Page 40 of Hidden Attraction

After talking to Dante, he remembered that he had to be keep his guard up. Anybody could be responsible for accessing Alyssa’s schedule, knowing her whereabouts. If not Alyssa, then her assistant.

He didn’t want to be suspicious of the woman sitting next to him, but he needed answers. Their attackers at the hotel knewexactlywhere she would be right down to the minute. And more importantly, they knew she was guarded by special ops.

Both things could point to the valet—the delay in getting their vehicle and tipping off the attackers about Alyssa’s security detail. But Dante had since informed Chase the valet had been interrogated and no connection to the attack had been uncovered.

He didn’t like the idea of questioning her, but first and foremost, Chase was Blackout. He had guidelines to follow even if he didn’t like them.

Even if it meant having suspicions about the beautiful ambassador he’d been in bed with hours before.

He tensed, and she felt the shift in him. Without meeting his eyes, she removed her hand and covered the moment by bringing her water glass to her lips.

There was plenty more to say, though.

He settled his stare on her profile. “What’s your read on the commander?”

She shook her head. “He’s definitely uncomfortable with questioning, but is he guilty? I can’t tell yet.”

“Okay.” He settled his shoulders more firmly against the wall. “Then what’s your read on Kennedy?”

* * * * *

Alyssa’s heart plummeted.

He thinks it’s one of us.

Her mind was spinning from the way Julian switched topics—like the best of interrogators trying to catch a person in a lie. But sheknewshe wasn’t responsible for giving away secrets, let alone access to her own calendar.

That meant…it had to be Kennedy.

Her stomach twisted at the mere thought of questioning her assistant. Kennedy was her right hand. Her walking, talking list of contacts, appointment reminders and so much more.

Yet…how well did shereallyknow her?

Alyssa made good money. Not as good as some men who had been in her position for the same number of years, but the fight for equal pay was a topic for another day.

Kennedy made considerably less than Alyssa, but she always seemed to have disposable income. Designer shoes and handbags were the norm for her. When Alyssa asked how she could afford pricier things, she always told her she had investments. She was a financial whiz.

Which she would have to be, because Alyssa knew Kennedy’s background, and the money certainly didn’t come from her family.

All this swept through Alyssa’s mind like a hot river filled with toxic waste.

Right on the heels of that came a blast of irritation that Julian would bother to kiss her—or take her to bed—while harboring suspicions about her.

She stiffened her spine. “Why would I set myself up to be kidnapped…or worse?”

Their gazes clashed for long, pulsing seconds. Finally, he broke the stare.

She hardly felt like making a toughened SEAL back down was a victory.

She shook her head. “I can’t imagine Kennedy doing anything to hurt me. We’ve been together almost three years.”

“You interviewed her?” Julian’s angular jaw was firmly set, and though his eyes didn’t hold the same icy chill they once did when he looked at her, they weren’t entirely warm either.

Not as warm as they were last night when he joined our bodies.

She gave another quick shake of her head. “Kennedy was assigned to me. I didn’t select her or interview her, but if I’d been given the option, I definitely would have chosen her. We work together so well.”

He reached for the plate, picked up a slice of meat and brought to his lips. “Like peas and carrots? Does she complete you?”

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