Page 41 of Smoky Lake

She rubbed her temples. “Do you know that other people aren’t getting tested?”

“Firelight Ridge is a tiny place. The news would spread. Molly would have mentioned it on the phone, or Sam.”

Ani had to agree with that. Something as dramatic as a potential contagion would be all over town in no time. “Okay, walk me through this, because I’m not used to any of this kind of stuff. I’m used to rules and things making sense…until they don’t.” Which had happened too often for comfort over the past few days. “What’s your theory here?”

He paced to the window and back. “Even if they are testing us for the virus, it feels like there’s more going on. Did you notice how they shut down every question about what happened at Smoky Lake? A virus is one thing. Blowing up the Institute is another.”

“You’re saying they think we had something to do with that?” Shocked, she shook her head, refusing to believe it. “That’s not possible. They rescued us from the people who did that, whoever they are.”

“Or…” Gil held up a finger. “Or they extracted us before we could meet with them.”

“What?” She blinked at him in confusion.

“In their view,” he said quickly. “I’m trying to look at things from their perspective. It must have looked suspicious that we were holed up in that cabin. Maybe they airlifted us out so they could find out what we knew.”

“Which is nothing.”

“Not entirely.” He strode to his duffel bag and unzipped it, revealing Victor’s leather pouch. He put his finger to his lips to warn her not to speak of it out loud. She glanced at the door. Could Sergeant Thomson hear them?

“Well, if they’re really keeping an eye on us, it’s going to be very boring.” She raised her voice just in case anyone was listening. “Because we’re more confused than anyone.”

He smirked, then paused in front of her. Putting a gentle hand under her chin, he scanned her face. “Are you feeling okay?”

“I really need to close my eyes for a bit. My head hurts.”

His expression shifted. “Do you think it’s…”

“No. Nothing to do with a frozen virus. I just need some sleep.” She sniffed at her armpit, and winced. “And a shower. Why didn’t you tell me I smell like I’ve been on a roller-coaster ride through a haunted house?”

“I like the way you smell.” Such a simple statement, one she found both touching and absurd. “Go ahead, I’ll do some research into Kyle Cross while you take a long hot shower. If anyone calls your phone, mind if I answer? It could be about Lachlan.”

“That’s fine. If my mother calls, tell her I’m perfectly fine and that we’re not having sex.”

“Uh…” His expression—gobsmacked—made her laugh.

“That’s the conclusion she’ll jump to if a man answers my phone. You have a very sexy voice, so there’s that too.”

“Is that right?” His drawl was even sexier.

She winked at him and took herself off to the shower in the second bedroom. As she was turning on the water, she heard her phone ring, and Gil’s deep—and sexy—voice answer the call.

Smiling to herself, she let the blessedly warm and relaxing water cascade across her body. What kind of a conversation would Gil and her mother have? Her poor mom would probably interrogate him about everything from his marital status to his third grade report card. Geeta Devi was a legendary litigator who was now up for a judgeship. That was a lot to live up to, and Ani had never believed that she’d quite managed it. Having a child would have helped. Marrying John hadn’t. Although Geeta had never said so, Ani knew she had always believed her only daughter could do better. Not that she’d been happy about the divorce, either.

Basically, when Ani had worked hard at being the good, dutiful daughter who did everything she was supposed to, it had never been enough. Now that she was breaking the rules and stepping out of bounds, her mother worried about her even more.

She couldn’t win. So she might as well do exactly what she wanted.

Which was…?

A hot fling in Alaska sounded pretty good to her. What would it be like to have sex without caring where you were in your cycle? She couldn’t even remember anymore.

The shower did wonders for her state of mind. Her headache receded under the drumming of the hot water. A short nap and she’d be good to go. Or good to stay in. Under the covers. With Gil.

Gil had made that crack about self-quarantining just for fun, which she’d taken to mean that he wouldn’t say no to a little bedroom action. A man like that must get offers all the time.

Did people have sex with condoms these days?

Of course they did. Embarrassment washed over her, hot as the shower. She was a fool who had no business trying to have a fling with such an attractive man. She didn’t have any condoms with her; she barely remembered what they felt like.

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