Page 6 of Winning Bid

Except that he is the same man who botched this in the first place. Maybe he’s not the guy I should go to for advice on it.

4

JUNE

When someone knocks on my office door, I jump a mile. I’ve been jittery all morning, and sudden noises do not help. “Come.”

To my not-at-all surprise, it’s the guy I turned down last week. Carlos Perez. He is handsome in a slick lawyer way. His hair is too black and too perfect. His teeth are too white and straight. Every suit he wears is designer, and his shoes gleam. He is well-built and has a flirtatious way about him. If I had been single when we met, I might have taken him for a spin.

But I’m not, and he doesn’t seem to care.

“Good morning, June.”

“Good morning, Carlos. What can I do for you?” Please get out.

His gaze hones in on my hand. “No wonder you did not want to see me Saturday night. You were busy getting engaged.”

I smile, happy to have the taken label out there loud and clear. “Yes, I was.”

“Congratulations. He is a lucky man.”

Those words hang in the air for too long. When I met Carlos, he had been perturbed that I got the corner office. Since then, he’s been trying to get under my skin. I do not like it.

“Is that all?”

“I thought perhaps you would like to know the coffee machine is up and running again, given how many times I have seen you run to it today. Something troubling you? Fiancé not letting you sleep? I can understand such an urge.”

“It’s Monday, Carlos. Everyone drinks more coffee on Mondays.”

He lifts a shoulder and smirks. “Did I hit a nerve?”

“Is there a reason you’re making a note of when I go get coffee because it sounds to me like you need a heavier workload? I’ll be happy to let Andre know you’re volunteering for the next case.”

His mood shifts. Seems I’m the one who hit a nerve. “I am a naturally observant?—"

Someone knocks on the door, and this time, it’s Carlos who jumps. So much for his observation skills. Two men in suits walk in, escorted by one of the assistants from the lobby. She says, “Ms. Devlin, these officers are here to see you.”

Oh my god. All the blood drains from my face, and I go boneless for all the wrong reasons.

Carlos smirks. “Seems you’re busy enough for the both of us, June.” He saunters out of my office.

I somehow manage to stand up and force a smile. “Officers?”

One flashes a badge. “I’m Detective Banks. This is my partner, Detective Wachowski. Homicide unit. We’d like to ask you a few questions.”

I blink at them and try not to pass out. I nod at the assistant, and she scurries off, closing the door behind her. “Please take a seat. I’m happy to help in whatever way I can, gentlemen.” I sit when they do and sip my water. Coffee is no longer needed. Not with this amount of adrenaline in my system. I take a deep breath but try to keep it steady.

“Do you know a Mr. Neil Johnson?”

“I did. Yes.”

“Did?” His brow lifts.

“I saw the news. Just terrible what happened.”

“And what do you think happened?”

I shrug. “Well, they said his body was found in the harbor. That foul play was suspected.” I leave it at that.

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