“Doesn’t mean I can’t stick my nose into it, when I’m of a mind to,” he said. “By the way, did I mention you’re looking particularly beautiful today. That red blouse suits you.”

“Thank you,” she said, but her gaze narrowed suspiciously. “You’re up to something, aren’t you?”

“I could ask you the same thing with more cause,” he retorted, enjoying the unmistakable guilt that darkened her eyes.

He decided there was something to be said for tormenting her. Maybe he wouldn’t tell her about that trip to Oklahoma, not until she came clean with him. Surely a man was entitled to some secrets from a woman who had the ability to tie him in knots without even trying.

Gina played straight into his hands by turning up just then with a platter of antipasto and two glasses of Chianti. It got them both off the hook, which was probably to the good, he decided as he watched Janet nervously shoving a couple of olives around on her plate. Let her stew for a bit.

“You get any clients today?” he asked after a while.

She looked up, her expression revealing unmistakable gratitude for the change to a more innocuous topic. “As a matter of fact, yes. Mule came by.”

Harlan’s mouth gaped. “What the devil did he want?”

“That’s a matter of client confidentiality,” she said, obviously pleased that she’d not only stunned him, but stirred his curiosity.

“Well, I’ll be damned. You sure he didn’t want to get in a few quick hands of poker? He might have been running short of cash, since he’s had that garage of his closed for so blasted long.”

“Sorry,” she said blithely. “I can’t talk about it.”

“Mule tells me most of his business anyway,” he said, trying to coax her into telling, when he knew perfectly well that she was too ethical to ever say a word. He was enjoying aggravating her too much to stop just yet.

“Then you’ll have to ask him about this,” she retorted. “Now, stop prying.”

“Just making polite small talk,” he shot right back, echoing her earlier jab.

She rolled her eyes. He couldn’t help chuckling at her exasperated expression. “You are a treasure, you know that, don’t you?”

The compliment seemed to throw her off-balance. “Where did that come from?” she asked in a tone that said she didn’t think she deserved it.

“Just an observation. A man’s entitled to make one every now and again, isn’t he?”

“Of course.”

“Shall I make a few more?” he inquired, leaning forward and lowering his voice to a seductive whisper.

She swallowed hard and shook her head. “I don’t think so.”

He grinned. “How come?”

“Because I don’t think this is the time or the place to be discussing whatever it is you have on your mind.”