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With Spencer, it was as if an invisible shield had been lowered. She could release her guard and allow him inside. Yes, that meant exposing her vulnerabilities, but she was fine with it. With him, it was okay to expose her true self. It even felt like maybe she could start to trust him. The thought caused her to gulp down too much wine and she spluttered.
“Is the food too spicy?” Spencer asked.
“No. It’s perfect.”
He quirked an eyebrow at her but didn’t make any further comment. When they’d finished eating, Spencer carried the remaining wine and their glasses through to the living room. His presence made the room seem even smaller, but as she took a seat next to him on the sofa, Katrina decided she would sacrifice space for comfort. And he made her feel comfortable...
With his next words, her feeling of contentment became a memory. “I couldn’t interview Aidan Hannant any more today. But I’m going to the hospital to speak to him tomorrow.”
“He said he couldn’t tell you who hired him.”
“Maybe not. But what you said about his accessibility struck a chord with me. Someone knew he would be open to taking a job of that kind. How did they know he’d operate outside the law? Had he done that kind of thing before? If so, who knew about it? How would word have gotten around? If I ask the right questions and I can get Hannant to answer them, he might just lead me to the person behind these threats.”
“It has to be the AAG,” Katrina insisted. “This all started when I went looking for Eliza.”
“You could be right, but I need to find a way to prove it.”
“When I went to the ranch and asked about Eliza, they were covering something up. I could feel it,” Katrina said. “But that makes me sound like a fantasist. The AAG has done so much good work in Mustang Valley. How could they possibly be involved in anything shady? Even supposing one of their members had committed a crime, surely the leaders of the group wouldn’t hide it?”
“Even the most respectable organizations can be used as a screen.” Spencer appeared lost in thought as he sipped his wine. “Maybe we should start looking at the key players in the AAG and find out if they really are on the up-and-up.”
“Leigh Dennings is the public face of the group.” Katrina thought back to her encounter with Leigh at the AAG ranch. “It seems to me that her job is to stop outsiders finding out about the AAG’s activities.”
His eyes narrowed. “Can you take some time off?”
“Probably. Suzie and Laurence know the training classes as well as I do and I’m pretty much up-to-date with my paperwork.” She sipped her wine. “Why?”
“I think we should spend some time watching Leigh Dennings. Let’s find out if she’s as sweet as she appears.”
“You want me with you?” She regarded him with surprise. “Why?”
“Because I can’t trail her and protect you,” he replied bluntly. “And your safety is my priority.”
“Oh.” She looked down at the sofa cushions as heat coursed through her body.
When she looked up again, the blazing look in Spencer’s eyes turned the temperature even higher. Leaning closer, he removed her glass from her hand and placed it on the coffee table next to his own.
“Can I kiss you?”
“Yes, please.”
Slowly, he reached up and placed his hands on both sides of her face. Katrina’s eyelids fluttered closed. His lips met hers, and the world disappeared as she melted against him. Her brain closed down, rational thought deserting her as instinct took over and she responded to the magic of his mouth on hers. Their lips moved together in perfect choreography, as if they’d kissed a thousand times before.
It was the most wonderful feeling she’d ever known. Then it was over all too abruptly, and Spencer was getting to his feet.
“Good night, Katrina.”
Bewildered, she watched him walk away toward the spare room.
* * *
Even though Katrina’s spare bedroom was small and cozy, Spencer was still awake well after midnight. His insomnia had nothing to do with the furnishings, the temperature, or the noise level. The cause was simple. He couldn’t get that electrifying kiss out of his head.
And yet you walked away.
Telling himself it had been the right thing to do hadn’t eased the ache in his chest, or the corresponding tightness south of his belt buckle. There were so many reasons why the kiss should never have happened, and even more for why he couldn’t take things further.
The first was straightforward. Although it was an unconventional approach, he was staying in her house as part of his job. Getting romantically involved hadn’t been part of the agenda. And how would that look to an outsider? He would hate it if anyone viewed his intentions as sleazy.
