They’d seen him just a couple of hours ago at Scott Devers’s house.
“May I come in?” the agent asked, looking from Brenda to Ben and back. The suspicion on his face blatant. Glaring.
Ben knew exactly what that was about.
While Brenda invited him in, Ben went to the kitchen. He picked up the glass and walked back to where Brenda was offering the man a seat.
“I don’t have a lot of time,” Cummings was saying, ignoring the offered seat. “I just stopped by to ensure that you’re all right. You seemed upset when we spoke earlier.”
Before Brenda could respond, Ben handed him the glass of water. The ice had all melted and the little electronic devices were blatantly visible.
“I think these belong to you.”
Cummings accepted the glass and stared into it, then glowered at Ben. “Where did you find these?”
“Right where you or Detective Shelton planted them.”
Since his reaction lacked one iota of outrage, the answer to who was responsible for the potentially illegal intrusion was standing right in front of them. The listening devices belonged to Cummings.
Ben stepped to the door, opened it. “It’s late, Agent Cummings. We should talk tomorrow.”
Clearly flustered now, Cummings did an about-face and walked out, taking the glass with him. Ben closed and locked the door behind him.
He made a face. “I hope you weren’t attached to that glass.”
Brenda laughed. “I am not, and even if I were, it was worth letting it go to watch his reaction.”
Ben moved closer to her. “I think we were in the middle of something when Cummings showed up.”
“I seem to recall there was a little something happening,” she agreed, moving in a little closer.
His arms went around her, but he didn’t restart the kiss. First he had to know. “We don’t have to do this. Tonight’s find is cause for celebration, for sure. But we don’t—”
She shut him up with her mouth.
So they celebrated…and he showed her how a man who respected a woman, who treasured their intimacy made love.
Chapter Fourteen
Thursday, May 7
Winthrop Residence
Eagle Ridge Place
Huntsville, 8:30 a.m.
Brenda kept her focus straight ahead as they started up the sidewalk. Waking up to the sound of the shower and Ben’s scent on her sheets had been…revitalizing in several ways. But, at the same time, it was terrifying. Had she made a mistake? Should she have allowed pleasure to slip into their relationship?
Pleasure was a very apt description. She had never been made to feel the way this man made her feel. She stole a glance at him from the corner of her eye. And he’d been such a gentleman this morning. Since he was in the shower when she woke, that first awkward moment of waking together was prevented. Then, before she’d talked herself into climbing out of bed, he’d headed to the kitchen and started preparing breakfast. Again, ensuring she was able to shower and dress before the unavoidable morning-after face-to-face moment.
Even more surprising, he had somehow made her feel instantly at ease during breakfast. He’d talked about the case and the next steps and even the weather. She hadn’t felt pressured to discuss their night spent in each other’s arms. No need to analyze what it meant or whether it would happen again.
The perfect morning after.
Another glance at him and she admitted that a lot of things about Ben Clark were perfect. The angles of his face. His smile. Those eyes. She liked that he wore jeans with his sports jackets. He looked at ease and confident. Totally comfortable in his own skin. Truth was, there were a lot things about him that she liked…a whole lot.
“Would you like me to ask the questions?”
