we’ve done together has been in a hurry. Relax and talk to me.”
He didn’t intend to go away. Lana remembered her panic in the hotel room where they had gone at each other with sheet-scorching passion. Why had she sneaked out like a guilty hooker? If he’d been just any nine-to- five guy, would she have left like a thief in the night? But he wasn’t just any guy. Horn belonged to her family of law enforcement. She’d been bombarded with the possibility of being fired, shamed by the brass, or worse, the fact she’d been an easy mark for one of their agents. Having sex with him revealed she had no control, couldn’t be trusted, and her name would be mud.
For two years, she’d lived under the gun, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
She couldn’t stop the shiver that crept over her body. To her amazement and pleasure, Horn removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
His warmth still clung to the fine fabric and seeped deliciously into her skin. She snuggled into the delicious comfort, meeting his gaze with a brief smile. “Thanks, Horn. I could have gotten a throw from the closet.”
“I’ll take care of you, Pearly.” He looked at his watch and then smiled. “Want to know about me?”
“Not really.”
“I promise to be entertaining.”
“I don’t like vaudeville.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you about Ms. Pearly.”
“Take your damn coat back.”
Why couldn’t the man just talk business?
“Pearly, I bet you’re an only child.” He leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Don’t expect me to apologize for that.” She bit her tongue. He had weaseled more information out of her with amateur innuendo. “I suppose you’re the only one.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Wrong, gorgeous. I have three brothers and a perfect little sister.” He closed his eyes and looked content as a big cat that’d just eaten a satisfying meal.
Lana’s curiosity kicked into high gear. “And you have no children?”
She heard his soft groan and hesitated to look into his eyes. He began to count off on his finger tips and grinned evilly as she counted nine.
“Sorry to disappoint you, lady, but I haven’t fathered any children yet.”
“That sounds like you have plans to make some woman very happy.” She suddenly wanted to know his every secret, even though she had no intention to open her own life to discussion. “You surely don’t intend to stay with the bureau until you retire.”
He startled her, sitting up to study her with no hint of teasing. “I had intended to do just that, but Washington has been requesting my return to battle.” He laughed. “Not out in the desert, but training recruits. I keep telling myself, hell no.”
“And you have said hell no?” Lana shivered with the discovery they could actually hold a real conversation. She liked it. “You don’t like the military?”
“Quite the contrary.” He grew thoughtful, measuring his words. “I love the Army.” His jaw set in a hard line, the subject obviously stirring unpleasant memories in his mind. “I finally reached the saturation point and got out at a good time for me.”
She wanted to know more about this man so stricken with loyalty to his fellow soldiers. He rubbed his jaw, obviously not going any further with his criticism of the military.
“I’m curious about your decision to become an agent. The rules are pretty stiff here as well.” He gave her a look of disbelief. “Well, they are. For most of us.”
“Pearly,” back went the seat and he folded his arms over his chest, “you’ve read too much into the files you sneaked a look at.”
What could she say? Yes, I’m a sneak.
She took advantage of the fact he didn’t have her in one of his penetrating stares. “I admit I checked you out.” She swallowed, trying to moisten her dry throat. “I wanted to know about the guy I slept with.”
His reaction shouldn’t have surprised her. He patted her hand and laughed. “I know you weren’t
He didn’t intend to go away. Lana remembered her panic in the hotel room where they had gone at each other with sheet-scorching passion. Why had she sneaked out like a guilty hooker? If he’d been just any nine-to- five guy, would she have left like a thief in the night? But he wasn’t just any guy. Horn belonged to her family of law enforcement. She’d been bombarded with the possibility of being fired, shamed by the brass, or worse, the fact she’d been an easy mark for one of their agents. Having sex with him revealed she had no control, couldn’t be trusted, and her name would be mud.
For two years, she’d lived under the gun, waiting for the other shoe to drop.
She couldn’t stop the shiver that crept over her body. To her amazement and pleasure, Horn removed his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.
His warmth still clung to the fine fabric and seeped deliciously into her skin. She snuggled into the delicious comfort, meeting his gaze with a brief smile. “Thanks, Horn. I could have gotten a throw from the closet.”
“I’ll take care of you, Pearly.” He looked at his watch and then smiled. “Want to know about me?”
“Not really.”
“I promise to be entertaining.”
“I don’t like vaudeville.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you about Ms. Pearly.”
“Take your damn coat back.”
Why couldn’t the man just talk business?
“Pearly, I bet you’re an only child.” He leaned back and closed his eyes.
“Don’t expect me to apologize for that.” She bit her tongue. He had weaseled more information out of her with amateur innuendo. “I suppose you’re the only one.”
He shook his head and chuckled. “Wrong, gorgeous. I have three brothers and a perfect little sister.” He closed his eyes and looked content as a big cat that’d just eaten a satisfying meal.
Lana’s curiosity kicked into high gear. “And you have no children?”
She heard his soft groan and hesitated to look into his eyes. He began to count off on his finger tips and grinned evilly as she counted nine.
“Sorry to disappoint you, lady, but I haven’t fathered any children yet.”
“That sounds like you have plans to make some woman very happy.” She suddenly wanted to know his every secret, even though she had no intention to open her own life to discussion. “You surely don’t intend to stay with the bureau until you retire.”
He startled her, sitting up to study her with no hint of teasing. “I had intended to do just that, but Washington has been requesting my return to battle.” He laughed. “Not out in the desert, but training recruits. I keep telling myself, hell no.”
“And you have said hell no?” Lana shivered with the discovery they could actually hold a real conversation. She liked it. “You don’t like the military?”
“Quite the contrary.” He grew thoughtful, measuring his words. “I love the Army.” His jaw set in a hard line, the subject obviously stirring unpleasant memories in his mind. “I finally reached the saturation point and got out at a good time for me.”
She wanted to know more about this man so stricken with loyalty to his fellow soldiers. He rubbed his jaw, obviously not going any further with his criticism of the military.
“I’m curious about your decision to become an agent. The rules are pretty stiff here as well.” He gave her a look of disbelief. “Well, they are. For most of us.”
“Pearly,” back went the seat and he folded his arms over his chest, “you’ve read too much into the files you sneaked a look at.”
What could she say? Yes, I’m a sneak.
She took advantage of the fact he didn’t have her in one of his penetrating stares. “I admit I checked you out.” She swallowed, trying to moisten her dry throat. “I wanted to know about the guy I slept with.”
His reaction shouldn’t have surprised her. He patted her hand and laughed. “I know you weren’t
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