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“I did not!”
“How do you know? You were so blotto, a brass band could have marched through your bedroom, and you wouldn’t have realized it.” He frowned, growing serious. “The truth is, you were sick last night. I rinsed out your things and changed the sheets, all of which I’m sure you don’t remember.”
Appalled, she blurted out, “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It’s all in a day’s work for us goons. However, we need to talk about the dangers of mixing prescription medicine and alcohol.”
She held up a hand to forestall the lecture that was sure to follow. “Please. You don’t need to remind me. It was a mistake and not one I’m going to repeat. Frankly, I’m not up for one of your lectures for wayward girls this morning.”
She got up and headed for her bedroom before he could argue. Jake’s father’s alcoholism made this a hot-button issue for him, but it was just a one-time mistake on her part. She understood his concern, but that didn’t stop her from resenting his scolding.
Jake watched her walk away and shook his head, wishing there wasn’t so much bad blood between them. He’d left her behind to protect her, but she wouldn’t believe that now. He would keep her safe, regardless of her disapproval. He just hoped their attraction would mend their relationship over time.
He walked into the living room and stopped to admire Laura’s technique as she finished wiring the alarm. His kid sister was a whiz with electronics and was at the university's top of her engineering class. She had no connection with Logan Industries. Given the circumstances, using one of his staff members was out of the question.
She looked up and grinned. “Seems your girlfriend is a tad grumpy this morning. Was it something you said or did?”
He shook his head. She wouldn’t get him to rise to the bait that easily. “You’re here to work, not to ask prying questions.”
She laughed out loud at his forbidding glance. “It’s obvious you’re crazy about each other.”
He gave up the battle. So much for intimidating his kid sister. He should have known the only way to get Laura off his back was to level with her. “We did have something going, but things got complicated, and the lady doesn’t think much of me.”
“Well, anyone could see the sparks between you two. I like her, but it was dirty pool not telling her who I was from the beginning. Did you see the looks she kept shooting at me?” She grinned at him. “I wouldn’t blame her if she never fell in love with you.”
Jake thought back on his and Samantha’s tender moments at the cabin. “Oh, she loves me, all right. At least, she did. She doesn’t like me at the moment, but I’m working on it.”
Samantha’s bedroom door opened, and Jake watched her stride briskly, if a bit gingerly, back into the kitchen, fully dressed. She grabbed her purse and keys off the counter and said a bit too brightly, “I’m off to work. I’ll leave you two to get on with your high-tech stuff.”
He noted her animated expression. She wanted to put some breathing space between them. Going back to her routine seemed like the perfect buffer zone. He wondered for a moment how to break the news.
“I’m sorry. I can’t allow that.”
“You what?” She glared up at him, hands on her hips. “I already told you. I won’t blindly obey your orders. If you want my continued cooperation, you’ll have to lighten up on the goon routine.”
Jake shook his head and watched her eyes spark with outrage. “No. You can’t go back until my people have had a chance to check things out. Besides, you’re still on vacation.”
“Damn it, Jake, you can’t wrap me in cotton wool to keep me safe. The trouble is at Logan Industries. You should be there working on the case, not babysitting me. I’ll be fine. Samantha’s Special Affairs isn’t exactly a hot bed of industrial espionage and intrigue. Vacation or not, I want to go to work.”
“I have people I can trust running down leads at your father’s firm. My place is at your side until we get this cleared up.” He knew she thought he was overprotective, but he wasn’t about to let her risk her life again. Still, he hated to see the fire of defiance dim in her eyes. “I’ll make a deal with you. You can go to work on the condition I go with you. Are you willing to go along?”
She scowled at him, her fists balled impotently at her sides. “What other choice do I have?”
“None.”
She shrugged. “Fine.” Jake pulled his keys from his pocket as they entered the parking lot behind her condo. “I’ll drive.” He pushed the remote to unlock the doors of his dark blue sedan.
Samantha cocked an annoyed glance his way. “I didn’t even want you to come along. The least you can do is let me drive my car.”
She eyed his nondescript vehicle scornfully. No doubt, she thought it lacked the dash of her red sports car, but it was much safer.
“Listen, Sunshine. It makes sense to do it my way. My vehicle has a few little extras that yours lacks.”
She rolled her eyes. “Don’t tell me. It’s equipped with secret agent devices, right?”
He grinned at her scornful tone. The fire had certainly not dimmed in his sweet sunshine. “Not exactly, but it does have a few safety devices your car lacks. Besides, it would be best if you kept a low profile for the next few days. Your red rocket over there practically screamscome and get meto the bad guys.”
“I guess you’re right,” she muttered, sliding into the passenger seat of his car.
