Evolution

CHAPTER 23 : PART 2 | i ain't afraid of no spy

📎A/N. Hello my lovelies. It's that time of the weekend. I hope you had a relaxing one and are raring to go for the new week.

The Watty's awards have been announced! Congratulations to all the winners.

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Joshua held the door opened and touched her lightly on the small of her back. "After you."

A shudder of energy pulsed from where his hand rested and spread out through every nerve ending. Petra walked through the door and pretended she didn't recognize the knowing glint in his eye. Why her nerves had suddenly woken up was anyone's guess. The evening was two people sharing a dinner, with one of them—her, trying to elicit information from the other—him. This was not a date by any stretch of the imagination. Which meant her skittish behavior made no sense.

To be fair, he had unsettled her when he picked her up to drive them to the steakhouse. When he dropped her off, he'd been in jeans and a Nike sweatshirt. When she opened her door an hour later to leave, he had showered and changed into dark slacks, and a light business casual shirt, with sleeves, rolled up to just below his elbow. She was thankful that she had changed her mind at the last minute and slipped into something a little more formal than jeans and her usual oversized shirt.

As they were lead to their table, she couldn't help but notice the waitress was flirting with Joshua. And why not? While not traditionally handsome, there was something in his rugged features that you couldn't help but take a second look at. When they arrived at their table in a secluded part of the restaurant, Joshua quickly helped her out of her coat. She stiffened when his fingers touched her neck and shoulders as he pulled the garment off her. The move was innocent, so why did every move he made feel so...erotic?

Joshua pulled out her chair and threw her a warm, open smile. She was thrown at the unexpected gesture and hesitated before taking the offered seat. It appeared chivalry wasn't dead. When he gently touched her shoulder again, before moving to his side of the table, she was sure her face was so flushed she had broken out in a sweat.

Not a date. This is not a date.

The waiter poured them water and left them to peruse the menu.

"So you were saying there are two variations of the bacteria," said Joshua, returning to the conversation they had started on the ride from the weird little village.

She nodded and forced her brain to concentrate. "Yes. The DNA makeup from the one from O'Neill is different from the others. I will need more samples from other victims to determine if there are any other variations. But, they seem to have gone missing."

A muscle twitched in Joshua's jaw, and he fussed over the breadsticks.

She narrowed her eyes. He was avoiding eye contact and didn't look surprised. Another sign they all knew what was going on. The man knew exactly what attacked the victims. Which meant she was right to try and pry him of the information he held.

Petra reached for her glass and took a sip. "I don't suppose you knew any of the victims that died?"

"No, can't say I did."

"But from what Alice tells me, you do know Murphy O'Neill. Quite well, in fact."

He nodded. "We've known each other a while now." He chuckled. "You could say he's almost family."

They were interrupted when the waitress returned for their order. Joshua ordered practically everything on the menu while she settled for the chef's special.