Rebecca Zanetti: Blind Faith

Fairbanks shrugged and sat. “Maybe, but it’s not like you’re going to turn us in, are you, Senator?”

“Of course not,” the blonde sitting between Nathan and Fairbanks said with a smooth smile. She shook the senator’s and then Audrey’s hand. “I’m Lilith Mayes.”

The woman had a surprisingly strong grip. “I’ve read your last income projection report—very impressive,” Audrey said as she was released to sit. The creative blonde manipulated numbers to the point of committing fraud. But now was the time to deal with the lesser of two evils, and the commander was all evil.

“Thank you,” Lilith said, sitting down close to Nathan as he also sat. Very close to Nathan. She patted his muscled arm. “I had help.”

Audrey’s teeth ground together, and a sharp spear sliced into her heart. What in the world? After all this time, jealousy decided to rear up? No. Her life had become a risk just to survive, and she didn’t have time for anything else. “That’s good to hear.”

Nathan’s upper lip quirked, and he kept his focus on her. “So. How can we do business together?”

Nate ignored the blonde playing footsie with him under the table and focused on Audrey. She was good at hiding her feelings—but not good enough. The second she’d noticed him, her heart had sped up, and her rate of breathing had increased.

Good. He needed her off balance.

Her blue eyes shot sparks at him, and he hoped nobody else noticed the pretty flush covering her cheekbones. Tearing her gaze from his, she handed a bunch of manila folders to the senator.

The senator looked more like a farmhand than a powerful lawmaker. His background seemed clean, and he appeared to want to make things better for his state, even if he had to break a few rules to do it.

Nate respected him for that and had no problem breaking rules himself.

Unfortunately, even after all this time, he’d figured Audrey would be above such things. The thought that she’d break the law in order to gain more funding for the commander hurt. Shit, it pissed him off beyond belief.

The senator rubbed his shoulder. “If you build your two newest factories in Wyoming, Audrey has outlined the tax breaks and subsidies for you.” He pushed a file folder across to Nate, who slid it to Lilith and read along with her.

“This all works assuming we receive military funding.” Finally, Nate lifted his head, his gut swirling. “The plan is very impressive. Where did you learn to move money around like this?” The proposal certainly violated several laws but would be hard to detect. Of course, he knew exactly where she’d learned her skills.

She met his gaze without flinching. “I learned from the best, Mr. McGovern.”

“Not exactly something you can put on a résumé.” He spoke with heat, instantly irritated with himself. Why did he care that she’d learned manipulation from the commander? Even so, aggravation ticked along his spine. Tension filled the room.

Lilith glanced at him and slid her hand along his thigh under the table. Her fingers were strong and not nearly as delicate as Audrey’s. “We appreciate the senator and his staff working with us, don’t we?” Lilith said smoothly, sharp nails digging in.

“Yes.” He needed to get himself under control even as he covered his surprise at Lilith’s forwardness. He’d met the woman only a week ago, and she decided to make a move now? In a business meeting?

He’d been trained to seduce women, to learn their needs and wants, and yet, he couldn’t figure any of them out. It was like they played from a different game plan.

Audrey wasn’t the person he’d thought, even five years ago. So he turned toward Lilith and smiled, wanting nothing more than to seize Audrey and tear her out of the room for an explanation. “You’re the smart one here. What do you think about the proposal?”

Lilith preened under his compliment and turned back toward the graphs, her palm sliding toward his dick. “I think we have some negotiating to do, but this is a very nice start. And you’re the smart one here.”

She had no idea. He halted her hand before she could get even more inappropriate.

Audrey’s breath hitched, and Nate turned to study her calm composure. The innocent girl he’d known had learned to mask her feelings too well. She obviously knew what was happening under the table, and for some reason, it bothered her.

An odd sadness filled him. When they’d first met, she’d held nothing back from him. Every thought, every feeling, every fear had lived freely on her expressive face. As tough as she’d become, the vulnerable and fragile woman inside still lived, and he ached with the need to see her safe enough to return.

But she wasn’t his to save, and she wasn’t his to protect—and never would be. That truth clawed through him with sharp blades.

Once again, he wondered if he should’ve taken her with him five years ago whether she liked it or not. At least she wouldn’t have been caught in the explosion. Nor would she have learned how to mask her emotions so well. Maybe there was more of her mother in her than he’d feared, because without his abilities, he’d have no clue she was even affected right now.

He tore his gaze away and turned toward Lilith. Tall and willowy, the accountant had a sharpness to her that would’ve impressed him had she not been trying to commit fraud. The red designer suit she wore hugged a too-thin body. “What points would you like to discuss?” he asked.

She pursed ruby-tinted lips. “The property taxes are a nice place to start. We’d like them waived.”

Audrey leaned forward, her voice level but her heart racing. “On page three of your report, you’ll see a list of the counties that will forgo property taxes and can compare their requirements to see which ones you prefer.”

Nate compared the two women. Audrey’s nicely rounded form filled out her understated blue suit in a way that made him salivate. Even now, with so much time and distance between them, he wanted her, which did nothing but irritate him. “So you’ve bribed the county officials already?”

Sparks lit her blue eyes. “No. Individual counties can waive such taxes because jobs will be created by the company that will help the local economy. I’d assumed you would’ve known that, Mr. McGovern.” She lifted her chin in challenge.

Damn, he’d love to meet that challenge. “I understand.” His special abilities gave him the edge he needed, and it was time to use them. He turned toward the senator. “Are we getting funded or not?”

The senator tapped one file folder, his gaze remaining steady. “I haven’t decided who to recommend yet.”

Lie. Definite lie. The politician’s heart rate sped up, and tiny facial muscles twitched. While the senator lied with skill, Nathan detected lies with hard-earned experience. Nate glanced at Audrey, who stared intently at him.

Yeah, she knew his skill.

She also knew he’d figured out the senator was lying. The smile that lifted Nathan’s lips held a warning.

From the widening of her eyes, she read it correctly.

“Well now”—Nathan leaned forward—“I think we can start negotiating so you do decide who to recommend.”

At that point, his wildcat flashed him a smile that held more menace than a panther eyeing dinner.

His cock instantly flared to life.

Challenge lit her eyes in a way that heated every nerve in his body. “Yes, let’s start,” she said.

Two hours later, Nate sat back in his chair, more impressed than ever with the blue-eyed, sick-tongued woman who’d once held his heart. “You drive a tough bargain.”

The senator stretched his neck. “Audrey’s the best.”