Protection & Investigation, I knew it was perfect.” Seeing the question in her eyes, he said, “We take on cases and are able to work…outside of the agency regulations.”
Unsure exactly what he meant, the twinkle in his blue eyes told her he enjoyed his job immensely. Unable to think of anything else to say, she just nodded, turning her cup up to finish the coffee dregs in the bottom.
Bart wondered about her silent response. Usually women practically swoon when I tell them I was a SEAL. He was unsure if he should be insulted or relieved.
Their coffee finished, they stood, Bart tossing a few bills on the table for the tip. He looked over and winked at the waitress again, who was still eying him as though he was the last cookie before a diet. Rolling her eyes, Faith proceeded him out of the door. His long legs quickly caught up to her before she reached her car.
“You okay?” he asked, true concern on his face.
Realizing the stupidity of being irritated at him for flirting with the waitress when they were doing nothing more than having a business lunch, she smiled and nodded.
“I still don’t quite understand why Mr. Krustas hired you since there are no witnesses,” Bart said.
She wondered how much to say. Glancing up into his face, his easy-going expression made her feel so accepted. Maybe, just maybe, he’ll be understanding.
“I don’t just draw what other people describe. I…feel things and see images in my head. Then I draw them as well. Sometimes it can help.”
Bart’s expression was one of confusion as he cocked his head to the side. “I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean.”
“Sometimes when I’m around someone or something where strong emotions have been involved, I…I don’t know. I…just get images in my head and draw them. Sometimes they’ve been helpful. The FBI has used me a couple of times for something local, but that’s completely off the record.”
She watched in fascination as a myriad of emotions crossed Bart’s handsome face—confusion, dawning realization, then morphing into pure anger.
“You…you’re psychic?” he barked out. “You’re shittin’ me. Seriously? You dig around a crime scene , see things, draw them down, and jerk some poor unsuspecting family who’s grieving, to pay for your services ? Fuck me! And here I thought you were legitimate!” he yelled.
Rearing back away from his rage, she tried to still her quivering while shaking her head. “No, no, you’ve got it all wrong!”
“Oh, I’ve got your number, sweetheart,” he growled. “I dealt with a slick-shit, fake medium a few months ago who was trying to rook my grandmother and cousin.” He whirled around, pacing furiously, his large frame menacing. Stalking back to her, he stopped only when his large boots were directly in front of her small pumps. Leaning down over her, using his size to intimidate, he said, “Well, your little scheme ends here, dearie. You won’t be getting rich off anyone else!” He refused to focus on her quivering chin and tears that formed on her lashes. “I’m officially calling our partnership quits right now. I’m telling Krustas you’re a phony and I’ve got no problem talking to our FBI and police contacts as well.”
With his angry face inches from hers, he growled one more time. “Consider yourself officially out of business!” Pushing away, he whirled around and stalked to his truck, hopping inside and squealing out the parking lot, leaving Faith shaking in his retreat.
Chapter 5
B art drove around for half an hour, furious with Faith’s deception, Krustas’ gullibility, and for allowing himself to become interested in a pair of dark, soulful eyes. Goddamnit ! His mind rolled back to the previous summer when Cecil Nastelli, a con-artist disguised as a medium, was stealing millions from lonely, wealthy widows by pretending to speak to their dead husbands. Nastelli would then tell them their husbands wanted them to invest in bogus