flow
problem.”
Something in her tone of voice or her eyes must have reached
him because his expression softened. “Low on funds. Or tapped out, like the
silver mine on Ghost Mountain?”
His warm tone melted her bravado. “I haven’t been paid
for the last job, and most of my money’s in camera equipment. And investments. How
did you guess?”
“When we picked up your stuff that first day, your
story about checking out of the Valley Motel was damned lame, and I saw your
sleeping bag—”
“In the back of the truck.” Interesting he’d said
nothing at the time.
“Then in Fort Adams when I took Bobby to the doctor, I
figured you’d buy some feminine junk or at least clothes in one of those cutesy
shops on Fort Street.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “When you met me
back at the truck, I nearly fell over with shock that all you had was a camera
memory card.”
“I needed more gigabytes.” The strength of his grasp,
his masculine scent seeped into her and made her crave his kiss again. How
ironic that the attraction she’d fled so long ago was holding her here in steel
manacles.
Because Holt didn’t press her further, she felt
compelled to reassure him.
“Look, I’m all right. My agent assures me I’ll get a
check soon. Then I’ll buy a new vehicle, and I promise not to run out on you.”
“Hell, that’s damned reassuring.”
She drew a deep breath as she tamped down her temper.
“I’ll help you with Bobby and finding Rob’s killer for as long as I can.” She
drew a deep breath. “You’ll have to trust me.”
“Trust you. Not likely. But I’ll drop it. For now.”
His eyes said he hadn’t dropped the issue far. “We do have a new problem.”
“The engagement. I’m sure we can explain our way out
of it when the time comes. Say you changed your mind.”
“Big of you to make me the undependable one.”
Frowning, he cut his glance away, but still his hands cupped her shoulders. His
thumbs traced lazy circles on her collarbones. “No, the kiss is the problem.
This...chemistry between us. I can’t afford the complication.”
Chemistry? A hot spurt bubbled up, but she squashed
it. Maybe chemistry was all they had. She’d destroyed their friendship when she
split on Rob. Any further involvement with Holt now was out of the picture.
He was strong, honorable, and responsible, everything
she remembered and more. But Rob’s ghost made a formidable barrier to a
relationship. Especially with a man who figured she’d run at the first
opportunity.
She stretched her spine to her full height, still too
short to look him in the eye. If only he would look her in the eye. “I
don’t need that complication either. From now on, keep your hands to yourself.”
He pulled back and gaped at those appendages as though
they’d held and caressed her on their own.
“Don’t kiss me again,” Maddy said as firmly as she
could muster, “and we won’t have a problem.”
She pivoted and slammed into the house before he had a
chance to remind her she’d participated as enthusiastically in that kiss as he
had.
Had wanted his touch.
Had needed it.
Chapter 10
Maddy wanted nothing to shatter the fragile peace
between her and Holt. They preparing to go photograph the crash site and visit
neighboring ranches on Tuesday, Esperanza O’Grady’s regular day of cleaning and
cooking.
“ Engaged! ” Espie clapped her hands. “When I
heard it in town, I thought I must be dreaming. Or that old busybody Phyllis
Patterson must be exaggerating. Must be more goes on between you two when I’m
not here than I realized.”
“Well, it was kind of sudden,” Maddy said. “Impulsive,
you might say.” She winced at her choice of words.
The other woman winked. “So when’s the happy day?”
“Oh, we haven’t made definite plans yet.” Maddy should
have known Phyllis’s gossip network would broadcast faster than You Tube. She
could imagine Holt’s reaction when he’d have to
problem.”
Something in her tone of voice or her eyes must have reached
him because his expression softened. “Low on funds. Or tapped out, like the
silver mine on Ghost Mountain?”
His warm tone melted her bravado. “I haven’t been paid
for the last job, and most of my money’s in camera equipment. And investments. How
did you guess?”
“When we picked up your stuff that first day, your
story about checking out of the Valley Motel was damned lame, and I saw your
sleeping bag—”
“In the back of the truck.” Interesting he’d said
nothing at the time.
“Then in Fort Adams when I took Bobby to the doctor, I
figured you’d buy some feminine junk or at least clothes in one of those cutesy
shops on Fort Street.” He placed his hands on her shoulders. “When you met me
back at the truck, I nearly fell over with shock that all you had was a camera
memory card.”
“I needed more gigabytes.” The strength of his grasp,
his masculine scent seeped into her and made her crave his kiss again. How
ironic that the attraction she’d fled so long ago was holding her here in steel
manacles.
Because Holt didn’t press her further, she felt
compelled to reassure him.
“Look, I’m all right. My agent assures me I’ll get a
check soon. Then I’ll buy a new vehicle, and I promise not to run out on you.”
“Hell, that’s damned reassuring.”
She drew a deep breath as she tamped down her temper.
“I’ll help you with Bobby and finding Rob’s killer for as long as I can.” She
drew a deep breath. “You’ll have to trust me.”
“Trust you. Not likely. But I’ll drop it. For now.”
His eyes said he hadn’t dropped the issue far. “We do have a new problem.”
“The engagement. I’m sure we can explain our way out
of it when the time comes. Say you changed your mind.”
“Big of you to make me the undependable one.”
Frowning, he cut his glance away, but still his hands cupped her shoulders. His
thumbs traced lazy circles on her collarbones. “No, the kiss is the problem.
This...chemistry between us. I can’t afford the complication.”
Chemistry? A hot spurt bubbled up, but she squashed
it. Maybe chemistry was all they had. She’d destroyed their friendship when she
split on Rob. Any further involvement with Holt now was out of the picture.
He was strong, honorable, and responsible, everything
she remembered and more. But Rob’s ghost made a formidable barrier to a
relationship. Especially with a man who figured she’d run at the first
opportunity.
She stretched her spine to her full height, still too
short to look him in the eye. If only he would look her in the eye. “I
don’t need that complication either. From now on, keep your hands to yourself.”
He pulled back and gaped at those appendages as though
they’d held and caressed her on their own.
“Don’t kiss me again,” Maddy said as firmly as she
could muster, “and we won’t have a problem.”
She pivoted and slammed into the house before he had a
chance to remind her she’d participated as enthusiastically in that kiss as he
had.
Had wanted his touch.
Had needed it.
Chapter 10
Maddy wanted nothing to shatter the fragile peace
between her and Holt. They preparing to go photograph the crash site and visit
neighboring ranches on Tuesday, Esperanza O’Grady’s regular day of cleaning and
cooking.
“ Engaged! ” Espie clapped her hands. “When I
heard it in town, I thought I must be dreaming. Or that old busybody Phyllis
Patterson must be exaggerating. Must be more goes on between you two when I’m
not here than I realized.”
“Well, it was kind of sudden,” Maddy said. “Impulsive,
you might say.” She winced at her choice of words.
The other woman winked. “So when’s the happy day?”
“Oh, we haven’t made definite plans yet.” Maddy should
have known Phyllis’s gossip network would broadcast faster than You Tube. She
could imagine Holt’s reaction when he’d have to
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