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“Your family forgets that.”
“Occasionally, yes.”
“For you this is about proving yourself.”
“And stopping animal abuse.”
He nodded. It was as personal as he wanted to get right now. “Let the boulder go. I acted swiftly on the information you provided because it was well-organized and the analysis was efficient. There are agents who’ve been with the Bureau for years who couldn’t have put it together so well.”
A blush of pride turned her cheeks rosy. “Thank you.”
“Let’s go in there and be the happy couple so we can see Lester brought to justice.”
She gave him a warm smile and patted his hand. The ring sparkled in the light. “That’s a wonderful plan. Sweetheart,” she added as the valet opened his door.
Chapter 10
Heather looked around the hotel room, studying every luxurious detail except the massive king-sized bed. Sure, the bed filled the cover story—and the room—but the sight of it sent butterflies zooming through her stomach.
“Justice,” she murmured to herself, trying to turn her mind to the higher purpose. Unfortunately, those thoughts brought back her earlier jitters, compounding the unsettled feelings plaguing her.
It would be easier if she wasn’t attracted to the man pretending to be her fiancé. When he looked at her with his eyes warm and full of devotion she wanted to believe. And all the heat and innuendo he’d applied yesterday morning… Pretend or not, it had stroked her ego and given her a vivid picture of how she wanted a man to look at her.
But she wasn’t his type. He made that abundantly clear without saying a word. And this wasn’t the time or place for lust. She would do well to remember that.
“Justice,” she repeated, pulling open the sliding glass door and stepping out onto the balcony overlooking the ocean.
“Room service is on the way. Are you ready?”
His voice, strong and deep, rolled over her, much like the gentle surf several stories below. “Sure.” She reviewed the plan again, more than a little grateful this would be the last happy romantic couple routine for the night. She was more than ready to get to the purpose of their charade.
She’d already reorganized the bag she would hike in with. Her camera had a full charge and she packed the extra battery. Her pants and boots were in the closet out of sight. The chip scanner she’d taken from the shelter was in the cargo pocket, ready to go.
“Do we need to go over it again?”
“Please, anything but that.” She twisted the ring on her finger.
“What did you do with your nerves before I gave you that?”
She followed Dale’s gaze to her hands. Embarrassed, she fisted her hands and then shook them out. “Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize.” He sat back on the bed. “Come here.” He patted the space by his hip. “Just answer the question.”
She took a step closer, hesitating. “That sounds like an order.” Couldn’t they sit somewhere other than the bed?
“Does it need to be?”
Shaking her head, she sat down, not quite touching him. “Nerves aren’t usually a problem for me. I focus on the action and move forward.”
“Okay. But?”
“This is new.” She hated the defensiveness in her tone. “Not the ring… well, yes the ring obviously, but I mean the situation.” When she took a chance and met his gaze, she realized he understood. “Usually I rub this scar.” She pointed out the thin white line running from the base of her ring finger back toward the outside of her hand.
Her breath stalled out as he lifted her hand for a closer look.
“It, umm, would get stiff while it healed and my mom had me rub oil into it.” Her hand seemed so small and thin surrounded by his wider palm and longer fingers. “There was a lot of bruising and a terrible ache right about where the ring sits now.” Good Lord, she was babbling. Why wouldn’t he let go of her hand?
“It became a habit.”
