Page 33 of Condemned By Secrets

Anna was almost at the door when the mayor stopped her again.

“Oh, and Anna?”

Turning back, she asked, “Yes?”

This time the mayor’s smile was genuine but there was an edge to it. “Don’t forget you’re on the Development Review Committee.”

Anna nodded but inwardly she winced.Nice shot, Mayor.She hadn’t forgotten about being stuck on a committee she wanted no part in.

Anna left the office feeling like she’d walked into a trap. If the mayor was bringing up the committee now, it meant she had a reason to, and Anna was sure it was a reason she wouldn’t like.

CHAPTER 13

Luther stopped in his tracks. He’d been thinking of Anna and there she was, walking right toward him as if he’d conjured her with his thoughts. Her chocolate waves fell forward, obscuring her face as she dug in her bag. She was distracted and hadn’t noticed him. A grin spread across his lips and his dimples appeared as she drew closer, still rummaging for something. Should he get her attention or let this play out?

He heard her mutter, “fudgesicles” before she walked right into his chest. “Oh! Sor—” her head snapped up and her face flushed. She readjusted the tortoise-shell glasses that had slid down her nose. For some reason, he found those glasses sexy as hell.

Luther chuckled. “A little distracted, are we?” He wanted to wrap his arms around her, but, as they were in the middle of the reception room, he didn’t stop her when she took a step back.

“What are you doing here?”

“I was going to ask you the same thing.”

Her brow wrinkled before she looked over her shoulder at the mayor’s door. “The mayor wanted to see me.”

“Everything okay?”

She visibly shook herself and the worry from her eyes cleared. “Yes. We were just discussing a project I’m working on. But why are you here? Did the mayor request to see you too?”

“No, I asked to see her,” Luther paused, his natural instinct not to show his hand, but Anna had a right to know. “I’m here about getting the footage from the day of the meeting. To see if I can catch whoever damaged your tire.”

“Oh.” When the worry returned to her face, Luther questioned whether he should’ve told her. “Did you talk to Richard?”

Running a hand through his spiky hair, Luther sighed. “Yeah, but I’m not sure he got the message. Has he bothered you again?”

Anna bit her lip as though she was hesitating to tell him something. If anxiety over Cartwright wasn’t swimming in his gut, he’d have been fantasizing about biting that lip himself. He wanted another taste of her, but more than that he wanted to know she was safe.

Finally, she released her lip and nodded. Going back to her bag, she pulled out her phone and after turning it on, handed it to him. “He sent me this, but I don’t know how he got my number.”

Luther’s hand tightened around the phone as he read the message.Dammit!He needed some dirt on this bastard, something he could use to hold him.

“Luther?”

His jaw was starting to hurt. He’d clenched it hard enough he was in danger of cracking teeth. Taking a deep breath, he pushed away the rage, and handed the phone back to Anna. “Cartwright probably got it from your personnel file. I’m guessing those are on some shared drive you all use?” Luther was impressed with the evenness of his voice when his throat felt like it was closing up at the acknowledgement that his fears had come true.

Anna blinked. “They are.” She swallowed and the pulse at her throat jumped. “At least the address in the file for me is the bed and breakfast, and I’ll be moving out of there next weekend.”

Luther smiled as some of the fear eased. He wanted her in his building. If she was close, he could protect her. “Want some help moving in?”

Anna smiled and her eyes danced. “Yes, actually.”

“What’s that look about? Do you have a bunch of heavy furniture or something?”

Her smile turned mischievous. “Or something. If you have any friends willing to help, I’ll pay in food and wine.”

Luther laughed. “Make it pizza and beer and you’ve got a deal.”

Anna held out her hand. “Done.”

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