Page 166 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

“Yep. I’ve got it in my room.”

Genuine pleasure lit his dark eyes, and Becca stared at the way his smile transformed his face. She blinked. Maybe he wasn’t as dour as he appeared. No wonder Shayna found him attractive.

His smile faded, and he resumed his stride toward the library. Becca hurried to keep up.

“Put the copy on my desk by this afternoon.”

No please or may I, just a flat order. Becca’s warm feelings washed away. She gritted her teeth. “Say please?” she said in her sweetest tone.

He stopped again, and this time she was too angry to notice. She plowed into his chest, and he caught her by the shoulders. The warmth of his hands seeped through her cotton top. She jerked away and rubbed her tingling arms.

His gaze probed her face, but she lifted her chin and stared him down. A smile tugged at his lips. “You’ve got spunk, Becca. I like that.”

She struggled to keep her indignation, but his smile diffused her outrage. A smile tugged at her lips. “You’re impossible. I’m more than happy to share my research, but can’t you ask first?”

“You’re right.” He spread his fingers, palms up. “Let’s start again this morning. I’m a little out of sorts, and I took it out on you.”

That was as close to an apology as a man was likely to make, so Becca gave him one final glare then nodded. “Fine.”

“May I read your research?”

He sounded almost humble, but his guileless smile didn’t fool Becca. Max was a barracuda in blue gill scales. The next few weeks wouldn’t be pleasant. But she’d worked for sharks before, and she could handle him.

“Since you asked so nicely, I’ll get you a copy at lunch.” she said. “Ready to get started?”

As she pored over the first of the twenty or so tomes at the desk, she found her gaze straying to where he sat at a corner desk. Pecking away on his laptop computer, he was managing to ignore her. She wished she could do the same to him.

She stretched and went to the coffee pot. “Want a cup?”

“Sure.” He smiled and accepted the cup she offered.

“Is Molly close to her grandmother?”

“Very. Two peas in a pod. Molly can’t wait for her to get home.”

“Is she happy living here on the island?”

“She loves it, though I worry about her not having enough playmates. There are a few kids in town she plays with, but there’s not much variety. I’m not sure what I’ll do when school starts. Gram has offered to hire a governess, but I think she needs more interaction with other kids.”

“She seems an adult in a child’s body,” Becca agreed.

It appeared Molly was Gram’s favorite. Had Becca’s parents’ arrival upset any expectations for inheritance? And if so, how far would Max go to protect his daughter’s interests? His pirate good looks were in keeping with everything she suspected: murder, adultery—maybe even fleecing her grandmother.

As his assistant, she was in an excellent position to prove all she suspected. But not if her grandmother exposed her. She found it hard to focus on the dry research books in front of her with that worry hanging over her head. What would next week bring?

She sat back at her desk and pulled the book toward her then shoved it away and stood again. “I’m sorry, but I need a break. You mind if I take off for about an hour?”

Max looked up, his gaze lingering on his computer screen. “Go ahead. Maybe you can get me your research while you’re wandering around.”

He obviously wasn’t going to forget that. Becca nodded. “I think I’ll take a walk and see if the fresh air clears my head.”

“Stay away from the rocks on the south. The cliff edge crumbled some in the last storm. It’s not safe right now.” He bent back to his computer.

She nodded, though he was paying her no attention. Once outside in the bright sunshine, she felt she’d been released from prison. Her inner urgency to do something sprang to life as well. Maybe a stroll through the folly would give her inspiration on how to approach her grandmother.

Taking a can of soda with her, Becca followed the brick pathway through the beds of daylilies and poppies, their bright flowers cheering her spirits immensely. Everywhere she turned, old memories resurrected. Keeping her cover from being blown was going to prove difficult.

The path through the woods was overgrown. Evidently no one wandered to the folly like she used to. She pushed through the overgrown vegetation and fifteen minutes later stood behind the folly.

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