Read In the Crossfire (Bloodhaven) for Free Online Page B

inscrutable.
    He watched her closely, but he wasn’t protesting, so that was something. For all she knew, he was counting down the minutes to push past her and escape into the night. For now, he acted as if he had all the time in the world to spend here with her.
    She picked up the nearest reading material—a weapons catalog—and handed it to him.
    “Could you please read that?”
    Liam frowned down at page thirty-two.
    “Out loud,” she clarified, initiating her voice recognition software.
    “I think you’re enjoying this,” he remarked, right before launching into a description of the latest advancements in rocket-propelled grenades.
    Isobel half-expected him to bolt at the prospect of speaking continuously for a full thirty seconds, but he took it like a champ. He’d never be an orator, of course—his discomfort was obvious from the first stiff sentence to the rusty fade of the last—but there was something in the roughness of his voice that appealed to her.
    Damn. She’d better break this dry spell and pick someone from her list. Fast.
    She typed a series of commands into her computer. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Liam glance at the framed picture on her desk, the one of the regal Afro-Dutch man in uniform and the striking blonde woman in pearls. He cast a surreptitious look at Isobel.
    “My parents,” she said succinctly.
    She waited for him to make one of the usual comments—that she had her mother’s eyes, her father’s bone structure. Liam, being Liam, only nodded in acknowledgment. He didn’t say a word.
    He never was one for inane comments.
    Isobel gave him his access code. He listened carefully, then repeated it for her benefit.
    She nodded. “You’re all set. Enter this along with your prints whenever you enter the premises, even if one of us is in. Though needless to say, you’ll only be authorized to enter limited sections of the house, and only if Naley or myself are present.”
    “I wouldn’t.”
    “Pardon?”
    Isobel saw his jaw working.
    “I wouldn’t enter,” he said gruffly. “Without you around.”
    “I know.” Isobel gave her best non-threatening smile; she’d been told a couple of times that her smile was less cat-ate-the-canary and more cheetah-ripped-the-antelope’s-guts-out. “I meant no offense.”
    “I wasn’t offended.”
    “It’s not like I expect you to host raves here during the weekend.”
    Liam glanced away. A line bisected his thick brows.
    “What is it?” she asked.
    “You don’t have a lot of visitors over,” he said slowly. “I guess I’m . . . just processing being one of the chosen few.”
    “It’s not as if you’re a total stranger. You’ve lived here for over a year. If we were ordinary neighbors, we would’ve traded keys by now. Watered each other’s plants while the other was away. Got together for a barbecue. That kind of thing.”
    “But we’re not.”
    “Ordinary? No. But I’m fine with that.” Isobel shrugged. “If it makes you feel better, I have absolutely no compunction about slitting your throat if you ever turn out to be a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Pun thoroughly intended.”
    Liam’s eyes flicked quickly to hers, then just as quickly away. But his mouth did twitch in a ghost of a smile.
    She walked him to the front door. Neither of them spoke until he stepped over the threshold. Isobel caught him examining her face once more.
    “You okay?” he asked.
    Isobel was surprised. The cuts and bruises were negligible, really. She’d almost forgotten about them herself.
    “Of course,” she said. “I’ve been in worse shape than this.”
    He didn’t look reassured.
    “They’ll be all healed by morning, Liam. You know that.”
    “That’s not what I meant.”
    She didn’t know what to make of that. Before she could say another word, Liam pushed off the steps and strode down the driveway, heading for the front gates. Isobel watched his tall frame get smaller and smaller in the darkness. Before he could