quickly stealing her heart.
Tara looked out the window again and realized her pulse was still thrumming. He unnerved her. It wasn’t just his size, it was his attitude. Maybe she was self-conscious because he’d caught her off guard. She was definitely embarrassed that she’d pulled her weapon on him.
She adjusted the vent and got a waft of hot air. His attitude bothered her, but she liked his truck. It smelled like leather and earth and felt deliciously warm. She forced herself to ignore the flutter of nerves generated by being alone in the dark with him. The nerves weren’t from fear but something else. And she wondered which was worse, being afraid of a man she was investigating or being attracted to him?
“You shouldn’t come out here alone.”
She looked at him. “Why not?”
“We’ve got more than a few meth heads around here. You don’t want to walk up on something, not without backup.”
She watched his face in the dimness, uneasy with the protective tone of his voice.
“We confirmed the ID today,” she said.
“I know.”
That ticked her off.
“Won’t be long till the media has it,” he added.
“Where are you getting your information?”
He didn’t answer.
“And the other day,” she said, “how’d you know we were here, me and M.J.? Are you having us tailed?”
Even if he was, he’d probably never admit it. But she at least needed to ask and get his reaction. Shadowing investigators could definitely be considered suspicious behavior.
Although she had to be honest with herself. She didn’t consider him a real suspect. Despite his links to the victim, she simply didn’t feel it.
“I’m guessing you filmed us approaching your property and ran my plate,” she said.
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Nothing that cloak-and- dagger.” He glanced at her. “I’m friends with Crystal.”
“Who’s Crystal?”
“She waited on you at the Waffle Stop. Bright red hair, eyebrow ring.”
She turned to face the window. “Small-town grapevine. And here I’ve been all impressed with your spying abilities.”
“You should be.” He pulled up to her Explorer and parked. “We’re the best there is.”
She looked at him in the darkness, so confident it bordered on arrogance. And the crazy thing was she believed him. She bought into it completely—he was that good.
His eyes locked on hers, and the air between them felt charged with electricity. His gaze dropped to her mouth, and her heart skittered. Was he going to kiss her? He eased closer, watching her, making her heart pound.
winner (for the books Scorched and Whisper of Warning) as well as the recipient of the Daphne du Maurier Award (for Untraceable). Laura currently lives in Austin, where she is working on her next book.