Page 53 of Unlawful Seduction

I remained furious, but goddamn it, I admired the woman. Tenacious as fuck. What the hell did she think she was doing? Did she not understand we’d been under attack?

“Jax. Out. Now,” I commanded.

Jax wasn’t used to being told what to do, but he followed orders like a trained K9 dog when necessary because that’s the training he’d received from me. She also had no clue the dog she’d cuddled with and who’d slobbered all over her was a trained killer.

He whined but obeyed, which was more than I could ask my guest to do. She’d refuse, driving my orders into my face. The kind doctor needed to be taught a lesson that only I could provide.

“Don’t take out your frustration on that poor dog. He doesn’t deserve it.”

Now she was lecturing me about handling my dog? “Would you prefer I handle my intense frustration with you directly?”

“Go right ahead. I bet what I have to say trumps anything you feel the need to chastise me for, including breaking into your office. You’ve made me angry. That’s not something you should take lightly. Think PMS on steroids.” She slowly lifted the phone as if the evidence spoke for itself. “You took my phone.”

Why was it so damn easy to smile around her? I couldn’t help myself, creating a wave of anticipation by enjoying the present in front of me. She was far too vulnerable standing in wooly socks and my clothes. I could easily take advantage of her and the situation. But what kind of man would that make me?

“You’re correct. I also grabbed your purse on the way out after placing you inside a warm truck. So the fuck what? You have your identification with you in case it’s needed.”

“Do you mean in case my body needs to be identified at the morgue?”

Huffing, I quite frankly had no idea what to do with her. “A little morbid, don’t you think? Your phone came in handy.”

Mallory’s eyes opened wide and she laughed. “Are you kidding me? You invaded my privacy when you had no right.”

I took a step closer. It was important to keep my cool at this point. “Do you believe in coincidences, Dr. McGregor?”

My question caught her off guard. “Maybe. It depends.”

“On?”

“The circumstances.”

“Okay. Let’s assume for a moment you’re correct. Do you believe it’s a coincidence that we ran into each other at the hardware store? Soon after, you broke down on the road leading to my house. Then you gave me your business card?”

Her quiet resolve was strangely unnerving. My tone held a vibe of danger, a warning to her not to dare consider lying to me. Yet she couldn’t care less, concentrating on the lack of trust between us.

The electricity soared and my gaze drifted albeit briefly but directly to the long line of her neck and the beautiful lines of her face. Her voluptuous body was hidden beneath the baggy clothes she was being forced to wear, but there was no way of preventing the scent of our combined desire.

When I took another step closer, I noticed she had something cradled in her other hand.

“Yes, I do,” she answered. “It’s a small town. People talk. Are you going to tell me that it’s not a coincidence you walked into the same restaurant where I was enjoying brunch with my friends? We were there first.”

I’d forgotten all about the upscale diner. Seeing her there hadn’t bothered me in the least. At the time anyway. Other than what seeing her again had done to my cock. I’d enjoyed the way she and her friends had thrown looks in my direction. I’d almost been able to hear their whispers while trying to figure out the rugged-looking stranger who’d arrived in town and had refused to comply with smalltown politics.

I hadn’t given a shit about making friends or small talk.

Her eyes flashed as she grinned. “See? Coincidences. In case you haven’t figured this out during your full-blown discovery mode,I have a full plate. Your investigation into my entire life should tell you that. I’m close to being broke now that I purchased the clinic. I’ve spent a couple thousand already on trying to fix up my dad’s place since he didn’t spend a dime for years. Thousands more need to be spent. I’ve used my savings, and the limited inheritance money Dad left me. I have an old car, and my dad’s even older truck. If this clinic doesn’t take off, I’ll be forced to declare bankruptcy within four months. I have no interest in fucking with all that in hopes of what?”

“Money. You are correct in that right now you’re living paycheck to paycheck. You’ve bet on this business and I need to tell you that you overpaid for the property.”

Mallory opened and closed her mouth twice before blowing a puff of air. “Bastard.”

“I speak the truth always.”

It took her less than five seconds to gather what I was insinuating. “You think I sold my soul for heaps of cash and all I had to do was lure some stranger who easily avoided public contact for months into some trap? I think you give me a little too much credit. You’re a professional criminal. I can tell that by the notes you wrote. Here’s the thing. I don’t care who you were years before. I might be one of the few people on this earth with scruples. My mama and daddy didn’t raise me to take advantage of anyone. Did yours?”

She had a perfect way of putting someone on the spot. I closed the distance, taking her tightly fisted palm into my hand. “What do you have in your hand?”

“None of your business.”

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