Fever

“Well, you certainly considered it.”

She leaned forward across the table. “Look, why don’t you just ask your questions so I can satisfy your curiosity and get rid of you once and for all.” Before I start hoping for the impossible.

He smiled and said nothing. She was becoming more and more interesting by the minute. She was glaring at him so fiercely, he didn’t have the heart to tell her this was only the beginning of their relationship, not the end.

“Why did you quit the game so abruptly?”

Roxie twisted her mouth in irritation. “I didn’t run, but…” She wasn’t about to admit that he’d scared her right out the front door. “Sometimes, strategic retreat is necessary.”

They both held their peace as the waitress cleared away Roxie’s salad plate and replaced it with entrées of chicken parmesan, and chicken cordon-bleu.

“Retreat? Are you implying that you plan to try again?” Ike asked.

“Maybe.”

“But you said you would stay away from the Desert Rose.”

“Who said anything about the Desert Rose?”

He studied her thoughtfully. “What exactly are we talking about here?”

“Am I making you nervous?”

“A little. I thought you were after some quick cash, but I’m starting to realize there is more here than meets the eye. Just what are you after?”

“That’s personal, remember? You just wanted to know how I took the tables.” She hid the satisfied smirk, as she watched his eyes dart around. His brain was trying to work it all out. He was probably remembering every word they’d said to each other over the past two days.

She was certain she’d said nothing to give herself away, but strangely enough she wanted to confess all. It was as if all her secrets were suddenly weighing her down, and he was a safe place to settle her load. There was absolutely no reason to trust this man, a friend to her enemy, and yet there was something about him that screamed safe.

Roxie was unable to stop the smile that touched her lips. “Still curious?”

His dark eyes raced over every feature of her face. “More than ever.”

She cut into her chicken parmesan, and thought how much better her evening was turning out than what she had planned. A little late-night TV, and a pasta salad didn’t hold a candle to the company of this fascinating and charming man. This too charming man—and that was the problem.

He seemed to know just what to say to put her at ease, something few could do. He was compassionate, and understanding and a complete surprise. He was making her want things she shouldn’t want, especially not from him.

Roxie gently placed her fork on the table. “Okay, how about you answer a question for me?”

Ike gestured for her to go ahead.

“Other than your own personal curiosity, why did you come looking for me? Did Bobby Kincaid send you?”

The answer to the question was yes, but he knew that would be the wrong answer to give. Despite how comfortable she appeared to be now, he remembered the look of pure fear on her face when he first stepped out of his truck in the laboratory parking lot.

Ike knew his godfather’s reputation, but unlike most, he knew there was little truth to most of the rumors. Bobby was a Vegas personality as much as Tom Jones, or Siegfried and Roy. And like all celebrities, what the press didn’t know, they made up. Nonetheless, Roxie’s fear was real. Which meant she’d obviously heard some of those rumors. Or was it something more? What was she really after?

“Yes,” he answered.

“Why?”

He sighed. “He wanted to know the same thing I did. How you did it. You have to consider it from his point of view. He thought you may have been using some kind of new technology.”

“And what will you tell him?”

Ike had a sudden desperate need in his gut to comfort and reassure her that he was not the enemy. “That his fears were unfounded.”

She watched him with suspicious eyes. “So, you’ve decided I’m not a threat?”

Other than to my peace of mind? “No. Like you said, you weren’t looking to make a quick buck, you were there for personal reasons.” He decided to play a hunch. “Besides, I don’t think the Desert Rose was your real target. The more I talk to you, I think you were after Bobby.” He tapped his chin thoughtfully.

She toyed with her scalloped potatoes. “You’re not concerned?”

“Why should I be? Bobby was taking care of himself long before I was born.”

Roxie fought to keep the truth behind her sealed lips, but she wanted to tell him. She wanted to blurt out everything.

“Would you stop looking at me like that?” he asked without ever looking away from the food on his plate.

“Like what?”

“Like you’re waiting for the other shoe to drop.”

“Is there another shoe, Ike? I mean, what’s in this for you?”

He smiled that wonderful, sensual smile and Roxie fought to ignore its erotic pull. “I have my own personal reasons.”

“What—”

He held up a finger and shook his head. “Hence the word personal, remember?”

“Fair enough.”

Ike found it a little surprising that she was willing to drop the issue so easily. He didn’t think she was particularly fair-minded enough for that. But the fact that she did let it go suited his purpose just fine. He had no diplomatic way of explaining to her that he knew with complete certainty that she would be his next lover.

He’d known that since before her salad plate was taken away. But first, he had to discover what her aversion to Bobby was all about. He instinctively knew that would be the greatest stepping stone between them.

Chapter 5

As the night wore on, Roxie found herself relaxing much more than she ever expected, or even wanted. There was something about Ike Bancroft that her soul found very comforting. It could’ve been his sensual, almost musical voice that caused his words to roll over her in waves. Or the look of understanding she saw in his eyes so many times when she spoke of her past.

Whoever he was now, Ike had seen hard times. It was hard to tell what he’d been through with his stoic demeanor, and his careful ways, but there was something deeper and darker living inside him. Something that not only spoke to Roxie, but truly heard her, as well.

She found herself telling him about her background, things only Tessa and Theo knew. She doubted he would judge her. And although he said little, it was enough to let her know she was not being condemned for the acts of her childhood.

She’d just finished telling him about how Tessa and Theo found her, when he sat back in his chair and wiped his mouth with his linen napkin. “Wow, I can’t believe you managed to make it on your own for so long.”

She chuckled with little humor. “Looking back on it, neither can I. I guess the angels were watching over me.”