Page 27 of The Lieutenant

Plus, I was lying to his face. I could never go diving again. That joyful experience had taken from me, stripped down to sheer terror. I didn’t know why, but I didn’t want him to know anything could scare me. This was all about business anyway. Nothing else.

“There is no greater power than that of the sea. At least according to Pops. However, in my mind there’s no greater power than that of a man-eating shark. I came up close and personal with one as a teenager.” I sensed he’d made the statement to try to lighten my mood.

“Ouch and I beg to differ. My bet is on a man such as yourself being the greatest power of all. Intelligent, sophisticated, well versed in several languages. A man like that could take over the world.”

“Then you overestimate me,gatáki. I am a man of simple needs and determined business practices, albeit not on the dangerous side.”

“Why don’t I buy that?”

“Because you’re searching for answers you’ve already provided for yourself. Yet most are incorrect. Open your mind, vivacious one. Only when you do will the truth befriend you.”

“Now, you’re a poet.” I lifted my glass in appreciation. “You seem to want me to know about the man you are after hours instead of the one conducting business.”

Every time he walked closer, I was stymied how to act, uncertain I was even breathing. His moves weren’t threatening, but they were an attempt at controlling me. “Tell me something, Kara. Is this side you prefer to present the one that doesn’t show off your true personality? Or is the woman standing in front of me the one who feels most alive?” He lifted his arm and I instantly stiffened.

“I don’t how to answer that. I believe every one of us is forced to wear a uniform. While yours might be your hand-tailored suits and mine from an off-the-rack discount clothing store, they’resimilar in that they help identify what people can expect. At least in business, but we all have at least two sides.”

He curled his fingers, gently rubbing his knuckles across my cheek. The light touch was scintillating, but not overtly sexual. Why did I have the feeling he was used to being around plastic replicas of women. They were perfectly coiffed with twenty-four-inch waists and huge busts, and superbly tanned with golden blonde locks. In my mind, they couldn’t carry on an intellectual conversation to save their lives.

Or maybe I was just expressing sour grapes since I was no bathing beauty.

“In some worlds, a person’s image is everything. But not necessarily in yours. But I do agree with you. I have many sides myself. I’m eager to learn more about every side of the woman standing in front of me.”

“You’re not interviewing me, remember.”

“Learning more about you will provide the trust factor you might imagine I need. Come. You must be hungry.” He waited until I moved inside before he followed, immediately guiding me to the side of the apartment I’d yet to see.

As soon as he guided me into his kitchen, I was genuinely floored. “This is exactly the kind of kitchen I hope to have one day. Look at the size of it.” Another truthful statement. “All Wolf appliances. Amazing. And eight burners.”

With granite counters in an infusion of color so vibrant they seemed luminescent, highly glossed cabinets, and modern lights with a gothic flair, I was absolutely in love. Even the mosaic tile floor was perfectly matched. The room was warm and inviting, a space meant for entertaining.

Havros observed my reaction as he reached into the massive commercial freezer, pulling out a second bottle of Stoli. I slipped onto one of eight barstools surrounding the kitchen island, doing nothing more than scanning every inch of the space.

“Then you approve?” he asked as he slid my glass back toward me after refilling.

“Very much so. This is straight out ofArchitectural Digest. You could do your image some good by being photographed right here in this space. Looking exactly the way you are. Maybe you could even don an apron, although I’m certain you’ve never cooked a day in your life.”

I hadn’t noticed a dimple until he offered a smile under the light. He took a hefty sip of his drink before heading to the oversized pantry. After opening one of the doors, he pulled out something that I wasn’t able to see from where I was sitting.

“I’ll think about it. You don’t have a large kitchen?”

“Oh, please. Finding an apartment with a kitchen bigger than a bread box takes months of waiting on lists created by nasty landlords and money I don’t have. When I’m at my apartment, I usually get takeout.”

“Tsk. Tsk. The art of making love is similar to cooking. You must caress your food to bring the flavor to its peak existence.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You are a very unusual man.”

“Would you prefer a stodgy old guy with a beer gut?”

I burst into laughter. “I’ve interviewed my share of those. I’ve even had a couple come onto me.”

“Here, kitten. Take this.” He tossed one of two items in his hand. His expression had changed. Was he angry with what I’d just told him?

I caught it in midair, confused as to what I was looking at. “An apron?” Just as I lifted my head, he was pulling ties from a second one around to knot in the front of his waist.

“An apron. No man should ever place his hands on a beautiful woman when not allowed.”

“Some men don’t respect either a woman or her space. They think they own anything they so desire.” It was my turn to goad him.

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