Page 43 of Deception

“And that made you look like liars.”

“Yeah. But why would that ruffle Vivian’s feathers?”

“I’ve met a few personal assistants who were bulldogs when it came to their bosses, and she’s evidently very protective of Davidson.”

“Well, I hope I don’t have to deal with her much longer.”

Clayton had been to the supervisor’s office, and he brought up a mental image of Vivian Hawkins. What he remembered was a pleasant woman with dark hair and large eyes. His experiences with her had not been bad at all, but it seemed there was something else he should remember ... “I think her bark is worse than her bite.”

“No, it isn’t.” She sighed. “You would’ve had to have been there.”

“Does this happen with you often?”

“No,” she said a little too quickly. “At least not until someone gets to know me better.”

He laughed. “You must be one of those hard-nosed special agents who always follows the rules.”

Red crept into her face. He’d hit a nerve.

“Nothing wrong with rules,” she said. “How far to Coles Creek?”

“Seventeen and a half miles, which will take about twenty minutes.”

Evidently, Madison didn’t wish to discuss Vivian Hawkins any further. A few miles on the narrow two-lane road lined with budding dogwoods. Then it came to him what he’d wanted to remember about the personal assistant. “Vivian Hawkins really isn’t a bad person. She even coaches the county’s 4-H shooting team.”

“What?”

He repeated what he’d said. “I worked with her a couple of years ago. She came home to Natchez after a terrible tragedy—something about the man she was going to marry. I’d have to ask my mom for the details.”

“That still doesn’t explain why she doesn’t like me.”

“Maybe she’s just having a bad week, and don’t forget, she thinks you’re investigating her boss.”

“I guess.” She glanced out the window and sighed. “This truly is a beautiful drive. I was too worried about being late yesterday to appreciate it.”

“Yeah. I like driving the Trace any time of the year, but it’s especially pretty in the spring.”Like you.

The thought came out of nowhere, and with the road straight and not a car in sight, Clayton cut his eyes at Madison. Their gazes met, and her blue eyes softened, hitching his heart. Themoment vanished as she looked away and clasped her hands in her lap.

What just happened? He didn’t know, but he was pretty sure Madison had felt whateveritwas, as well. In the past, that one shared look would have been enough for him to take it a step further and ask the woman out on a date, which always ended with a kiss ... sometimes more.

It was tempting to take that step—Madison was a beautiful woman, and even more, she was strong and comfortable in her own skin. They even shared a passion for justice. But he’d vowed before God—no more casual relationships.

Was it time to think about a long-term commitment? Had God brought Madison in his life for that purpose? The thought scared him. More than likely it was a test to see if he’d really meant his vow.

Silence filled the SUV, but not the comfortable silence of before. He fished for something to break the tenseness, but his mind refused to cooperate.

“What made you become a ranger?” she asked.

And just like that, the tension in the SUV evaporated. Or maybe it’d been in his imagination. He glanced at her again. She’d turned slightly toward him. At least she wasn’t trying to put distance between them.

“The usual reasons,” he said. “I like being outside with nature, and I like being in law enforcement. Being a ranger combined the two.”

“Did you know from early on that’s what you wanted to do?”

His chest tightened. He didn’t like to think about his childhood. “I joined the Youth Conservation Corp when I was fifteen and worked most summers at St. Catherine Creek until I turned eighteen ... although I did work one summer at a riding barn during college.”

“Is that what you studied when you went to college? Wildlife management?”

---