Read Braden for Free Online Page A

found indication that
someone had accessed a large amount of data on cargo flights, and that the
transaction had come from my library’s restricted-access computer. The log
showed the activity at midmorning, the day you were there.”
    “I wasn’t there until midafternoon,” Braden said, eyes
steady. “So why do you think it was me?”
    “ My logs show no one on the restricted computer at
the time they stated. And, strangely enough, no one at all at the time you were on it that afternoon. No record of anyone, or any searches.”
    “Huh.” Braden was the picture of innocence. “Isn’t that interesting?”
    “My terminals are all secure. Very little chance that
someone hacked their way in from outside the library.” She took a small sip of
ale and set the glass back down. “So, I told the woman from the Ministry of
Transport that I’d been doing data analysis on trends in Bor Nargan imports and
exports. For a class I teach.”
    The innocent look didn’t waver. “You teach?”
    “Once a week. Library systems and information science for
the university.”
    Braden slanted her a smile. “I love it when you use big
words.”
    “Most people think the class is boring,” Elisa said. “But
it’s necessary for the library science degree. I often do arbitrary searches to
provide examples for the class.”
    “That’s lucky.”
    “Yes, isn’t it?”
    Braden traced the rim of his ale glass. Elisa knew good and
well that he’d accessed the information, and Braden knew she knew. But if he
didn’t acknowledge or answer her straight out, he wouldn’t have to lie. Thus
not violating his programming.
    Why he’d accessed the information, Elisa couldn’t understand.
It seemed a fairly harmless search—she couldn’t see how it endangered the
people of Bor Narga or anywhere else. But if the woman from the Ministry knew a Shareem had been digging, then who knew what the Ministry might do? To
Braden and to Elisa.
    “I found it interesting that you made certain only my
thumbprint provided access to the databases,” Elisa said.
    “Yeah?”
    “And interesting that you wanted to use the only terminal
capable of doing in-depth searches into select government agencies.”
    Another smile and a glance that made her blood heat.
“Shareem can be very curious.”
    “Also interesting that the time stamp happened when the
computer wasn’t in use at all. Only two people used that terminal that day—you
and me.”
    “Funny how these things happen,” Braden said.
    “You’re not going to tell me, are you?”
    “You want to know what I find interesting?” Braden’s eyes
were quiet, calm and filled with something she didn’t understand. “That you
didn’t tell the nice lady at the Ministry that a Shareem had been using the
terminal that day. At any time. Why not?”
    Elisa gave him an indignant look. “Because what my patrons
read or look up is none of anyone else’s business.”
    “But I’m not your usual kind of patron,” Braden said.
    “Yes, you are,” Elisa said, her anger rising. “By the rules,
you are. And so I protect your right to information, just as I would for any
other patron.”
    Braden went silent. Elisa found herself the full focus of
his blue gaze, which locked her in place. She should be afraid of such a large,
strong man who could do anything, but she wasn’t afraid. His concentration
warmed her, made her feel somehow protected. Cushioned against the world and
any bad thing that might happen to her.
    She cleared her throat. “You sent me the singing sphere as a
gift because I let you use the terminal.”
    The quiet in Braden’s eyes fled, and his wicked smile
blossomed. “No, sweetheart. I sent it to you because I thought you’d like it.
Because I wanted to imagine your face when you opened the box.”
    His voice wrapped warmth around her. The damp place between
her thighs grew even wetter and her nipples tightened against her silk sheath.
Braden’s gaze flicked to her breasts and his