Stonebrook Cottage
investigators have to step on even to look into this as a possible homicide?"
    Kara saw his point, but disagreed with it and didn't mind saying so. "If you and Sam were in their place, would you worry about what toes you stepped on? Not a chance. You wouldn't give up until you were satisfied that you knew exactly how Big Mike died. Give Connecticut law enforcement some credit. I think they're inclined to regard what happened as an accident because that's what the evidence suggests—"
    "Then they know something we don't know or they're idiots."
    Sam concurred. "Jack's right. This thing stinks."
    Kara knew it did, too, but she couldn't resist arguing with them. Maybe it was the attorney in her— maybe it just gave her something to do instead of worrying about Henry and Lillian. More likely, it kept her from looking at Sam the wrong way and alerting her brother to what they'd done after they'd had coffee two weeks ago.
    "Lord," she muttered as she reached her car, "no wonder I have a bad stomach."
    She'd forgotten about the two home pregnancy test kits still in her tote bag when she'd dug out the kids' cards and letters. She could just imagine the scene if either man had spotted them.
    "Kara—wait up." Susanna trotted down the walk to Kara's car, coming around to the driver's side. "Are you all right? That was a little rough in there. I'd like to strangle those two. You'd think you were a murder suspect."
    "I'm fine, Susanna. Thanks. I put up with that kind of attitude all the time in my work. I didn't tell anyone Big Mike couldn't swim. I didn't push him into his pool. End of story. I just want to find Henry and Lillian."
    "I know. But do you think Governor Parisi was murdered?"
    "I'm trying hard not to get too far ahead of the facts. Anyway, I have no say—it's up to the investigators."
    Her sister-in-law crossed her arms on her chest, the milky, humid darkness deepening the green in her eyes. "You hid it well tonight, Kara, but I know something happened between you and Sam at the Gordon Temple opening. Come on. I know. I admit he's one of my favorites, but he's not—well, you're not stupid. You know what Sam's like."
    Sexy, straightforward, independent, dedicated to his work as a Texas Ranger. Ambitious. People liked him— Jack often said Sam could be governor if he ever wanted to quit the Rangers and go into politics. But who knew what Sam Temple wanted? Kara remembered him smiling at her over coffee, so unexpectedly easy to talk to. Her heart had jumped, and something more than superficial desire seemed to suffuse her mind and body, awaken her to a longing so deep and complicated she didn't know how to describe it.
    Since that night, she'd tried to dismiss what she'd felt—what she'd done—simply as a by-product of the shock of learning about Big Mike's death. But it was more than that, only it didn't matter now. Whatever Sam Temple had been to her, those sixteen hours were over. She didn't have to understand what had happened between them because it would never be repeated. Their lovemaking was like some kind of out-of-time experience that would stay with her forever—she didn't hold it against him.
    But her brother would.
    "Sam's the classic dangerous man," Susanna went on.
    "Yes, I know." Kara managed a smile. "I promised myself when I moved back here that I'd stay away from Texas Rangers. Having one for a brother is bad enough. They're all know-it-all rock heads."
    Susanna laughed. "Well, if it's a question of rock heads, you fit right in, Kara. Honestly. Sam? What were you thinking? " She held up a hand, stopping Kara from answering. "Never mind. You weren't thinking."
    "What happened was just as much my responsibility as Sam's."
    "Jack won't see it that way."
    An understatement. "He doesn't suspect—"
    "No. He hasn't thrown Sam out a window." Susanna dropped her arms, shaking her head with affection. "You were away a long time, Kara. A part of Jack still sees you as his naive little sister, not an

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