Thirty seconds later, Connor, Hale, and Trevor headed for the door, too, saying they’d be waiting out by the truck. And just like that, Samantha found herself left alone with Trey. It occurred to her then that it was the first time that had ever happened.

“Not very subtle, are they?” Samantha asked with a soft laugh.

Getting to her feet, she moved closer, mesmerized by the way his presence still seemed to fill the room even with only the two of them in it. Samantha found it impossible not to stare up at him. To say he was the most gorgeous man she’d ever seen was an understatement.

“No, I guess they aren’t,” Trey murmured, gazing down at her, his low, sexy voice drawing her in even closer. “Sorry we chased off your coworkers like that.”

“Did you hear me complaining?” she countered. “Anything that gets me out of talking to Hugh and Nadia is all good in my book.”

Trey snorted, his lips curving into a smile. Samantha had an overwhelming urge to rub her face against his like a cat just so she could feel that scruff on his chiseled jaw against her skin.

“Yeah, I couldn’t help but pick up on the bad vibe between you and those two,” he said. “If you want to use up one of those favors, I happen to have a few friends in the federal government. I could have them sniff around their background, see if Hugh cheats on his taxes or Nadia hacks into their neighbor’s Netflix account.”

Samantha was too caught up in Trey’s blue eyes to answer right away. Sometimes they seemed darker in color, like the sky at night. Other times, they reminded her of the sky on a sunny day. She wondered if it was possible for eyes to change color like that, to lighten and darken with one’s mood. Maybe she should ask for permission to lay on his chest for a few hours to study them just to see if she was right.

But while lying atop Trey certainly sounded like fun, Samantha realized maybe she needed to start with something a little less familiar.

“If I’m going to use up one of my favors,” she said softly, keenly aware of Trey leaning in even more, then closing his eyes and inhaling. Like he was trying to breathe in her scent. “It wouldn’t be for snooping into either of their backgrounds.”

“What would you use it on then?” he asked, lifting his gaze to hers. Oh yeah, his eyes definitely darkened a bit more, like the ocean in the middle of a storm.

Inspiration hit then, and Samantha didn’t even pause to wonder if she should do it or not.

“I’d use it to have you take me out to dinner,” she said before she could come to her senses and chicken out.

From the way Trey gaped, Samantha could tell she’d thrown the big cop for a loop. Fear and doubt immediately started creeping in, making her think she’d royally screwed up. Maybe Trey was one of those men who was more comfortable doing the asking instead of being asked. She didn’t like to think someone who was clearly so strong and confident would be insecure over something like that. But maybe she’d read him all wrong.

“Are you asking me out on a date?” he said, and she was relieved when she saw a spark of interest there in those mesmerizing eyes. Like he suddenly found a game he unequivocally liked.

She stepped closer, smiling as his eyes darkened again. “Actually, I’m using one of my favors to have you ask me out. That way, I can be progressive and traditional at the same time. That doesn’t bother you, does it?”

He grinned, his expression making her pulse skip a beat. “Definitely not. I’m a huge fan of progressive traditions. Dinner tomorrow night work for you?”

She had to force herself not to pump her fist in excitement. “It does.”

“Good. Should I pick you up at your place? Say seven o’clock.”

She nodded, then watched in disappointment as he turned and headed for the door. Not that seeing him from behind was a bad view or anything.

“Hey,” she called before he disappeared into the hallway. “I didn’t give you my address.”

Trey paused long enough to give her another one of those smiles that turned her knees to Jell-O. “At the risk of sounding like a stalker, I already know where you live.”

He was out the door before Samantha could say whether it made him seem like a stalker or not. But in all honesty, it wasn’t like she could complain very much since she already knew where he lived, too.