intently. âWhat made you choose the Secret Service?â
âHmm. Iâd have to say the excitement of the training is what lured me into the FBI initially. Later I chose Secret Service because I loved meeting new people. And since I was in the lower echelons of government protection, I didnât have to leave my family.â She spread her hands wide. âFor the most part it was a win-win situation.â
âBut?â
âWhat?â
âYou said for the most part it was win-win. What didnât you like?â
She grinned. âAs you might guess, the strict rules and regulations didnât agree with me. I mean after I had to be forced into a safe house and my family thought I was dead, the agency ripped into me but good. Of course, I did it for my family, but did anyone understand? Nope.â She paused for a sip of coffee. âForced confinement can really make a person evaluate whatâs important and I wanted more out of my career than a strict, by-the-book environment.â
He looked at her for a moment as though to take in all of what sheâd revealed. âNot a shock,â he finally said and he laughed, and Zoe realized exactly what she found most attractive about him.
The dimples he showed when he smiled. Really smiled, not the forced kind when he was trying to figure her family out or pretend to like a situation when he was really confused. The dimples that didnât seem to go with the Italian-cut suits he favored, like the navy one he wore today. Also appealing was the way he kissed, something she hadnât been able to get out of her mind all weekend.
âAm I that predictable?â she asked.
âI definitely hadnât pegged you for an agent of any kind, but now that I know you, Iâm sure the rules made you insane. But at least I understand how you hold on to a poker face so easily. So, what are you doing now that your federal career is behind you?â
She rubbed her hands together, the excitement she felt in talking about her new business growing. âIâm in business with Quinn and Connor. Weâre going to provide protection for movie stars and musicians coming to entertain in Atlantic City. In fact, we just took on our first official client this morning. GSC Music.â
He nodded and she could see from his expression that sheâd impressed him.
âCongratulations.â
âThank you.â
âI need to ask another question.â
She laughed. âAnyone tell you youâre nosy?â
âOnly when it comes to you,â he said, sounding a bit stunned by the admission. âWhat did your mother whisper to you before we left the house?â
She hadnât realized he was paying attention. âShe asked me to stick close to Samâs social worker.â
He reached for the centerpiece on the table and rolled it between his palms. âAnd you didnât feel guilty?â
âOf course I did, but let me tell you something. Iâd feel guiltier if I told her the truth before I knew enough about you and your family. I need time with you. You need time with Sam. I think we both understand and agree on that, donât we?â
He nodded slowly. âI do. And I think youâre an incredible woman, Zoe Costas.â
Something about the way he said her name sent tremors of awareness down her spine. Again. The man was amazing, from his caring nature to his potent sex appeal. Her fingers itched with the uncontrollable urge to touch his hand. A simple touch, though the feelings he evoked were much more complex than simple.
She glanced down at his hands, in which he still held the infamous Paradeisos centerpiece. Zoe immediately realized what anatomy part he held in his hand and the sensuality surrounding her evaporated in favor of a fit of laughter. She knew the moment he noticed it, too, because he dropped the centerpiece, a naked Greek god with flowers nestled in hisâ
âAnd they call