Page 50 of Lethal Danger

“Up and down.” She gave him a saucy smile. “So is that why you want to use me for a heroine in your novels? Because I can beat you at climbing?”

“Of course. A guy loves getting his ego pummeled as frequently as possible.”

She arched an eyebrow. “Something tells me your ego is doing fine.”

He grinned. “No comment.”

“Really, though. Why me?” She still held a smile, but something else—maybe hesitation—crept into her eyes.

“Because you’re so unique.”

“You mean weird.” Her nose wrinkled in a cute expression he hadn’t expected from her. “I don’t exactly fit in easily, so you got that right.” She turned away, whether to go to the bench because she wanted to or to hide some emotion, he wasn’t sure.

He caught up with her by their things. “No, I mean you stand out. In a good way.”

She stuffed her thermos into her bag and straightened, turning those amazing eyes on him.

“I’ve never met anyone like you. Strong with incredible skills, but you still care deeply about things.”

Her eyebrows clustered as if she was doubting his words.

“Like how you’re determined to find the saboteur who’s trying to destroy the fair and killed your aunt.” He pushed his water bottle into his duffel bag before returning his gaze to her face. “That’s the kind of stuff I usually have to invent for my books.”

A slow smile lifted the shape of her lips. “I guess it does sound like something out of a Carson Steele novel.”

“You see?”

“So if this were a novel…Or a movie.” The twinkle returned to her eyes as she watched him.

“Why do I get the feeling you’re about to throw out a plot twist I didn’t see coming?”

“Maybe more of a cute trope.” She laughed.

He couldn’t help the answering grin that found his face. “Not usually used in my genre, but I’ll bite.”

“Well, this is where I should realize you could help me with my investigation. Help me find the culprit.”

“I could? I mean, you should?” He blinked at her.

“Yeah. You were an MP investigator. You have experience.”

So that’s what she was getting at.

“Want to help me catch a bad guy and save the fair?” She stepped a little closer with an admittedly adorable pleading look on her face. “You could be like Carson Steele in real life.”

His mouth twitched at that. He was already investigating one suspicious death for his sister. What was one more? And if the saboteur kept going unchecked, a lot more than Jazz’s fair was at stake.

“Carson is quite a bit older than I am…” His tease was rewarded with another nose wrinkle. “But I agree whoever this is needs to be stopped before more lives are lost.”

Her eyes widened to an even larger size. “Does that mean you’ll help?”

“Absolutely. I’ll do whatever I can. Though that might not be much.” Especially since he couldn’t let a new investigation distract him from finding the truth about Sam. He’d promised Rebekah first, after all.

“Terrific. Thanks.” The beaming smile she gave him, along with the light touch of her fingers on his arm, sent a strange, warm sensation through his chest. More helpful research. Now he knew how his characters would react to Jazz Lamont in his story. She definitely had an effect on a person.

Jazz checked her wristwatch. “I hate to cut this short, but I’d better get home to Flash.”

Only her dog. Did that mean she didn’t have a boyfriend or anyone? He’d have to ask her some other time. For character research.

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