.
“I can’t wait to take it off. How about you?”
She swallowed the innuendo that sprang to mind. “I’m comfortable in mine.” She couldn’t be alone with him for one more minute. She’d never been so unguardedly drawn to anyone, ever. If she wanted his help, she needed to stay businesslike, to act like the thirty-three-year-old professional woman she was, not some hormonal teenager. “Shall we head back to the party?”
“All right,” he said, although with surprise on his face. “I take it your firm has done work for Scott?”
“For a number of years.” She led the way down the path toward the pool. She’d been a private investigator for seven years. Her company, ARC Security & Investigations, did consulting and investigative work for many attorneys in the area, especially on high-profile cases.
“I met him eighteen years ago,” Joe said. “He was my training officer after I graduated from the academy. We stayed in touch for a long time.” They emerged from the trail. “Although I hadn’t seen him in a couple of years. He’s been busy.”
“I see him more on television than in the office these days, too,” she said, eyeing the crowd mingling around the pool. She didn’t want to ask her favor tonight at the party. She also didn’t dare leave him alone, since Scott might decide to tell him she’d specifically requested he be invited.
Now what? She couldn’t leave until he did. And she couldn’t wander away. Small talk?
“Do you know anyone else here?” she asked.
“No. Did you come alone?”
I wanted to see you. “Yes.”
“That surprises me.” He gestured to a couple of chaise lounges. “We should grab those while they’re empty. Can I get you a drink?”
She’d left hers behind at the waterfall, she realized. “Yes, please. Martini with a twist, extra olives.”
“I’ll be right back.”
She’d barely settled on a lounge when Scott sat down on the one next to hers.
“Did you know he was here?” she asked, watching Joe talk to the bartender.
Scott looked at her over his wineglass, then took a sip. “Yes.”
“Is that how you entertain yourself?”
“You’re a cool one, aren’t you, Arianna?” He settled a little more comfortably. “Controlled. Smart. I’d never seen you ruffled by anything until you found out I knew Joe.”
“It was a simple favor to ask, inviting him to the party,” she said, wishing she had her drink already, needing the prop.
“More than that, I think.”
She hesitated. Joe was walking toward them. “You won’t say anything.”
“I don’t know how this is going to play out.” He smiled, patted her knee and stood, making room for Joe, leaning to whisper in her ear, “You know he’s not engaged anymore, right?”
Arianna said nothing. She didn’t know he had been engaged. Was that the reason for the battle-weary look in his eyes? Had he broken it off or had his fiancée?
She thanked Joe as he passed her the drink then raised her brows at Scott, indicating he could move on.
Scott grinned. “So, how do you two know each other?”
“We met during Alexis Wells’s attempted murder last year,” Arianna said, aware of Joe taking a seat beside her and stretching out those long legs. His knee-high black Zorro boots made her smile. “Joe was the detective in charge of the case.”
“You worked together? The cop and the P.I.? Strange bedfellows.” He met Arianna’s gaze and smiled benignly.
“We shared information without insulting each other’s profession,” Joe said. “She’s a cut above in her field.”
“Yeah. Most P.I.s only get to eat what they kill,” Scott responded. “But not Arianna and her partners.”
“We work hard.” Her irritation grew. She’d always had a great business relationship with Scott. Why was he making things difficult for her now?
“Scott,”
