As Sharon neared the address Robert had given her, the buildings turned taller, the avenues broader, and even the trees dotting the pavement were greener.

This looked to be a pricey part of downtown Los Angeles. Apparently, her theory about Robert being strapped for cash was all wrong. To afford an apartment in one of those high rises, even when sharing rent with a roommate, Robert must’ve been getting one hell of a salary. The guy had been way too modest about his position in the company he worked for, the one Amanda’s brother was the CEO of.

What was his story, then?

Why hadn’t he invited her on a date until now?

And why was he preparing dinner at his place instead of taking her out?

It was sweet that the guy was cooking for her, a first for Sharon, but it didn’t make much sense. Maybe he’d figured it would be easier to get her in his bed if she was already there. But then it wasn’t as if she’d been playing hard to get. Sharon had given him plenty of indications that she was ready to sample the goods.

Robert was such a yummy piece of maleness, and she couldn’t wait to undress him. A girl didn’t need to have a vivid imagination to picture what he was hiding under his clothes.

Smooth, lean muscles stretched over a tall frame, and a set of shoulders she would love to hang on to while he pounded into her.

Damn. Sharon wiggled to alleviate the sudden itch her naughty thoughts had caused. Better to think of other things than arrive all hot and bothered. She might jump the guy and skip the meal he’d prepared for her.

Not nice.

Besides, Sharon didn’t want him to think she was a slut. Except, the ship might have sailed on that. Robert had been so reserved and so shy that he’d left her no choice but to pursue him, and she’d done so, no holds barred.

“You have arrived. Your destination is on the left,” the navigation system announced.

“Thank you, Mike.” That was the name Sharon had given the computerized voice of her GPS.

The personification of the device was just another indicator that she was spending way too much time alone. Her job was a solo operation, and she didn’t have friends other than her coworkers and the poker bunch. No wonder she was talking to the computer.

As she turned into the guest parking, a valet waved her over. Apparently, guests were not allowed to park their cars without using the service. Sharon’s eyes darted around looking for the sign with the price per hour, but there was none.

Crap, that was going to cost her. Parking in downtown Los Angeles was expensive.

The valet opened her door. “Good evening, miss.”

Sharon ignored his offered hand as she stepped out. “I was looking for the sign with the prices, but I must’ve missed it. How much is it per hour?

The valet smiled. “The service is complimentary. But tips are greatly appreciated.”

“Oh.” She reached for her wallet.

He lifted his palm. “Only on your way out.”

“But there might be someone else here.”

“Don’t worry about it.” He winked. “We share the tips.”

“In that case, thank you, and I hope to see you later.”

“Same here.” He stepped aside.

As Sharon headed for the glass doors leading to the lobby, her eyes darted around looking for Robert. He’d said he would be waiting for her.

The place was enormous, probably spanning the entire width of the building, with soaring ceilings and sparse modern decor, but other than the two guys at the guard station and Robert, there was no one there.

“Hi, Sharon.” He walked up to her, leaned and kissed her cheek. “Did you find the place easily?”

Poor guy. Everything from the kiss to his words seemed rehearsed. He was trying so hard.

“Mike navigated like the pro he is.”

Robert tensed. “Mike?”

Crap, she shouldn’t have said it. Now he would think she was weird. “My navigation system. I call it Mike.”

Robert’s shoulders lost some of their rigidity, but his military posture never allowed for complete relaxation. Not that she wanted him to slouch, that wasn’t attractive, but it would’ve been nice if he could loosen up a bit. His innate tension affected her, stressing her.

Or maybe it was sexual frustration.

They’d been meeting over poker for weeks, and Sharon’s level of horniness was increasing with each time that ended with no more than a couple of stolen kisses.

“I hope I didn’t mess up dinner too much. It was my first attempt.” He took her hand and led her to the elevators.

Gosh, that was sweet. She was the first girl he’d cooked for. She would eat it and sing its praises even if it was awful.

“What did you make?” Sharon asked as they stepped inside the lift.

“Two roasted chickens with white rice and baby carrots.”

“Two? Who else is joining us for dinner?”

“No one.”

“What about your roommate?”

“Not trusting my cooking, he grabbed a sandwich from the vending machine.” They exited into a corridor that was lined with a thick carpet.

“I’m sure it’s his loss. I can’t see you failing at anything. You’re too methodical and detail-oriented to mess up a simple chicken recipe.”

Robert pushed open the door to his apartment, holding it open for her. “I appreciate your confidence in my abilities. I hope you won’t be disappointed.”

Sharon walked in and stopped at the entry. “Oh, wow, this is one fancy place.” The apartment was spacious and incredibly well-decorated with stuff that was elegant and looked pricey. This was an interior designer’s work, not the collection of crap most young guys furnished their apartments with.

“It is.” Robert didn’t elaborate.

“Did you hire an interior decorator?”

For some reason, he winced. “No, it came like this.”

“Must be expensive.”

“It’s part of my compensation package.”

That explained how Robert could afford to live in such luxury even if he wasn’t making good money. “You have a very generous boss.”

“I know.”

“It smells fantastic in here. I can’t wait to eat your chicken.” Hopefully, that didn’t sound like an innuendo.

“Yes, we should dine before it gets cold.” He walked over to the dining table, which was already set for two, and pulled out a chair for her. “My lady?”

“Ooh, I like it. My lady. I feel important.” She sat down and let him push her chair in.

“You are important to me.”

What a nice thing to say, and coming from Robert it didn’t sound like a line. Sharon could melt into a puddle of goo.

“Well, hello, Sharon,” a man, most likely Robert’s roommate, said in a pleasant baritone.

She turned around and barely kept her mouth from gaping. This guy was a doctor? That drop-dead gorgeous panty-melter was also smart?

Some guys got all the luck.

“Julian, I presume?” She started to push away from the table.

He put a hand on her shoulder. “Don’t get up.”

Sharon craned her neck to look at him. He was even taller than Robert. “Then you have to sit because I can’t keep looking up at you without straining my neck.”

Julian’s smile was blinding. “Of course, how rude of me.” He pulled out a chair and sat on it sideways, facing her. “Let’s do it properly this time.” He offered her his hand. “I’m Julian, and it’s my pleasure to meet you.”

She shook what he offered. “I’m Sharon, and the pleasure is all mine.”

Behind her, she thought she heard Robert growl. It had probably been his stomach because Julian ignored it.

“Robert tells me you’re a detective. Must be exciting.”

“I’m the fact checker and information collector. My boss is the detective. And yes, sometimes my job is exciting, but only to someone like me who likes to dig for hidden stuff. Nick, my coworker, thinks what I do is boring. He deals with all the surveillance equipment and hacks into encrypted systems when needed.”

Julian shook his head. “Both jobs sound fascinating to me. I often feel like a mechanic who instead of machines fixes people. Or at least try to. There is a reason it’s called practicing medicine and not curing.”

Robert cleared his throat. “Speaking of medicine, don’t you have a load of articles you need to catch up on?”

“Yes, I do. Thanks for reminding me.” He pushed to his feet. “It was nice meeting you, Sharon. I’ll probably fall asleep with my headphones on and will not see you before you leave.” He bowed his head. “I bid you goodnight.”

“Goodnight, Julian.”

Robert waited until his roommate’s door closed. “He is handsome, isn’t he?”

Her guy was jealous. How sweet.

Sharon pushed away from the table, sauntered over to Robert, and wrapped her arms around his neck. “He is very pretty. But he is not my type. You are.”

Robert arched a brow. “A young, good-looking doctor is every woman’s type.”

“Not this one. I like my man to be a little rougher around the edges, and I don’t want to fight the entire female population over him. I want him all to myself.”

Robert’s other brow went up. “I’m not sure if I should feel offended or flattered. Are you implying that other women don’t find me attractive?”

God, men were just as bad as women at accepting compliments. “You are right that Julian is the type of guy every girl and her mother chases. Which probably gives him an ego the size of a zeppelin and an attitude of entitlement. I don’t find those attributes attractive.”

“Julian suffers from neither. He is a very nice guy.”

“I’m still not interested.”

“Good. That’s all I wanted to hear. Let’s eat.”