B.J. Daniels - Hotshot P.i.

Okay, so she wasn’t going to make it easy. She was going to make it pure hell. But what she didn’t seem to realize was that he’d already been to hell and back because of her. And it was payback time.

* * *

CLANCY BREATHED A SIGH of relief when Jake finally pulled up in front of Lake Center, a large old hotel that had been made into an office complex. All she wanted to do was to get out of the close confines of the car and put some distance between the two of them. With a little luck, a lot of distance.

But as she started to open her door, he grabbed her arm. She pretended she didn’t feel the jolt from his fingertips that seared her bare skin.

“I wish I didn’t know you so well, Clancy,” he said, sounding as though he meant it. “Whatever’s on that conniving mind of yours, forget it. We’re going to see your lawyer and find out what evidence they have against you.”

She gave him what she hoped was one of her most innocent looks. “All right. But I’m starved. Why don’t I go get us some breakfast at that café up the block and bring it back. What can I get you?”

He laughed as he opened his door and got out. She stepped out of the convertible, only to find him waiting for her. She watched him lock the car, her overnight bag in the rear seat. Then he linked his arm with hers and steered her toward the building’s front entrance.

She didn’t resist the gentle strength of his persuasive hold on her. It wouldn’t have done her any good if she had. But while she also wouldn’t admit it under Sodium Pentothal, she liked the feel of his skin against hers; she liked his touch, as dangerous as it was to her future, to her heart. And she glimpsed something in his expression that made her wonder if he wasn’t as immune to her touch as he wanted her to believe.

“Geez, Jones,” he said as they headed for the elevator. “Breakfast? A bit too predictable and not very imaginative. But a nice try, nonetheless.”

Too predictable, huh? Not imaginative enough for him? Well, she’d see what she could do about that.

* * *

JAKE STUDIED CLANCY as they stepped into the elevator and she pushed the third-floor button. She’d been like a kid in church, squirming in her seat on the way into town, glancing at her watch every few moments, tapping her toe to a nonexistent tune. She reminded him of a woman about to jump off a ledge. Actually, more like a woman about to jump bail, he corrected himself.

As the elevator climbed slowly to the third floor, Jake wondered what Clancy would have done this morning if he hadn’t been there to stop her? With the depth of her bank account, she could probably disappear without too much trouble. At least for a while. But why run? Unless she was guilty of Westfall’s murder and knew she was headed for prison.

But wouldn’t a woman who planned to disappear forever take more than a small suitcase—or nothing at all—and buy what she needed when she got there?

The elevator doors thumped open, and it suddenly occurred to him that there might be a man—a man other than Westfall—in Clancy’s life. That could explain the small suitcase. Jake realized he knew nothing about the nature of Clancy’s relationship with the deceased. Kiki had said Clancy had dated Dex. But that didn’t mean Dex was the only man, now, did it? Clancy could have dozens of men on the string.

“You don’t mind if I step into the ladies’ room a moment to freshen up, do you?” Clancy asked, breaking into his thoughts.

He grinned at her, hoping it hid his true feelings. “I’d hate to see you any fresher than you already are, but hey, it’s all right with me since I’m coming along. Not that I don’t trust you.”

She scowled. “You can’t seriously plan to spend every waking moment with me?”

“Every waking—and sleeping—moment.” He took her elbow as they headed down the hall.

“That might be a bigger job than you think,” she said cryptically. “And I suppose you want me to believe you’re doing this for my own good, right?”

He held open the door to the ladies’ room for her. “How can you doubt it?”

She shot him a drop-dead look.

“The truth, Jones, will set you free,” he said, and smiled.

“Or send me to prison for life,” She took only a quick glance into the rest room before she added, “I think you’re right. I’m fresh enough.”

As he let the door close, Clancy took his arm and smiled up at him as if he’d actually done something that pleased her. One side of her mouth crooked up a little, her brown eyes glinted with mischief, and just the hint of a dimple dented her left cheek at the corner of her lips. Jake had forgotten her smile could pack such a wallop. It hit him in the chest, taking away his breath and knocking him off guard.

He stumbled. Her smile deepened; humor glinted in her gaze. If he’d had any doubt before, he didn’t now. She knew damned well the effect she was having on him, and she loved it. This was war. And for a moment, he wished there was another way, other than all-out war, to settle things between them.

He stared at her, wishing he could find the answers he needed in that face of hers. If only he could look into those brown eyes and know everything he wanted to about her. Like why she’d lied about his father. If she’d killed her boyfriend. Where she’d been going this morning in such a hurry. Why she’d betrayed him.

Instead, all he got were more questions from that adorable face of hers. And more suspicions.

She brushed against him as she stepped past, the silkiness of her skin sparking responses in him he didn’t want to be feeling. Her scent filled him, branding his senses. He watched the provocative sway of her hips as she walked away from him. He assured himself he could handle this woman, that it would be a pleasure giving her some of her own medicine.

But that little voice of reason that kept him honest suggested the best thing he could do would be to get this case over with, pry the truth out of Clancy and head back to Texas lickety-split.

He swore softly to himself as he opened the door to the office with the sign that read Attorney Tadd Farnsworth, and watched Clancy waltz through, her bottom filling out her jeans in a way that should have been against the law. Clancy played him like a cheap guitar, but made him feel like he was a fine Gibson. Jake promised himself he’d have her dancing to his tune—and soon.

“Jake? Jake Hawkins?” the handsome, prematurely grayhaired man said, coming around his large desk. “I didn’t know you were back in town.” Tadd Farnsworth’s smile was as quick as his handshake and just as slick.

“1 didn’t know I had to check in at the border,” Jake said, taking the attorney’s outstretched hand.

“And Clancy,” Tadd said.

Jake thought Tadd held her hand a little too long, his look a little too sympathetic and seductive.

Jake told himself he would have liked Tadd Farnsworth if the man hadn’t been the prosecuting attorney who sent his father to prison. But he knew that wasn’t true. At one time Tadd had been a regular at the island resort, always sporting a fast new boat, always a hit at the parties Jake’s mother threw at the lake lodge. Jake remembered only too well how taken his mother had been with Tadd. That was plenty reason to make Jake dislike the man.

Seeing the way Clancy smiled at Tadd, Jake could see that even ten years older, Tadd still had a way with women. He decided he liked him even less.

“I was sorry about your mother, Jake” Tadd said as he returned to his chair behind his desk. “I heard she passed away a few months ago. My condolences.”

“Oh, Jake,” Clancy said. “I didn’t know. I’m so sorry.”