Thread of Suspicion. Susan Sleeman

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СКАЧАТЬ arched a brow. “Not that I’m not thankful, but are you sure?”

      “Positive. If you’re truly innocent, then someone else either used your computer or hacked your home network. I might be able to prove it by looking at your home computer. That could cast enough doubt on your guilt, and I can bring my family on board.”

      He nodded. Once. Quickly. Decisively. Then he glanced at Wilder and his group. “I’ll need time to talk with the general and my staff, and then we can head to my place.”

      “Great,” she said.

      He slowly came to his feet, agony lighting on his face. His eyes darkened into a shade of steel that burned a path ahead, and he walked away. She imagined him in his uniform in Afghanistan, facing down terrorism. He’d be a formidable foe.

      She watched him march up to Wilder, and uncertainty plagued her heart.

      Had she done the right thing in agreeing to help him? Or would she soon find herself dealing with a cunning traitor who expertly knew how to use his charms to get his way?

      * * *

      Luke pushed from his desk and strode to the conference room. His adrenaline from the car crash and shock over the sabotage had disappeared hours ago, fatigue taking its place. As he approached the long table where Dani awaited him, he swayed and felt as if he might drop to the floor. He grabbed the edge of the tabletop for support, but when he caught Dani watching him, he let go and came to full height.

      Never let anyone see your weakness, his father had warned so many times that, even though Luke had lost respect for his father long before he’d died, he often found himself living by the man’s misguided code.

      Making sure his shoulders were back in military precision, he crossed the room and forced out a smile for Dani. “I’ve had a rental car delivered, and I’m ready to head to my house. I’ll meet you there, since you already know my address.”

      She opened her mouth but didn’t seem to know how to respond.

      “Sorry. The comment about you knowing my address was my attempt at a lame joke to lighten the mood.”

      She smiled, and if he wasn’t so exhausted, he might take the time to enjoy how it lit up her face and chased the confusion from her eyes.

      He held out his hand. “After you.”

      She grabbed her laptop case and he slipped it from her hands. She stopped and looked him in the eye. “I appreciate the gesture, but I carry my own computer.” She took the case from him and shouldered it before striding down the hall.

      Stubborn, much?

      He set off, but a wave of dizziness assailed him and he had to run his hand along the wall to keep up with the clip, clip, clip of her pointy heels. In the elevator she watched him carefully. He expected her to speak at any moment, but she said nothing. They stepped into the cooling afternoon air, and he dug his keys from his pocket.

      With long fingers she snatched them out of his hand. “You’re in no shape to drive.”

      “I’m fine,” he said, though he clearly wasn’t fine if a slight 115-pound female could best him and take his keys. He reached for them, but she slipped her arm behind her back.

      The quick motion sent his head into a spin again, and he wobbled for a moment.

      She considered him with an unwavering gaze. “You should see a doctor before we go to your house.”

      Not sure what to do with his hands when all he wanted to do was reach behind her and grab his keys, he shoved them into his pants pockets. “I’ve been through far worse than this, and I know when to seek medical attention.”

      She lifted her chin. “And I have three brothers who would all be as foolishly stubborn in this situation. So trust me. I have plenty of skills in dealing with it.” She looked him dead in the eye. “I’ll drive and we’ll make a stop at the E.R. on the way. That is, if you still want me to take this case.”

      “Fine,” he said, not liking it one bit, but knowing he needed to play by her rules if she was going help him. “Lead the way.”

      She pivoted sharply and set off. Not needing to hide his less-than-optimum performance any longer, he followed at his own pace. He should be royally miffed at her, but he respected her determination, and his anger quickly subsided. He liked a woman who knew her own mind. Even better when the mind was encased in a captivating package.

      He met her at her SUV and climbed into the passenger seat next to her. The subtle scent of her coconut fragrance wrapped around him. Feminine and tough at the same time.

      What man could resist such a combination?

      She laid her arm along the top of his seat and backed out of the space. As she returned her focus to the front, their gazes met for the briefest of moments. He got lost in her eyes, and interest in a woman that had lain dormant for years flared to life. She quickly jerked her gaze away, but before she did, he saw the same spark of interest.

      You’ve got a great sense of humor, God, sending this woman into my life after all these years and at the worst possible time.

      Not really expecting God to talk back, given Luke’s strained relationship with Him, Luke turned to look out the window. He caught Dani’s reflection in the glass and that little zing sparked again.

      He stifled a groan and reminded himself of all the reasons why getting involved with any woman right now was a bad thing. Working with Dani Justice was going to be interesting. Maybe too interesting for his own good.

      * * *

      The sun was setting in glorious oranges and reds behind the West Hills by the time Dani pulled into Luke’s driveway and parked behind his rental car. After extensive testing, the E.R. doc had cleared him to drive, so they’d retrieved his car from SatCom and she’d followed him to his town house.

      Long, uncomfortable silences had populated their time together, and she almost dreaded getting out of the car, but she had a job to do. She grabbed a flashlight, and as she walked toward the front door she searched through the light drizzle and thick fog blanketing the lushly landscaped property.

      In one of their brief discussions, Luke had claimed to have sunk all his money into his company, and yet he lived in one of Portland’s most exclusive areas. Dani’s sister, Kat, had bought a foreclosure home in the area, so Dani knew the high price of property here. Luke could be renting, she supposed. Or maybe her initial instincts about him were totally wrong, and he wasn’t who he seemed.

      “Nice property,” she said, trying not to sound obvious in her search for an explanation.

      He watched her for a few moments, then grinned with that magnetic smile he seemed to flash freely. “For a P.I., you’re not very good at fishing, are you?”

      Her irritation instantly flared, but she wasn’t sure if it was because he saw right through her or because her pulse kicked up whenever he grinned with boyish charm, in direct contrast to the imposing man standing before her. Either way, she wouldn’t let him see her reaction.

      She gave him an innocent smile. “I’ve never been much for fishing. I’m a city girl through and through.”

      “Too СКАЧАТЬ