While he unloaded their food on the L-shaped counter that separated the galley kitchen from the small breakfast nook, he instructed her to get plates and silverware, then he moved their meals from the Styrofoam to plastic. He’d expected her to give him paper plates and plastic silverware, so this was a bonus.
“Sit,” he ordered, motioning toward the table.
He heard her soft grumble, but she did as instructed while he rummaged through the cabinets to find glasses. Or rather, cups, as hers were plastic. He filled them with ice, poured in their drinks, then sauntered to the table to join her.
“I’m on to your game, Detective,” she said sternly, her fork in hand.
“I assure you, darlin’, there’s no game.”
And it was true. There was something about JJ that had drawn him to her the instant he’d laid eyes on her. Not only was she obscenely beautiful, even when she was grimacing, but her smile was radiant. It had the ability to warm the darkest recesses of his heart. To top it off, she was smart, funny, and easy to talk to. Not to mention quirky and easily excitable. He considered all those things a plus, and a damn good reason for him to ignore his usual MO of quick and dirty and shift to the courting stage.
Even if she wasn’t yet aware that was the direction they were headed.
“There’s always a game,” she countered. “I just haven’t quite figured out what yours is.”
“But you said you were on to my game.” He forked food in his mouth, gave her a winning grin. “Can’t have it both ways.” Once he finished chewing, he continued. “How about we play a little game.”
“Strip poker’s outta the question,” she quipped.
“No strip poker. We’ll save that for the third date.”
“This isn’t a date.”
Baz wasn’t going to argue. She would not see it his way no matter how hard he tried, and for now, he wasn’t interested in arguing with her. He continued to eat, waited for her curiosity to win out.
He didn’t have to wait long.
“What’s the game?”
“Why don’t you tell me what you think you know about me, then I’ll do the same for you.”
JJ’s eyes lit up. Yeah, he’d already figured that out, too. JJ liked challenges.
“All right.” She ate a couple of bites, took a drink. “You grew up with both your mom and dad, although they weren’t living in the same house. They loved you to the moon and back, enjoyed alternating weekends.”
He had to admit, she was pretty good at this.
“Go on.”
“So I’m warm?”
“Right on the money. So far.”
“Okay.” JJ ate a little more, seemed to be considering her next words. “The stepparents weren’t fun for you, though. They were too busy tryin’ to win the affections of your parents. Mother’s husbands were jerks, always lookin’ to get you outta the way. The stepmommies weren’t much better.”
“False.”
Her green eyes narrowed. “How so?”
“The stepmoms loved me. My mother traveled a lot for work, so I lived with my father most of the time. They divorced when I was four, so I was still young when they started rotating through. And if my dad has any specific preference in women, it’s that they like kids. I spent more time with the stepmoms. Those who wanted to stay in my dad’s good graces had to treat me like a prince. I knew how to win them over, get what I wanted.”
“I just bet you did.”
“You’re right about the stepfathers though. Until my mom’s current husband, I didn’t really get along with them. I was more of a nuisance for them than anything. This one didn’t come along until I was grown, so there’s not much animosity there. I don’t know him all that well. What else you got?”
Her gaze cut to him as she continued to eat. “You are a good detective, but you have an issue with partners.”
“Yeah?” Baz paused, took a sip of his drink. “My superiors always said I had a problem with authority.”
JJ shook her head slowly, wiped her mouth with a napkin. “No. I don’t think it’s that. I think you like to work alone. It’s not so much you have a problem with people tellin’ you what to do, but you’re good at runnin’ solo and you don’t require much direction. Am I wrong?”
The way she asked told him she wanted him to prove it if he didn’t agree with her. “You’re not entirely wrong, no. I don’t mind a partner, though.”
She grunted, took another bite.
Baz decided to elaborate. “For example, you. I enjoy working alongside you, gettin’ bossed around by you.”
“I’m not bossy,” she countered.
“Oh, you most certainly are.” He leaned in, met her gaze. “It’s one of the many things I find so hot about you.”
Her soft gasp said he’d hit exactly the mark he’d been aiming for.
