Mallory Kane - Under Suspicion

“Carry on with your revised instructions, Agent. I’ve got a meeting.”

“Brock?” she said, but the phone was dead. He had hung up. She picked up another cup and straightened, wincing at the disapproval in Brock’s voice. He’d been in military environments throughout his entire career and he felt that interactions between officers and agents should be handled with a certain protocol.

When she looked up, Zach Winter was standing at the French doors. He let himself in. His jacket was slightly damp with sweat and a little wrinkled, as was the white shirt under it, but he wore them as if they were bright as the sun and freshly starched. His broad shoulders stretched the material slightly and the open collar of his shirt revealed a prominent Adam’s apple and long, sinewy neck muscles that hinted at a serious and strenuous fitness routine. Her gaze moved to the perfectly fitted dress pants, under which were long, muscular runner’s legs that complemented his lean torso and long arms. If he’d been a little thinner or taller, he might have looked awkward and rawboned. But he wasn’t thinner or taller. He was just about perfect.

“Um, mind if I come in?” he said.

Maddy’s gaze shot back up to his. Her face burned but she ignored it and gave him a haughty look as she walked toward him. Her foot hit a cup she hadn’t seen. “Damn it,” she said, bending down to pick it up.

At the same time, Zach did the same thing and their hands touched. “What happened here?” he asked. “Who detonated the cups?”

She suppressed a laugh and glared at him as she grabbed the cup away from him. She moved to rise and found that Zach was already standing, his hand held out in an offer to help her.

She ignored it.

“I’m Zach Winter,” he said.

Maddy realized that as perfect as Zach Winter was, she didn’t like him. Didn’t like his attempts to be charming or his too-familiar demeanor. “Yes, I remember from Sandy’s introduction,” she retorted.

He nodded. “So are you called Madeleine, Maddy or Ms. Tierney?”

Sudden, swift anger bubbled up from her chest and tightened her jaw. She started to say that Ms. Tierney would work just fine, when someone else appeared at the door. It was Father Michael. “Hello, Madeleine.”

Maddy cleared her throat and gave him a faint smile. “Hello, Father. I’m still hoping you’ll call me Maddy.”

“Well, all right, Maddy.” He clasped her hand warmly as he glanced around the kitchen. “I see Zach and I are the first to arrive. Where is Sandy? Is she resting?”

Maddy nodded, then looked at the priest assessingly. “So, how do you two know each other?”

Father Michael raised a brow at Zach then smiled at her. “Let me introduce you to one of the most promising hometown boys ever to leave Bonne Chance. Zachary Winter. Zach, this is Madeleine Tierney.” He smiled sheepishly. “Maddy.”

Maddy met Zach Winter’s gaze. His name fit him. It was sharp and cool, just like him.

“Sandy introduced us at the graveside service,” she said. “Hometown boy? Odd that no one seemed to recognize you except the Father and Sandy.”

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