Page 6 of Ice Covered Heart

Her head whipped toward him. Her dark eyes had gone even wider. “What?”

So much for being chill. He swallowed. Tried to smile.

Her gaze dropped to his mouth. She inhaled.

Not good. How desperate had his smile looked? Time to take control. Fast. “Welcome to my PI office,” he said. Surely that was less growly? It felt less growly. “I take my work very seriously.” Damn straight, he did. “I like to believe that I go above and beyond for my clients.” There. Had that smoothed over his slip? Though, technically, she was his first client. But he definitely intended to go above and beyond for her.

Some of the tension seemed to ease from her shoulders. “I was referred to you.”

She had his complete and total focus. “Oh?”

Shelby crept into his office. She didn’t shut the door. “Where is your receptionist?”

“Haven’t hired one yet.” But that item was on his agenda. “The office here in New Orleans is just getting off the ground. I’ve been in security for years but decided it was time to branch out and try something new recently.”

Another gentle glide forward. “Because you’d been working for the Ice Breakers and you enjoyed the work so much.”

“Yes.” How did she know that?

A slight nod from Shelby. “As I said, I was referred to you. I…” Her attention darted around his office. Toward the window that looked out over the Mississippi River. Her hands remained loose at her sides. There were no nervous movements from her. No stressful flutters of her fingers. “Memphis Camden.” Her stare returned to Hunter. “I know his wife, Eliza. Memphis and Eliza told me that you were here in town and would be open to new clients. Memphis spoke highly of you. Said you were the kind of man I could trust.”

He and Memphis had worked a few cases together in the past. Ice Breaker cases. The Ice Breakers focused on old, unsolved cases. The ones that the authorities had given up hope of solving. “Why don’t you have a seat?” Hunter motioned to the two chairs in front of his desk. Dark brown leather. “Then you can tell me why you’re interested in acquiring my services.” And I can convince you that you absolutely need me in your life. Hunter also made a mental note to send Memphis a giant gift basket as a thank you. Maybe a fruit basket?

She took the seat on the left. Crossed one leg over the other. Kept her back ramrod straight. His gaze wanted to dart over her. He wanted to take in every single bit of her.

But he held her stare.

“You said that you’d just opened your office here.” One delicate eyebrow quirked. “That means you probably don’t have a lot of clients, yet, right?”

Technically, he had zero clients. But it seemed like a poor decision to blurt out that bit of honesty, so he just made a hmm sound.

“So if I wanted to hire you, if I wanted to offer you a position that would require you to be my companion on a twenty-four, seven basis, you’d be available?”

He was still standing. Towering over the desk and looking down at her. “I’m sorry.” He shook his head. Hard. “Could you run that by me again?” Because there was no way that Shelby had just asked him to be with her twenty-four, seven. He’d misheard, obviously, because he’d been distracted by trying to figure out how to ask the woman on a date.

Don’t do it. She’s a potential client. You don’t ask potential clients out on dates. Super bad form.

Her chin lifted. “I need a PI who can make me his priority.”

You are the priority for me. One hundred percent.

“I will need someone who can stay with me day and night on this case.”

Dreams do come true. His heart raced a bit faster.

“I am concerned that there will be great danger.”

I can handle any kind of danger. Truth be told, he enjoyed the rush that came from facing off against a bit of danger.

“And with your particular background, Memphis assured me that you would be up for the task.”

Okay, now things were getting dicey. Instead of sitting down in his chair, Hunter strolled around his desk. He stopped when he was in front of her, and Shelby’s light scent teased his nose. Warm vanilla. She smelled like delicious vanilla and…

Temptation.

He drank in that scent, then propped a hip on his desk as he studied her. He also crossed his arms over his chest because he didn’t want to do something stupid like reach out and tuck a lock of her dark hair behind her ear. Touch her cheek. Just touch her to make sure she wasn’t some kind of fantasy.

But…