Hot in Here: Uncovered / Tailspin / An Honorable Man. Lori Foster

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СКАЧАТЬ style="font-size:15px;">      Cool air-conditioning rolled over her the moment she entered the building. Though she was early, Dane and Alec, the P.I.s she worked for, already had a client in the inner office with them. They’d relocated from the city so they’d have more free time for their wives and kids. But it seemed their small town was rife with drama, and they often stayed busy. At least here, though, the cases were seldom all that threatening.

      Clair could hear their quiet conversation, see the movement of male bodies through opaque glass. She put her purse away and turned her computer on, then went straight to the coffeepot.

      She already had things underway when Dane stuck his head out the door. “Clair, would you mind bringing in some coffee?”

      “Not at all. It’ll be done in two more minutes.”

      “Thanks.” He ducked back inside.

      Making coffee wasn’t in her job description, but small requests never offended Clair. It helped that Dane and Alec were consummate gentlemen and didn’t take her, or her talents, for granted. As often as not, they carried coffee to her.

      A few minutes later, with sugar, powdered creamer and three mugs of steaming coffee on a tray, Clair used her foot to tap at the door. Alec opened it. He looked darker and more intense than usual, but then Alec could be a poster model for tall, dark and dangerous.

      He gave her a nod. “Nothing like caffeine to kick off the day.”

      Clair smiled. “Tough case?”

      “Different, that’s for sure.” He took the tray from her and she started to exit the office.

      “Hey, Clair.”

      At the sound of Harris’s voice, Clair froze in midstep. Oh no. Please, no. Slowly, wincing with dread, she pivoted stiffly to face him.

      He was at Dane’s workstation—the cursed photos spread out on the surface.

      Oh. Dear. God.

      Heat rolled from her chest right up to her hairline, making her dizzy with the shock of it. For a single moment, Clair thought she might faint, especially when Dane picked up the shower shot for a closer look.

      Alec rejoined the men, staring at her naked body with a frown. “Do you see any distinguishing marks? Moles or scars or anything?”

      Clair’s knees trembled, threatening to buckle.

      “No. No jewelry either.”

      Did she have time to run out and get her ears pierced?

      Dane shook his head. “Just lots of smooth skin. Maybe we should have these photos blown up.”

      Clair staggered back against the door. Blow them up? Blow them up! As in, make them...bigger? Her throat closed and she couldn’t draw breath, couldn’t say a single word. She tried to get out a denial, to dissuade them from that horrendous plan, but all that emerged was an appalled squeak.

      Harris glanced her way, did a double take, then rushed toward her. “Damn, Clair, you okay?” He caught her arms and physically forced her into a chair. Good thing too, because she was about ready to sink to the floor. Maybe through the floor if she got lucky.

      Over his shoulder, Harris said to Alec, “I think she’s been in the heat too long this morning. You got a cold cloth or something?”

      Alec was a man of action. Within seconds, he had a pad of paper towels, dripping with icy water from the rest room.

      All three big men loomed around her, Harris trying to slap the wet towels against her face, Dane fanning her with a stack of papers, and Alec taking her pulse.

      They’d seen her naked.

      It wasn’t to be borne. Never in her life had she known such bone-deep humiliation, and it numbed her.

      Harris reached for the top button of her blouse. “I’m going to loosen her clothes. She still looks too pale.”

      That brought Clair around. She shot to her feet, staggered, got steadied by six big hands, and shoved away from them all. She waved a fist with credible intent. “Touch my clothes and I’ll brain you.”

      Harris straightened. He still looked concerned. “You’re all right now?”

      She wanted to die. “I, uh...you were right. It was just the heat. I’m fine.”

      Dane cocked a brow. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

      Clair stared at him, aghast that he’d come to such a conclusion.

      Alec nodded. “Celia stayed light-headed when she was pregnant. Especially when she got too warm.”

      Laughing, Harris said, “Clair’s not even dating, so unless you can get pregnant from a toilet seat, I don’t think that’s the problem.” He again tried to reach for her top button.

      Clair swatted at him. “I’m not preg—”

      “She dates,” Dane argued. “Okay, not much, but I know a few months back she was seeing some guy.”

      Harris scowled. “She was?” He turned to Clair. “When were you dating? Who was he?”

      Ohmigod. No way in hell was Clair going to talk about Kyle. Not with his photographic efforts spread out in all their lack of glory on Dane’s desk. She swallowed, found her voice, and rasped, “Enough. From all of you.”

      They stared at her. Three pairs of discriminating, curious eyes. Eyes that had just been looking at her in the most revealing poses.

      “My personal business is none of your concern.” And before Harris could object, Clair added, “We jog together, Harris. In no way does that entitle you to pry.” Even if you have seen me in the nude.

      Harris’s eyes narrowed and he crossed his arms over his chest. “Keeping secrets?” His hot stare threatened to bring on a swoon. “I’ll find out, you know.”

      Over her dead body! She tucked in her chin and summoned her most serious, meanest voice. “You’ll leave me alone.”

      Dane cleared his throat. “So you two are good friends? I thought you were just neighbors.”

      Harris kept his gaze trained on Clair. “I told Dane and Alec that I learned about them through you.”

      Alec gave her a fierce, speculative glance. “You make me sound fearsome, Clair. I’m not sure if I should thank you or not.”

      She rolled her eyes. Alec Sharpe lived up to his reputation and he knew it. Marriage and kids hadn’t softened him. He was still dark as the devil and so strong and imposing that even in his mid-forties, he intimidated men with a mere glance. Dane wasn’t much better. Both men were walking icons of masculinity. Not that Harris seemed intimidated. No, if anything, he’d bonded. But then, in her opinion, Harris fit right in.

      Dane put an arm around her. “Harris is right, Clair. You still look a little shaky. You want to take the day off?”

      So СКАЧАТЬ