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paved path to her door. His nearness was all but intoxicating, and when his arm brushed hers, desire vibrated along her never endings.
    She moved away from him, determined to resist the bizarre attraction.
    “I’m not much of a drinker,” she said as they stepped into the high-ceilinged living area. “I may have a bit of whiskey and I have some chilledchardonnay and a bottle of nice pinot noir Lee brought over last week.”
    Mentioning Lee made her feel a little less as if she was orchestrating a seduction scene.
    “Maybe we should talk first,” he said.
    “In that case, take a seat.”
    He took the sofa. She deliberately chose the chair farthest away from him. She crossed her legs. “If you’re an insurance salesman, I’m covered tomy eyeballs.”
    He grinned. “I’m not selling anything—or maybe I am, but it won’t cost you any money.”
    Oh, no. Surely Lee hadn’t sent him here to plead his case. If so, the new police chief should have chosen a far less enticing man to deliver his pitch.
    “Did Lee send you?”
    “No, actually, I misrepresented myself last night when we met. I’m not actually a friend of Lee’s. I workedfor him years ago. Before Katrina.”
    She had no idea where this was going. “Were you a police officer?”
    “I was a narcotics detective.”
    “So exactly why are you here, Remy Comeaux—if that’s your real name?”
    “It’s my real name.” He rested his elbows on his knees and leaned in closer. “I don’t know exactly what your relationship is with Lee Barnaby, Nicole, but just in case it’sserious or about to become serious, I think you should know the truth about the man.”
    She grew uneasy, and this time it had nothing to do with attraction. “Lee’s a friend of mine. If you’re here to spread gossip or disparage him, I’d rather not hear it.”
    “I don’t gossip and I don’t knock any man without good cause. I hate having to tell you this, Nicole. I sincerely do, but now thatI’ve met you, I can’t just stand by and let you get hurt by a man like Lee Barnaby.”
    “What kind of man would that be? A dedicated public servant? A city leader?”
    “Lee Barnaby is not the knight in police armor he portrays. He’s corrupt to the core and has been for years.”
    “Corrupt in what way?”
    “At the very least he takes bribes. And I have reason to believe his crimes couldbe a lot worse.”
    Her stomach knotted. She shouldn’t listen to another word of these baseless accusations, not from a man she had no reason to trust. Even if Remy was sincere, that didn’t mean he was right. He hadn’t worked for the NOPD in years.
    She uncrossed her legs and stood. “I think you should go now, Remy.”
    He stood but didn’t walk away. When his gaze captured hers, her kneesgrew weak. Heaven help her, but even now, she felt the crazy urge to throw herself into his arms.
    “I’m only telling you this for your own protection. You can do what you want with the information.”
    “Why would you think you should protect me? You don’t know me. You don’t owe me anything.”
    He crossed the room and stopped so near her that a hint of his musky, woodsy aftershave filledher senses. He took both of her hands in his. “I came because it was the right thing to do.”
    His lips were so close she was sure he was going to kiss her. Her insides melted into a pool of slick heat. This was absurd. She should back away.
    But it was Remy who came to his senses. He let go of her hands and took a step backward. He removed a business card from his pocket and pressed itinto her hand.
    “If you need to talk,” he said, his voice hoarse from what sounded a lot like desire, “if you need me for anything at all, just call.”
    He left her standing alone and staring after him as he let himself out her door. The click of his heels echoed around her. And suddenly the room felt incredibly empty without him in it.
    She took a deep breath and struggled for a gripon reality as she read his