A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2) QUOTES

61 " Without further ado, he took Jordan by the hand and pulled her off to the side of the room. He braced one hand on the wall next to her and peered down into her eyes. “Honey, before we came to this party, you might’ve mentioned that the host had the hots for you.”

She stared back up at him, not looking particularly intimidated. In eleven years of law enforcement, Nick had made many a suspect sweat under the duress of what he knew was an impressive don’t-fuck-with-me face, yet she didn’t so much as bat an eye. Granted, none of those suspects had been wearing a knockout dress with a slit nearly down to the ass, so perhaps the don’t-fuck-with-me face wasn’t in top form right then. "

― Julie James , A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)

62 " He stepped across the remaining space that divided them. “So what do billionaire heiresses like to do in the Napa Valley?”

She held his gaze. “Right now, probably the same thing as FBI agents from Brooklyn.”

Enough said. "

― Julie James , A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)

63 " Nick relaxed as he and Jordan settled into the last two open chairs at the bar. This kind of wine tasting was much more his style.

Mike slid two empty glasses in front of them. “Where do you guys want to start?”

Nick thought about this. “Do you have anything in a pink?”

Mike eagerly grabbed a bottle from the back bar. “Actually, we have a gorgeous Rosato. Predominantly made from cabernet and Sangiovese grapes, fermented in stainless steel, then briefly in French oak, it’s a lush, aromatic blend of wild strawberries and blood oranges, full in the mouth without being too heavy. Perfect for a sunny, spring day like this.”

“Sounds delicious,” Nick said. “I’ll take everything but that one. "

― Julie James , A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)

64 " ON THEIR WAY out, Nick held Huxley’s front door open for her. “Boyfriend, huh? I didn’t realize we had taken things to that level.”

“Oh, I’m sorry—this is my first undercover operation,” Jordan said. “I’m a little unclear about the rules. Are we seeing other people in this fake relationship?”

He followed her down the steps to the sidewalk. “You expect me to make this decision on the spot? I’m a man, Jordan; I can’t be pressured into these kinds of things.”

She flashed him a sweet smile. “Lucky for you, it will all be over soon. Tomorrow you can have a fake freak-out over commitment issues that will lead to our fake breakup. After that, I think our characters will need some very real time apart.” She began walking toward the street. "

― Julie James , A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)

65 " Nick shrugged. “You don’t have to explain yourself to me, princess.”

Jordan’s eyes widened in surprise. She stepped over to him, pulling herself up to her full five foot five inches. “Listen, I don’t know who you are, or where you came from, but nobody’s calling anybody a princess around here.”

“Brooklyn.”

“Excuse me?”

“I’m from Brooklyn.” The edges of Nick’s lips curled up in a grin. “Your majesty. "

― Julie James , A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)

66 " Such a shame that I didn’t get to say good-bye to my fellow inmates,” he said sarcastically. “Actually, Puchalski was the only guy I liked. I still can’t figure out what got into him.”

As Jordan used her chopsticks to pick up a piece of hamachi, she decided it was best to get her brother off that topic as fast as possible. “Sounds like he just snapped.”

“But why would he have a fork in his shoe?” Kyle mused. “That makes me think he was planning the attack, which doesn’t make sense.”

Let it go, Kyle. She shrugged. “Maybe he always keeps a fork in his shoe. Who understands why any of these felon types do what they do?”

“Hey. I am one of those felon types.”

Grey tipped his glass of wine. “And who would’ve thought you would do what you did?”

“It was Twitter,” Kyle mumbled under his breath.

Maybe we should change the subject,” Jordan suggested, sensing the conversation could only spiral downward from there.

“Okay. Let’s talk about you instead,” Grey said. “I never asked—how did Xander’s party go?”

Now there was a potential land mine of a topic. “It went fine. Pretty much the same party as usual.” Except for a little domestic espionage. She threw Kyle a look, needing help. Change the subject. Fast.

He stared back cluelessly. Why?

She glared. Just do it.

He made a face. All right, all right. “Speaking of wine, Jordo, how was your trip to Napa?”

Great. Leave it to her genius of a brother to pick the other topic she wanted to avoid. “I visited that new winery I told you about. We should have a deal this week so that my store will be the first to carry their wine in the Chicago area.”

Grey’s tone was casual. “Did you bring Tall, Dark, and Smoldering with you on the trip?”

Jordan set down her chopsticks and looked over at her father. He smiled cheekily as he took a sip of his wine.

“You read Scene and Heard, too?” she asked.

Grey scoffed at that. “Of course not. I have people read it for me. Half the time, it’s the only way I know what’s going on with you two. And don’t avoid the question. Tell us about this new guy you’re seeing. I find it very odd that you’ve never mentioned him.” He fixed his gaze on her like the Eye of Sauron.

Jordan took a deep breath, suddenly very tired of the lies and the secret-agent games. Besides, she had to face the truth at some point. “Well, Dad, I don’t know if you have to worry about Tall, Dark, and Smoldering anymore. He’s not talking to me right now.”

Kyle’s face darkened. “Tall, Dark, and Smoldering sounds like a moron to me.”

Grey nodded, his expression disapproving. “I agree. You can do a lot better than a moron, kiddo.”

“Thanks. But it’s not that simple. His job presents some . . . challenges.”

That was definitely the wrong thing to say.

“Why? What kind of work does he do?” her father asked immediately.

Jordan stalled. Maybe she’d overshot a little with the no more lies promise. She threw Kyle another desperate look. Do something. Again.

Kyle nodded. I’m on it. He eased back in his chair and stretched out his intertwined hands, limbering up his fingers. “Who cares what this jerk does? Send me his e-mail address, Jordo—I’ll take care of it. I can wreak all sorts of havoc on Tall, Dark, and Smoldering’s life in less than two minutes.” With an evil grin, he mimed typing at a keyboard.

Their father looked ready to blow a gasket. “Oh no—you do not get to make the jokes,” he told Kyle. “Jordan and I make the jokes. You’ve been out of prison for four days and I seriously hope you learned your lesson, young man . . . "

― Julie James , A Lot like Love (FBI/US Attorney, #2)