Page 17 of Lost Without You
“It’s tough when you don’t have a partner that’s aligned. My last boyfriend said he was supportive of my career until I got an offer in Australia. He didn’t want to move with me and leave his job, which I totally understood so we agreed to remain long distance. But then his behavior changed. He started making patronizing comments and talking me down. He admitted my promotion didn’t sit well. He was okay with my success as long as I didn’t outshine him. Oh, and he was seeing someone else behind my back.”
“What a dick. His loss,” Ethan commented as traffic finally eased a bit.
“That’s what my brother said. I dumped Jake’s sorry ass and never looked back.”
“Good for you.”
“Have you dated much since your divorce?” Rachel blurted out.
What the fuck Rach? Why are you asking him that? And why did you tell him about Jake?She grabbed her drink to distract herself. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked. I’m naturally nosy, but it’s no excuse.”
Ethan laughed softly. “It’s fine. I’ve dated but no one serious. I’ve noticed a disturbing trend since I became a best-selling author. A lot of women aren’t necessarily interested in me but rather my celebrity status. I told Wes a year ago that I’d all but given up on finding love.”
Rachel turned her attention back to Ethan and their eyes locked. A flash of heat sparked between them.
“Maybe you need to go undercover,” Rachel joked, breaking the sizzling tension.
“What?” Ethan burst out laughing.
“You know, don’t tell people what you do for a living until at least the third date. Maybe longer.”
“Most women that I’ve dated in recent years I’ve met at publishing events.”
Rachel shook her head. “That’s your problem right there. You need to find someone who doesn’t know who you are.”
“Are you offering to be my dating coach?” he quipped.
“Oh, please, my track record is worse than yours. Maybe Wes can help you out.”
“I think that would be dangerous. He’d line up half of New York’s eligible female population at some high-profile event and auction me off.”
Rachel chuckled. “Wes is great at reading people. Hey, I may be on to something here. I’m sure he’d be into setting you up.”
“Oh, God, no,” Ethan murmured as he pulled into the FBI field office parking garage. “No more dating for me for a long time.”
Rachel’s disappointment at Ethan’s statement unnerved her, but she shook it off.
After showing his consultant ID, they found a parking spot and headed for the main entrance. A half hour later, with the security screening complete, they were led to a conference room to await Dalton Sunema.
“I feel like I’m in really big trouble, what with the one thousand questions and the thorough pat down,” Rachel murmured.
Ethan’s face turned serious. “Standard screening protocol. Did it make you nervous?”
“Not in the least. But I was disappointed they didn’t pull out the handcuffs.” Rachel’s quick reply was followed by Ethan’s bark of laughter.
She couldn’t help herself, but she really should watch it. Funny jokes turned flirtatious, and it would be all too easy with Ethan. There was something so undeniably attractive about a man whose brains were more stimulating than his looks.
“Am I interrupting?” a smooth voice commented.
Rachel needed to get her head back to business.
“You’re just in time. How are you, Dalton?” Ethan asked as he got up to shake hands with a stern looking man in a standard charcoal suit.
Dalton was all sharp edges, softened only by intense hazel eyes. That gaze turned to Rachel and made her nerves kick into high gear—no way would she want to sit across from this guy during an interrogation. A three-inch scar ran under his right cheekbone, but he made no effort to hide it with a beard. There was no need, the scar only amplified his fierce aura. Rachel also noticed the tattoos on his wrists, peaking out of his shirtsleeve. He looked like he stepped off the cover of GQ, badass edition.
“I’m good, Ethan, nice to finally meet you in person.” Dalton replied without smiling.
“You as well.”