Page 14 of Merrick

He came around and let out a breath at the look on her face. He knew her enough to realize that he had hurt her with his thoughtless comments. But dammit to hell! He hated the fact that she could be so cold and focused. He would not be panting after other women if she would…

He reined in his thoughts abruptly and walked over to sit back down. “How soon?” He was not going to apologize, because she would not accept it.

“This weekend.” She went around her desk and opened her laptop. “There is a showing at Le Galleria and I managed to finagle an invitation to the event. It is a Jackson Colby showing which makes it a pretty sweet deal.

Pendergast and family will be there as they are major sponsors and he is a patron of the arts. We have a few things in common.” She smiled grimly.

Which makes it all the easier.”

“Margo.”

She looked over at his sober expression curiously. He never called her by her first name unless it was something meaningful and personal.

“What?”

“Be careful.”

“I have my piece…”

“This is something new for you. Your usual is infiltrating a gang or pretending to be a victim in order to close a case. This is entirely different. You will be dealing with a giant – a man of immense means and it could blow up in your face.”

“Aww, you care.”

“I am serious.” And he was. “Merrick Pendergast is a formidable opponent and did not reach the status of multi-billionaire by being a moron. If he finds out…”

“He won’t.”

Brad eyed her closely. “How far do you intend to take it?”

She pressed keys and avoided his eyes.

“As far as possible.”

“Does that mean sleeping with a suspect?” He asked tightly.

Her head snapped up as she glared at him. “I will not grace that with a frigging response.”

“He’s an attractive man.”

“So? You think I’m some goddamned rookie who cannot keep my libido in check?”

“No. I think you are an excellent cop who sometimes goes the extra mile to get to the meat of the case. I am just saying that you should be careful.”

“Noted. Thanks, mother.”

“Joke all you want, but this could end up blowing up in your face.”

“Your vote of confidence is inspiring.”

“Just be careful,” he muttered.

*****

Brad’s comments and concerns had raised some of her own. Damn him to hell! She was going in and getting chummy with the man himself and find out what she can and then get out again. Simple. It should be simple. Then why was she having second thoughts? She had mapped out a plan to her commander.

She had a cover of course. She was using her own name to avoid confusion. She was an author – she grimaced at that. Who the hell would believe she could write anything.

She was a romance novelist and before that she had been a photographer. Well, she was an amateur one, wasn’t she? She loved taking pictures of still life. And she loved the arts.

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