Gunning for the Groom

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Book: Read Gunning for the Groom for Free Online
Authors: Debra Webb
her own cell phone even as she leaned to look over his shoulder.
    When she was this close, the ginger and clove scents of her hair teased his senses. He ignored the enticing aroma, the way it slid over and around him, in favor of keeping her talking. “Please tell me you’re not a crack-of-dawn type of person,” he said with exaggerated fear.
    Her eyebrows puckered. “Why do you care? It’s not as though we’ll be living together.” Then her mouth formed a perfect circle. “Oh. Victoria’s orders?” She flicked those away with a twitch of her fingers. “Don’t worry about playing bodyguard. I can handle myself. As long as we find time and space to check in regularly about the case, you won’t have to follow me around.”
    It was far too early to throw himself on that conversational grenade. “Are you up for a review of the situation before we call it a night?”
    â€œSure.” The tight curve of her lips hardly qualified as a smile. “It will give us more time on-site to scope out the area before we knock on her door.”
    He couldn’t argue with Frankie’s work ethic. “We can talk in the conference room.”
    â€œGreat.” Her smile carried little enthusiasm.
    He wondered how her face and eyes might get in on the action if she ever smiled sincerely. Her outward calm didn’t quite cover all the anger lurking underneath. He wanted a look at the evidence so he could gain some insight and perspective. Until he had a better grasp of the situation, her tension made him edgy, as well. Too bad he couldn’t blame it all on mutual attraction, but that seemed to be entirely his problem. If she noticed him as anything other than an interloper, she hid it well.
    â€œI’d like to learn all I can so I’m prepared to recon your happy reunion, and know the right words for my interview on Monday.”
    With a small nod, she trailed him to the elevator, her suitcase rolling along behind them. When the lift arrived, they stepped inside and he punched the button for the conference room. They decided on a pizza from a little place down the street, and he set about searching through what she knew and what she thought she knew about her mom.
    An aerial view of Sophia’s neighborhood and the surrounding blocks filled one of the computer monitors. “When you meet with your mother, I’ll watch the house from right here,” he said, pointing to a corner he’d highlighted.
    â€œAre you worried I’ll do something stupid?” Frankie gave him a long look.
    He stared right back. “Are you planning on doing something stupid?”
    She tilted her head to the side, stretching and massaging the long column of her neck. “Of course not.”
    Did she know she was irresistible? “Here.” He stepped behind her. “Let me.”
    She shifted out of his reach. “No, thanks.”
    â€œNo problem.” He held his hands up in surrender. Though he was tempted to fib and tell her he was a certified massage therapist, he didn’t want to give her any reason to doubt his word. In the short time they’d been acquainted, her trust issues were abundantly clear.
    â€œIt’s just from the plane,” she said defensively. “I tweaked it when I dozed off.”
    â€œIt happens.” He kept his smile easy, his stance casual. “If you change your mind, I’ve picked up a trick or two from my massage therapist sister.” That was the truth.
    â€œRain check.” Frankie looked back at the overhead images of the neighborhood. “If you’re going to watch the first meeting, I assume you’ll want me wired for sound, too?”
    He was glad she’d been the one to suggest it. “If you agree, we could analyze the conversation afterward for any slips or stresses she makes.”
    â€œShe won’t slip up. Sophia Leone is too slick, too careful.”
    Aidan thought it

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