"Alone at last,” he said.
I shifted my weight, not liking the way this man unnerved me. I was a detective, for Christ’s sake. I ate suspects for breakfast, and my bad cop skills in interviews were worthy of an Academy Award. I’d never worked undercover, though, and I suddenly had all sorts of respect for my peers who put on the mask and held tight to their secrets.
Then again, I was no stranger to masks or secrets. I could do this. And as if to prove it to myself, I looked up at him through my lashes, hoping the effect was as sexy as I imagined. “Should I be nervous? A man like you looking for me?”
“A man like me?” His voice was low. Enticing. “Interesting. So tell me - what am I like?”
I stepped closer to him, lifted my hand as if I was going to touch him, then pulled it back with a slightly embarrassed expression. “Tempting,” I said, and though the word was calculated, it was also very true.
“Am I?” He looked pointedly at my hands. “And that makes you nervous?”
“That? No.” I drew in a breath as I considered my next move and, as in chess, where that move would take me. “I’m pretty good at resisting temptation.”
“Are you?” He leaned in, his mouth so close to my ear I felt the whisper of his breath on my hair. “I’m not. As far as I’m concerned, giving in to temptation is one of the few true pleasures in life.”
Oh, my. A hot coil of desire twisted through me, making my skin flush and my knees go weak.
If he noticed my reaction, he said nothing. But he began to walk slowly around me, as a man in a museum might circle a statue.
I started to turn as well, tracking his movement. “No,” he said, the command in his voice undeniable. “Stay still. Look forward.”
I stopped, hesitated, then turned my head to look out at the party, at the people floating by in pretty dresses and elegant suits. With smiles and laughter and nothing on their minds except the quality of the wine and the rhythm of the band.
I told myself that my acquiescence was simply part of the game - he was a man who wanted control, I was the woman falling under his spell.
But it was more than that, and I damn well knew it. That flutter I felt in my belly wasn’t the excitement of the chase, but the anticipation of his touch.
Yeah, Tyler Sharp was dangerous, all right.
He was behind me now, and though I could no longer see him, I felt his presence as firm and gentle as a kiss. My breath caught in my chest, and I realized that I was anticipating the brush of his fingertips upon the nape of my neck, then his hand on my bare back, exposed in the halter-style dress.
But the touch never came - and my breath never came easy.
When he spoke, his voice was low, as if too much volume would break the spell. “You’re a riddle, Ms. . . .”
“O’Dell,” I whispered.
He was right there, but I couldn’t see him. I could only breathe in the scent of him, fresh and woody, like a forest after a rain. Sexy, enticing, and undeniably male. “Sloane O’Dell,” he said. “I like it.”
“I like the way you say it.” I kept my voice low and full of invitation.
“Do you?” he asked, as he finished the circle. “I’m very glad to hear it.”
I looked at him, at that perfect face, and felt my fingers twitch with the desire to touch him, a desire that was magnified because I could see only too well that it was returned. Tyler Sharp wanted me, too. Maybe he was teasing me, playing me. Maybe he had an agenda. I didn’t know. But my world centered around seeing - seeing people, seeing evidence, seeing the truth. And I saw the truth in the way Tyler’s eyes were dilated. In the slightest flush of color on his skin. In the way that his pulse beat just a tad too quickly in his neck.
Yes, he wanted me - and yet there was no denying that he was playing with me, too. We were locked in a game, and though I’d initiated it, I couldn’t claim to fully understand the rules.
Where: Dulwich Books, 6 Croxted Road, West Dulwich, London SE21 8SW
Chaired by Peter Guttridge
Tickets are £5.00 each and redeemable against the purchase of a book. Please call for availability on 020 8670 1920 or pop into the bookshop.
Wednesday 5th March 7:30pm
Book club event at Wallingford Bookshop
Where: Wallingford Bookshop 9A St Martin's St, Town Centre, Wallingford OX10 0AL
Call 01491 834383 for more information
Thursday 3rd April 8pm
Talk at Chorleywood Bookshop Crime Bookclub
Private event
Friday 11th April 7pm for 7.30pm start
Bookclub event at Booka Bookshop
Where: Booka Bookshop 26-28 Church Street, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2SP
Call 01691 662244 for more information
Friday 2nd May 7pm
Book club event with Nantwich
Where: Nantwich Bookshop, 46 High St., Nantwich, CW5 5AS
Tickets £10 (includes Book and Snacks) - Cash Bar
For tickets call: 01270 611665
15th-17th of May
Sarah will also be appearing at Crimefest. See http://www.crimefest.com/ for more information.
Wednesday 18th June 6.45pm - 9.30pm
Book Lovers Supper Club event with Sophie Hannah
Where: The Barn, Ditchling Village Green, BN6 8SP
Tickets: On sale from mid May. £20 from Brighton Dome Ticket Office on 01273 709709 / www.brightonticketshop.com (booking fees apply) or in person from The Post Office, Ditchling, or The Mint House, Hurstpierpoint (no booking fees).
For more information: log on to www.facebook.com/BookLoversSupperClub
Sunday 29th June 1.30pm-3.30pm
Crime writing workshop at Felixstowe Book Festival
Where: Felixstowe Library, Crescent Rd Felixstowe IP117BY
Ticket prices £8 (£6). Tickets will be available from 14 April but please note weekend passes giving discounts for the whole weekend are available from 7 April.
To buy tickets contact Felixstowe Tourist Information IP11 2AF 01394 276770 after the above dates tickets can be posted to you or picked up in person.
Thursday 10th July 7pm
Best of British Crime Event with Claire McGowan and Sarah Hilary
Where: Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2BB
Tickets £3, call 0118 9781368 for more information
Refreshments provided
Tickets are £5.00 each and redeemable against the purchase of a book. Please call for availability on 020 8670 1920 or pop into the bookshop.
Wednesday 5th March 7:30pm
Book club event at Wallingford Bookshop
Where: Wallingford Bookshop 9A St Martin's St, Town Centre, Wallingford OX10 0AL
Call 01491 834383 for more information
Thursday 3rd April 8pm
Talk at Chorleywood Bookshop Crime Bookclub
Private event
Friday 11th April 7pm for 7.30pm start
Bookclub event at Booka Bookshop
Where: Booka Bookshop 26-28 Church Street, Oswestry, Shropshire SY11 2SP
Call 01691 662244 for more information
Friday 2nd May 7pm
Book club event with Nantwich
Where: Nantwich Bookshop, 46 High St., Nantwich, CW5 5AS
Tickets £10 (includes Book and Snacks) - Cash Bar
For tickets call: 01270 611665
15th-17th of May
Sarah will also be appearing at Crimefest. See http://www.crimefest.com/ for more information.
Wednesday 18th June 6.45pm - 9.30pm
Book Lovers Supper Club event with Sophie Hannah
Where: The Barn, Ditchling Village Green, BN6 8SP
Tickets: On sale from mid May. £20 from Brighton Dome Ticket Office on 01273 709709 / www.brightonticketshop.com (booking fees apply) or in person from The Post Office, Ditchling, or The Mint House, Hurstpierpoint (no booking fees).
For more information: log on to www.facebook.com/BookLoversSupperClub
Sunday 29th June 1.30pm-3.30pm
Crime writing workshop at Felixstowe Book Festival
Where: Felixstowe Library, Crescent Rd Felixstowe IP117BY
Ticket prices £8 (£6). Tickets will be available from 14 April but please note weekend passes giving discounts for the whole weekend are available from 7 April.
To buy tickets contact Felixstowe Tourist Information IP11 2AF 01394 276770 after the above dates tickets can be posted to you or picked up in person.
Thursday 10th July 7pm
Best of British Crime Event with Claire McGowan and Sarah Hilary
Where: Denmark Street, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 2BB
Tickets £3, call 0118 9781368 for more information
Refreshments provided