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Odell seemed surprised by the greeting. True, she hadn’t been even a little friendly before this. His gaze took her in. “You look…great.”
Did she? She glanced toward the large stained mirror on the wall, surprised to see that her cheeks were flushed, her eyes bright. Past her reflection, she saw Landry’s. He was wa
tching her closely, grinning as if he knew exactly what had put the color in her cheeks, the gleam in her eyes.
She turned back to Odell and waited for him to remember what he was doing here.
“You’re still up for a barbecue, right?” Odell hesitated and Willa felt Landry come up behind her. “I was about to put the steaks on.”
“Steaks.” Landry sounded so hopeful.
“I have them marinating.”
“He’s marinating the steaks,” Landry said to her. Odell didn’t notice but Willa could hear the sarcasm in Landry’s voice.
“We’d love to join you,” she said, knowing there was no graceful way out of this. Her other option was to spend the rest of the evening in this tiny apartment with Landry. Just the two of them.
“Great.” Odell seemed surprised but happy they would be joining him.
“What can I bring?” Willa asked, then remembered how little food she had in the fridge. It had been just a reflex from South Dakota. “I have the makings for s’mores.”
“Oh, girl, you’ll kill me,” Henri called up. “S’mores? I’m going to think I died and went to heaven. Can you believe I forgot chocolate? One of the basic food groups right up there with wine.”
It sounded as if Henri had already been hitting the wine pretty hard.
“See you soon then,” Odell said, glancing into the apartment. Actually glancing toward the bedroom.
Past Landry she saw that the covers were on the floor, the sheets rumpled. She stared back at the bed in shock.
Landry stepped in front of both hers and Odell’s views, blocking the bed.
“Great,” Odell repeated, sounding less enthusiastic as he turned to walk away. He spun back around almost at once though. “I’m sorry. I never caught your name,” he said to Landry.
“Tim. Tim Patterson,” Landry said without even blinking at the lie, and she was reminded that lying was second nature for him as an undercover cop. He held out his hand to Odell.
“Tim.” Odell shook his hand then nodded to Willa. He looked suspicious. But then she thought everyone did.
She closed the door and leaned against it as she looked at Landry. “You did that to my bed?”
He grinned. “People believe what they see. You’re safer if they think I’m your lover and I’m only interested in ravishing your body.”
She hoped he didn’t see her shiver at the thought.
“At least he has steak,” Landry said. “So where is your other island mate? Blossom?”
“She’s a teenage film and TV star,” Willa said.
“Really?” He sounded interested. “I hope she’s coming to the barbecue.”
“I’m sure you do.”
He shook his head. “I only have eyes for you, darlin’. Anyway, I’m more interested in who was shooting at you earlier than I am in a movie star.”
Right.
* * *
SHE WENT into the tiny kitchen and got everything she needed for the s’mores. She could hear Landry in the tub. She tried not to imagine him naked.
