Heavy Artillery Husband by Debra Webb Page A

you’d be happy. If we’re lucky, he’ll be under some kind of investigation by tomorrow morning.”
    â€œInvestigation is a lofty goal,” Frank said, amused by her high hopes. He wouldn’t be unhappy if it happened that fast.
    She flicked her fingers, dismissing his cynicism. “He’ll be in the news, that’s the point.”
    â€œHalloran will be mad as hell.” He turned back to the window, thankful one of them was making progress. It wasn’t a bad system, him guarding her while she systematically dismantled the people he identified. It wasn’t a real life, but it felt good to be working as a team again.
    He heard the desk chair squeak as she stood. Although the carpet muffled the sound of her footsteps, he felt her crossing the room to stand at his shoulder. Lilies and spices teased his nose.
    â€œWere we followed?”
    â€œI can’t be sure yet. With his assets, it’s more than likely Halloran will track us down by nightfall.” He felt the heat of her body all along his side as she leaned close to peer over his shoulder while dusk fell outside.
    â€œBecause we were together when you rented the car?”
    â€œIn his shoes, I’d track airport security cameras for your arrival, then follow along until you met up with me. It’s the easiest way to catch us,” he said, deciding it was better to be honest about everything.
    â€œIf he has the access, that’s the right approach.”
    He glanced down at her, struck as he always was by how beautiful she was. In his opinion the crinkles of laugh lines at her eyes and the deeper lines in her forehead only made her lovelier. The face he’d fallen in love with, with more experience. Everything about her called to him, body, mind and soul. How had he screwed up their lives so badly?
    Dropping the curtain, he turned fully, leaning against the windowsill to be closer to eye level. How many things he needed to say and couldn’t. Not until he had a right to say them again. How badly he wanted to claim every benefit as her husband. Making a move right now would be disastrous. In the long run, moving too soon would be more disastrous than being framed for treason and forced to leave his family behind. If he confessed everything, asked forgiveness, and she walked away, he’d be broken beyond repair.
    She cocked her head, studying him. “Should we go out on the town and party or hit the road and put hundreds of miles between where he thinks we are and where we’re going?”
    â€œNo. We’ll spend the night right here, within the safety of these walls.” He wasn’t sure he was talking about the case anymore.
    â€œFrank.” She folded her arms and rocked back on her heels.
    â€œWe’ll keep at the research,” he said, defending his decision. “We need to figure out who Engle is.”
    â€œOkay.” She continued to stare him down.
    â€œWould it make you feel better if I said it was too soon to be bait?” When her lips quirked to the side in amusement, he was tempted to steal a kiss as he’d done so often in the past.
    â€œThat helps a little.” She sighed as she reached for the clip holding her hair up off her neck. “Research, it is. We’re giving Lowry something to chew on, but it would be nice to take a swipe at the head honcho himself.”
    He was mesmerized with the way the sable locks spilled to her shoulders as she massaged her scalp, then piled it all back up again. He cleared his throat. “If Halloran’s not playing golf in Arizona, he’s doing something with the product or the profit. It’s definitely too soon to go after him directly.”
    She rocked her head gently from side to side, stretching her neck, then frowned as a new thought hit her. “When was the last time you saw him in person?”
    â€œThree months ago,” he replied. “I watched him play a round of golf on an