Page 16 of Marked for Obsession

“An arrogant jerk who speaks in half-truths and witty comebacks.”

“Most days?” Jax seemed to ponder his answer before nodding. “Yeah, I’d have to say that I am.”

And this guy was supposed to be the best? Not likely. But she was out of options, so…

“I’d like to hire you.” Poppy got back to the matter at hand. Digging into her purse, she pulled out her checkbook as she spoke. “I’m not sure what you charge, or if there’s she was immediately got required up front, but I can—”

“We can worry about the money later.” Jax stared down at her for a few tense seconds before turning around and walking back toward his desk. “So what brings you here, Poppy-Like-The-Flower? You got a cheating boyfriend you want me to follow?” A wry gaze met hers from over his broad shoulder. “Girlfriend, maybe?”

Ignoring the sensual tone in his voice, Poppy followed him across the room. “No boyfriend or girlfriend.” She somehow felt a strong need to make both those points very clear. “This is something else entirely.”

Jax motioned to the set of chairs in front of his desk as he rounded its edge and sat back down in his own. Resting an ankle over the opposite knee, he kept his elbows on the padded armrests, his hands casually linked together on his lap.

“I’m all ears.”

More like all muscles and mouth.

Sliding her purse from her shoulder, Poppy set it on the floor next to one of the two empty chairs before taking a seat. “You probably don’t remember me, but I was here Thursday night. I bumped into you. But then my friend Kyle showed up, and we—”

“I remember.”

“Oh.” That surprised her. “Good. That’s really good.”

“Yeah? And why is that?”

“Because right before I came into your club, I saw something. Something…horrific.” Her words picked up speed the longer she spoke. “I went to the police, but they don’t believe me. I mean, the officer I spoke with didn’t come right out and say it, but when I went to the precinct that night…and every other time since…it’s as though they think I’m just some drunken bar bunny who imagined the whole thing. But I wasn’t drunk. In fact, the only alcohol I had that night was a drink of Kyle’s beer. And that was after everything happened, so—”

“Poppy.”

Her name was like an order. A deep, resounding order that left her feeling as though she’d do just about anything this man asked of her. Which made absolutely no sense, whatsoever.

“Sorry. I, uh…I tend to ramble when I get nervous.”

“Relax, Kitten. It’s just me and you, here.”

Why the heck do you think I’m so nervous?

“Why do you keep calling me that?”

“Kitten?” His lips twitched. “Does it offend you? It shouldn’t. Kittens are adorable. Smart. If they see something they want, they go after it. And they’re feisty as hell.” His eyes seemed to soak her in as he added, “Just like you.”

Poppy felt more out of sorts now than she had when she’d first walked into the place. And wait a minute…had he just called her adorable?

Yep, he sure did. And smart. And feisty.

Inside, part of her was grinning like a bashful schoolgirl. But on the outside—

“It’s unprofessional. And since you’re working for me now, I’d prefer that we keep things—”

“I don’t work for you yet, darlin’.” Jax sat up straighter. “Not yet. Still need to hear what you’re expecting from me before I make that decision.”

“Fine. Then here it is.” Poppy drew in a deep breath and stopped beating around the bush. “Thursday night, right before I bumped into you, I saw two men kill a third in the alley right over there.” She pointed to that direction. “Well, I didn’tseethem kill the third man. I’m pretty sure he was already dead. Anyway, I saw the other two carrying his body through the alley before stuffing him into the trunk of a car.”

“Did you see their faces?”

The question was void of sarcasm or suspicion. Unlike the one officer she’d been forced to deal with.

“No,” she answered honestly. “Well, sort of it. It was dark, and I was scared. The streetlight in the alley that runs behind these buildings is the only reason I could make out anything. I saw both of the men in question, but they were all the way at the opposite end of the alley, so it was hard to see specific details. Plus, I was hiding behind the dumpster there, and—”

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