Madalyn Reese - No Place To Hide

She scratched at an eyebrow with a long pink nail, and the scar on his shoulder burned in response. Pushing harder, he added, “I know you don’t trust me, and frankly, I don’t blame you. But I haven’t been idly sitting by and letting this happen. I’ve learned there are ways of surviving the FBI, and if you’re not careful, your perverse nature might find it amusing.”

“Jerk.”

“Sorry, but I’m sick of being serious all the time. So how about this? We could work out some ground rules so we know how to act around each other.”

“Can I ask you something first?”

“Can I stop you?”

Emma gave him a pained look and fired. “Is this whole attitude adjustment a near death epiphany or what? Because I find it very disturbing.”

“There you go, sugarcoating everything again.”

“Answer the question, smart aleck.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Why won’t you ever talk about anything?”

“Isn’t this where the nun smacks our knuckles for bickering in class?”

Emma sagged against the wall, looked up at the ceiling and shook her head. “I’d forgotten how irritating you can be.”

Relaxing a bit, he scooted her over on the bench and sat beside her. “So you’ll stay?”

“As if I have a choice,” Emma answered, leaning away. She still couldn’t believe this was happening.

How much worse could it get? On top of everything else, a stalker and Anthony Bracco had been added to the pile. Not to mention having him in her home, along with the FBI.

And was she supposed to be buying his act? He’d deflected the question about his attitude the same way he used to deflect any question that hit too close to his schemes. She wasn’t blind. He might have changed, but not in any significant way.

All the same, he was playing the responsible role quite well, warning her about Dop and what he might do if she left.

But whether Anthony had changed or not, there was still anger simmering between them, and no matter how many ground rules they hid behind, it would eventually boil over.

And anger wasn’t the only thing simmering. He hadn’t been here more than an hour, and twice already she’d felt that familiar separation of brain and body. Her brain would tell her to keep away, but her body had its own ideas.

Even now, sitting beside him, she could feel herself responding. His energy may have been subdued but it was still there, if a little different. Emma had never understood why he affected her this way, but apparently it was something that would never change or lose its power.

When his eyes had fallen to her mouth a few minutes ago, she knew she wouldn’t have rejected his kiss. Any form of comfort would have been welcome, but she must be losing her mind if she considered Anthony Bracco an acceptable alternative to cheesecake.

Struggling to pull herself together, Emma answered, “I need time to think.”

“How much time?”

“You know what? Forget it. I can’t believe I’m even speaking to you. I’m going back to work.”

She rushed into the hallway with Anthony in pursuit, urging, “Emma, you can’t pretend this isn’t happening.”

Just as he figured, reasoning with her was a waste of breath. By the time Emma reached the stairs leading to the sales floor a professional smile was plastered on her face.

Denial. Complete and utter denial.

Emma’s attitude worried him, but Anthony knew he’d dodged the first bullet. It took him a moment to figure out how he’d accomplished that. And then he realized something vital as he watched her shake hands with an older gentleman and lead him gently toward a counter.

Quiet moments were the enemy. If Emma was angry, she’d run, just like he always did. Except she’d run straight downstairs to work, where he was supposed to keep her. And since angering Emma Toliver seemed to be Anthony’s specialty, Layne might never get a chance to deliver on that threat.

“Where’d she go?” Jim asked from down the hall.

Anthony turned, gesturing toward the counter. “Downstairs.”

“We’d better give her some time to recover before we take it any further. Hornsby’ll be talking to store security in a minute. I’ll have to help with the employees, but let’s have a talk first.”

Jim closed the door as Anthony sank into a creaky chair. “So,” the agent said simply, his eyebrows raised.

“Would you accept a bribe in lieu of this particular conversation?” Anthony asked.

“Not on your life.”

“Don’t even think it. You know why I’m off women.”

“Yeah, you screw up and run away,” Jim said. “Been doing it as long as I’ve known you. But Emma’s got a lot going for her. She’s smart, gorgeous and doesn’t take any of your crap. Not too many women around with all those attributes.”

“There’s one key factor missing in your summation. She’s a witch of the first order. You want her? She’s all yours.”

“Generous offer. I’d accept, but you’d probably rearrange my anatomy if I did. Anyway, Layne told me what you and Charles have been up to. Can’t help thinking you went through an awful lot of trouble for someone you can’t stand.”

“I didn’t do it for her,” Anthony told him. “It was my version of making amends, which, translated, means I did it to make myself feel better.”

“Okay.” Jim sighed. “But you have to keep her here somehow. Are you grasping the irony? You, the speed and distance record holder, have to keep someone else from running away.”

“Yes, one of those moments I’m convinced God’s up there laughing.”

Jim didn’t bite. “You know, if you’d talk about things once in a while, you’d be better off. Emma’s father wasn’t exactly saint material, either. Maybe if you explained what happened—”

Giving his friend a wry look, Anthony interrupted, “Sorry, but I like to keep the number of people trying to kill me down to a bare minimum.”

“Ah, yes, here comes the sarcasm. I’ll stop. So back to business. We’re about to get a whole lot more aggressive.”

“How?”

“Several ideas are on the table. Dop’s gotta make a mistake somewhere along the line. We’ll help him do that.”

Anthony held up his hands and waited expectantly.

“You and your results mentality,” Jim complained.

“Well, it’s a little hard to be patient, Jim. He’s already blown every profile you’ve come up with. It’s like he’s deliberately changing course just to throw you off base.”

“You’re right, he is doing that. But meanwhile he’s showing us he’s done time in either law enforcement or prison. I’d guess the latter. Guys in there study how we work. He’s also highly intelligent, efficient and patient. When we bring him down I’ll definitely be publishing his case.”

“If we bring him down.”

“Oh ye of little faith,” Jim commented. “Look, I need to go help Hornsby. You keep an eye on Emma. Make sure she doesn’t take off on us.”

“Yes, sir. Hey, wait a second,” Anthony said. “What did you make of Brady?”

“I don’t know yet. I’m not sure I buy his altruistic act. He grew up at the store, same as Emma, but she’s holding all the reins. And Brady’s wife left him a couple of weeks back. Emma doesn’t know that, though, so keep quiet about it.”

Anthony sighed. “Did some digging before this morning?”

“It’s a sickness. I can’t help myself. And speaking of which…”

“I’m going!” Anthony groused. He left Jim to his beloved cellphone, which seemed to be permanently attached to the man’s ear.

Descending to the jewelry department, Anthony found Emma stubbornly immersed in work. She was still attending to the older gentleman, talking over a tray of rings.