Page 16 of Unhinged

But that wasn’t a crime. The more she thought about it, the more she began to think she was just being extra sensitive. The guy would be there for a few weeks until the cops figured out who had murdered the girl downtown, then he would be on his way.

Until then, she would just ignore him… and all of the unwelcome feelings he stirred within her.

CHAPTER

EIGHT

“I’m telling you, she hates my guts.”

Knox laughed. “What did you do to her?”

Luke threw one hand in the air. “Why do you assume it’s my fault? She literally walked through the door, sized me up, and then unloaded on me. She asked for my credentials, Knox. Who is this woman?”

Knox took a swig of beer and tipped his head. “Well, she did get a call from a killer just a few days ago. Maybe she’s still on edge, wants to make sure you’re legit. Can’t blame her for that.”

Luke nodded reluctantly. It was true, although personally, he still thought the woman’s reaction was uncalled for. It was literally the last thing he’d expected.

As soon as she’d walked into the lobby, something had shifted. It sounded cheesy, but the sight of Hannah had been like a sucker punch to the gut. He’d recognized her immediately from the clip he’d watched the other night, only then she’d been in jeans and a hooded sweatshirt. In person she was even more gorgeous, even in the ill-fitting suit meant to downplay what were surely mouth-watering curves beneath the bulky material.

She’d stopped in her tracks, and he was sure she’d felt it too—whatever it was. Lust, definitely. Something else, though, too. Her steel-gray eyes were devoid of makeup and he’d felt her gaze brush over his skin as surely as if she’d touched me. But before he’d really even had a chance to introduce himself, she’d lit into him with a vengeance. And now he was stuck working with her every day.

Not that it would be a problem. The woman really wasn’t even his type. Beautiful, yes, but too buttoned up. She hid behind drab, dark clothes that hung shapelessly from her body and hair that’d been pulled ruthlessly away from her face in a style that reminded him of a nun—a very beautiful nun, but the kind who rapped knuckles for the pure enjoyment of it. Maybe that was half the appeal, though.

The woman was naturally beautiful with her coffee-colored hair and sharp gray eyes that sliced through him, missing nothing. For some reason, though, she was dead set against him.

He set his beer on the bar. “Pretty sure I felt my manhood shrivel up out of self-preservation.”

Knox scoffed. “How bad can she be? I saw her on the news after the murder. She seemed okay.”

“Just don’t be surprised if you get a complaint from her,” Luke warned. “To say we got off on the wrong foot is an understatement.”

Knox sighed as he rolled the beer bottle between his hands. “If it’s that bad, I’ll try to find someone else. I want our first jobs to go as smoothly as possible, so it’s best if we can avoid any altercations. Jaxon will be stateside soon, but he has some things to settle before he can come down here.

“I leave for D.C. on Monday, but I should be back by Thursday, Friday at the latest. If you can make it through this week without killing each other, I’ll take over when I get back. I’ll try to drum up another job for you in the meantime.”

Luke dipped his chin. “Appreciate it.”

It was probably better that way, even if he already regretted not being able to see her. Didn’t matter that she seemed to hate him, the little spitfire turned him on something fierce.

“The workers installed the carpet today, so the furniture is scheduled to be delivered next week. Wanna stop by on your way home, pick out your office?”

Knox’s words snapped Luke back to reality. “You giving me preferential treatment?”

Knox snorted. “I shouldn’t since I have to take over for you, watching your pretty little doctor.”

Something akin to jealousy snaked through him. “Just wait ‘til she tears you a new one.”

Knox laughed. “Maybe she just needs a real man to settle her down a bit.”

“Come on.” Irrational anger surged to the surface and Luke dropped his feet to the floor. “Let’s go check out my new office.”

Throwing an extra couple bucks down on the bar, he nodded to the bartender dressed in a too-tight shirt and cut-off shorts, her long, lean legs enhanced by the fringed cowboy boots she wore. The woman winked, and he shot her a lazy smile. Worst case, looked like the pretty little bartender would be more than happy to share his bed. Why, then, couldn’t he stop thinking about the prickly little doctor?

Maybe because she was the first woman in a long time—maybe ever, honestly—who hadn’t fallen into his arms. He wasn’t vain by a long shot, but he was a decent-looking guy. If nothing else, women loved a man in uniform, and he’d enjoyed a fair share of the bunnies who’d hung out in the bars around base.

But Dr. Whitmore was the furthest thing from a groupie. She was obviously smart and driven, and she didn’t put up with anything—especially from a man she didn’t know from Adam.

They headed out of the bar and turned east toward the industrial section of town. Knox’s voice cut through the silence. “So, what’s the real story?”