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EXCERPT Traffic was light on Saturday morning as he drove toward the Village and turned right on Mallory Street. The hum of lawn mowers and smell of freshly cut grass drifted through his window on a cool breeze. Autumn would be well underway in Boston by now. He missed the bright colors of maples and birch trees, but St. Simons was a pleasant change from gridlock, pollution and crowds. The tranquility helped to soothe his troubled soul. Sean slowed his vehicle when he came upon a line of cars parked on the side of the street. A group of people was framing a small house and as he started to drive around, he recognized Hannah’s car. Several heads turned at the short screech of tires, and he saw Hannah do a double take when she spotted him. He pulled over, unsure of what to do next. They looked at each other for a long moment, then Hannah said something to the woman next to her, dropped the hammer from her hand and walked over to him. His pulse rate picked up. She wore a tank top tucked into cut off jeans, heavy socks and work boots. A handyman’s tool bag hung around her waist with a screwdriver sticking out of one pocket. On any other woman he would have laughed. On her it looked sexy as hell. "Hi." Her smile was tentative. "Hi." "You’re up early." "I took a run on the beach." "Oh." She paused. "I didn’t know you were into jogging." There’s a lot you don’t about me, he thought. "It’s good exercise." Hannah nodded and looked off to the side, then at the ground as if to fill the awkward silence. He wasn’t going to help her. It was her call now. She crossed her arms over her chest and kicked at the pebbles on the road. "I, uh, haven’t seen you this week." "I didn’t think you’d want to." Did he see a flicker of regret in her velvety brown eyes? She felt ill at ease, he could tell, and taking no pleasure at her obvious discomfort, he changed the subject. "So, what are you doing here?" he asked, pointing to the framed structure. "We’re building a house for Habitat for Humanity." "Really?" His voice held more than a trace of startled amazement. She laughed then, raising a brow. "You sound surprised." "I am. With your business and being a single parent, I wouldn’t think you’d be able to find the time." Hannah put her hand on the door, turning to the group of volunteers busily driving nails and cutting two by fours. "Well, I’ll be honest with you. After Tory’s father died, I almost drowned in self-pity. We had to start all over again with almost nothing. Then one day my friend, Marsha--you met her last week, didn’t you?--she dragged me out one Saturday to work on a house." She laughed as if remembering. "I felt like the proverbial fish out of water. I’d never hammered a nail or poured cement in my life. "When I was done, it felt so good knowing I’d helped someone less fortunate. It also took my mind off my own problems and made me realize I should be thankful for what I have. I can’t give a lot of time, but I try to help when I can." She wiggled her brows. "And boy, you should see me with a nail gun." Sean laughed more in wonder than at the expression on her face. Every time he turned around, she hit him with the unexpected. Her affinity for others, even faced with her own personal obstacles, overwhelmed him. Had he ever been that good a person? She radiated a true kindness that made him feel unworthy of her company. In the face of all her virtue, Sean was tempted to tell her the truth of his identity. Or he could wait and see where this conversation led them. Not feeling particularly noble, he chose the latter. "So," Hannah said with an irresistible twinkle in her eye, "you wanna help?" How he’d like to grab her neck, pull her to him and kiss that temptingly curved mouth. "Yeah. Yeah, I would." He got out of the Explorer gesturing for her to lead the way when he saw her hesitate. "Sean," she said haltingly, "about last week." Slowly, he lost his smile and waited. "I may have said some things that were out of line, so I did some checking." His heart skipped a beat. What kind of checking? What had she found out? "On me?" Had she discovered who he really was? No. If she had, their conversation would be taking an entirely different direction. "What did you find out?" he asked, bracing himself. "That all the parents of your students like you, respect you. In their opinion, you’re honest and hardworking." Inwardly, he breathed a huge sigh of relief. "I’m glad you’ve changed your mind about me. Apology accepted." Her brows shot up in surprise. "Just a minute. I’m not apologizing for anything. I did what I had to do. You have to understand Tory is all I have. She’s at a very vulnerable stage in her life, becoming a teenager and losing her father. I have to be very careful about things–-or people--that could be a detrimental influence." A sharp edged laugh exploded from his throat, and he barely managed to check his temper. "Now I’m a ‘detrimental influence’. Well, I guess that’s a step up from being a child molester." His sarcasm rang. Hannah let out a frustrated breath and held up her hands as if to ward off his anger. "Look, Sean, the fact of the matter is I don’t know you. And no matter what anyone else thinks of you, I can’t trust someone I don’t know." That stopped him cold. Her words sank in, smothering his indignation and for the first time, he saw a strength of character he hadn’t seen in her before. He had to admire her tenacity to protect her child--his child. The look on her face told him she wouldn’t budge, wouldn’t compromise, and her resolve almost made him smile. "You’re absolutely right. You don’t know me." Her eyes softened a bit, whether from relief or surprise he didn’t know. "But I want to change that, Hannah. Will you let me show you I’m really not the bad guy?" A long moment passed, and Sean raised his brows in worried anticipation. Then, one side of her mouth lifted slightly. "How do you propose to do that?" she asked. "We could start by going to dinner. Just you and me this time." She accepted with a nod, and the immense satisfaction he felt triggered an undeniable attraction he began to experience each time he saw her. "How about next week?" "All right. Call me." "Does this mean we’re friends?" "Let’s say it’s a start." They stood smiling for several foolish seconds "Well, we’d better get started here," Sean
said finally, taking her arm. "Why don’t you show me how to use that
nail gun?"
She’d fallen asleep the night before waiting for Reid to join her, and although the sheets on both sides of the bed were rumpled, she couldn’t quite remember. Yet, vivid impressions of strong arms and a long lean body close to hers filtered through the haze in her mind. Dream or reality? Rolling onto her stomach, Lexie bunched the pillow under her cheek. A whiff of Reid’s scent rose from the sheets and triggered a tingling in the pit of her stomach. The sensation brought back the memory of their tender lovemaking and the way his touch had set her skin on fire. She turned her face into the pillow, remembering her uninhibited response. She’d wanted desperately to say the words, to pour her heart out, but now she was glad she’d held back. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to realize something was definitely wrong. He’d been noticeably quiet, not his usual teasing self. What did I do to make him pull away? The least he could do is give me an explanation, she decided. She deserved at least that. If he says he made a mistake, fine. Then I’ll…I’ll… A stab of pain sliced through her. She’d do what she’d always done. Patch the protective wall around her heart brick by agonizing brick, reinforcing all those weak spots Reid had breached with his smile and charm and kind words. Then she’d kick herself for thinking she could ever have a chance at that sort of happiness. Lexie threw back the covers and donned her still damp bathing suit, the cold spandex giving her goose flesh. She went to the head and did the best she could without a toothbrush and comb, then grabbed a cup of much needed coffee from the galley. She made her way to the cockpit and was met by a bright blue, cloudless sky. Shirtless, Reid stood behind the wheel, his chest tanned by countless hours in the sun. The deep gold of his hair was the color of an early sunrise and the stiff wind raked it carelessly. The dark aviators lent a mysterious air to his ruggedly handsome face. The floor of her stomach gave way at the sight of him. “Morning,” he said. “I didn’t think you’d ever get up.” He smiled, but only slightly. Lexie wasn’t sure if he was trying to be funny. “Sleep well?” “Not really.” She might as well be honest. “I waited up as long as I could.” “Sorry. I had a lot of things to do topside. You were asleep when I came down. You didn’t even wake up when I slid in beside you.” At least she hadn’t imagined his being next to her. “Oh, she said, but his explanation didn’t lift the veil of foreboding that weighed on her. He was courteous, but cool, and his voice lacked the teasing lilt she’d come to love. Lexie wished she could see his eyes, but they were well hidden behind his sunglasses. “Reid,” she said finally, deciding to confront him head on, “we need to talk.” He shifted his masked gaze from the fullness of the sail directly to her. “Yes, we do. But not right now. We’ll be back at my place soon. Why don’t you enjoy the rest of the trip.” There was nothing encouraging in his words. If anything, it sounded like the beginning of ‘It’s been nice, but...’. Lexie took her place in the front of the mast and started making plans to return to Atlanta. An hour later, the back of Reid’s cottage came into view. A small sadness pricked her heart knowing she’d never see this charming place again, and like other heartaches in her life, Lexie stowed away the hurt. As Reid carefully pulled up to the dock, she jumped off the boat and concentrated on securing the bowline. She caught movement in her peripheral vision and looked up to see a man in a dark suit walking toward them. He was too young, too thin, and too well-dressed to be Detective Slater. And no one else was to know their whereabouts. Her hand tightened on the line. “Reid.” “I see him. You stay here.” Lexie tied the line to the cleat and watched the man pull something from his coat pocket. A few seconds later, Reid waved for her to join them. “Lexie, this is Special Agent Darwin Cooprider.” The man held out his badge. Her good manners prevented her from chuckling at the emphasis Reid put on the man’s odd name. “He’s with the FBI. Looks like they’re going to be handling the investigation from now on.” He turned to Cooprider. “Come on up to the house.” Lexie excused herself and ran upstairs to change into shorts and a T-shirt. She ran a brush through her hair, then returned to the kitchen to see another FBI agent sitting at the table. Reid stood next to the sink. After introductions were made, Cooprider explained his visit. “I’ve spoken to Detective Slater and read his file. Since this case may involve the theft of restricted technology, the Bureau has decided to take over the investigation. If you both don’t mind, I’d like to hear everything that happened.” Reid crossed his arms and looked annoyed, but Lexie and he went through it again, beginning with her arrival in Washington and being careful not to leave anything out. Cooprider made notes, and Lexie was grateful for his sympathetic attitude. His sparkling smile made her feel at ease. “Has anything out of the ordinary happened since you’ve been down here?” the agent asked when they’d finished their story. Lexie’s eyes flew to Reid, and she felt a blush climb up her neck. Making love on a beach out in the open was certainly out of the ordinary for her. “No,” Reid said flatly. “Do you have anything to go on? Any leads?” Cooprider closed the small notebook and deposited it in his coat pocket. “A few, but nothing definite. That’s one reason I wanted to talk to you.” He turned in his chair to look directly at Lexie, and she was drawn in by his earnest and concerned expression. “Miss Carver, we don’t know exactly who’s behind all of this, but it’s obvious you’re in a good deal of danger.” “No shit, Sherlock,” Reid muttered. Irritated, Lexie threw Reid a look and hoped she alone heard his remark. “Since we don’t have much to go on, I wanted to ask you to come back to Washington with us.” “And do what?” Reid interrupted sharply. He pushed himself away from sink, brows furrowed, the challenge in his voice unmistakable. “I had planned on going back to Atlanta tomorrow.” Lexie waited patiently for Reid’s explosion, but felt herself hit with a hard stare instead. “You’d still be in danger there, Ms. Carver. These people won’t stop until they get what they want. In this case, either you or your Eagle Eye system.” “What do you want me to do?” Come back to Washington and go about your business. Do whatever you’d normally do.” Several seconds of silence followed. “You want her to draw them out, use her for bait,” said Reid, his menacing whisper a combination of realization and accusation. Cooprider kept his eyes on Lexie. “We don’t know how long this investigation will take, Ms. Carver. Unless you’re prepared to stay out here indefinitely, your help would more than likely bring the case to a quick close.” “And get her killed in the process,” Reid almost yelled. “My men would be watching you every minute of the day,” Cooprider said to her, “and would be close enough to intervene if anything should happen. We’d guarantee your safety.” “You’re out of your mind, Cooprider.” Lexie shot out of her chair as Reid advanced on the man. She blocked his path, afraid Reid would take a piece out of him. Cooprider stood, his gaze shifting between Lexie and Reid. “You’d be doing your country a tremendous service, Ms. Carver, helping to put these people behind bars.” “You can put the flag away any time now, you son of a bitch.” “Reid, stop it,” Lexie said tersely. “The man has a point.” He grabbed her shoulders and turned her toward him. “You’re not doing this. Just forget about it.” Fed up with his bullying tactics, Lexie pulled out of his grasp. “You’ll have to forgive Captain Townsend,” Lexie explained to the two FBI men, her voice in smooth control. “Sometimes he forgets I’m not in the Navy.” Her eyes narrowed at Reid. “I don’t take orders very well.” Turning back to the agent, she said, “I’ll have to think about it. Can I call you in a day or two?” Cooprider nodded and pulled out a card. “You can reach me at this number day or night.” He turned. “We can protect her, Captain.” Reid let out an explosive curse. “How many patriotic citizens have you lost with that line?” Cooprider, his mouth set in a tight line, faced Lexie. “Let me know your decision.” Lexie followed the two men to the door and watched them drive off. She looked pensively at the card, gliding her fingers back and forth over the edges. Maybe Cooprider was right. Even if she went home, her life could still be in danger. And what if it took a long time for the FBI to make an arrest? There was absolutely no way she would stay here any longer than she had to. Logic told her Cooprider’s solution would solve both problems. She’d be out of danger in a short time, and she could go home and never have to see Reid Townsend again. She blinked hard and squelched the short painful throb in her heart. Staring out the front window, Lexie suddenly became aware of Reid’s raised voice coming from the kitchen. She didn’t want to eavesdrop but avoiding his conversation was almost impossible in the small house. Glancing in his direction, she saw him with the telephone to his ear, feet apart, his tight jaw set like a dike holding back a sea of anger. “Slater,” he said, “what the hell’s going on? I just had two Federal agents here and one of them was an asshole.” Lexie waited. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s him. James Bond wannabe with spit-shined shoes.” Reid’s narrowed eyes stayed fixed on the opposite wall while he listened. “You knew about this? Why didn’t you call me?” he almost yelled. Then he looked at the floor, his tone contrite. “Oh. We went sailing and spent the night on the boat.” A flash of heat climbed up Lexie’s neck. “Do you know what he wants her to do?” Reid turned slightly and caught sight of Lexie standing in the doorway. “Wait. I want her to hear this from you.” He pushed the orange button on the phone. “You’re on speaker, Slater. Go ahead.” “Miss Carver?” Lexie folded her arms over her rib cage in more of a defensive gesture than a natural one and walked to within hearing distance. “I’m here, Detective.” “Agent Cooprider came to see me yesterday. He told me he was going to talk to you about taking an active role in this investigation.” “Don’t sugarcoat it for her, Slater,” Reid interrupted with a hardness in his voice. “Just tell her Cooprider wants her to be his sacrificial lamb.” “He said the FBI would protect me,” Lexie countered, then watched Reid roll his eyes in disgust. “Surely he wouldn’t say that if he couldn’t do it.” “Sometimes these guys at the Bureau think they’re invincible,” Slater explained. “But,” he added quickly, “don’t tell them I said that. 1Truth of the matter is, there are too many things they can’t control. A plan looks good on paper, but the least little snag could mean disaster. I’ve seen more than one of these scenarios go bad.” Lexie thought for a moment, trying to interpret Slater’s words. “Is Agent Cooprider taking over this investigation?” Slater snorted. “Over my dead body.” It dawned on her. “I see. Is it possible the two of you are having a little turf war over this case, Detective?” She took his hesitation as an affirmative and didn’t wait for an explanation. “Thanks for the advice, but the decision is mine and mine alone.” Reid swore explosively as she walked out the back door. Standing at the water’s edge, Lexie didn’t doubt Slater’s concern for her safety, but she wasn’t about to become a pawn in some kind of bureaucratic power struggle. At this point, staying with Reid for any length of time was out of the question. Her heart couldn’t stand that kind of torture. And although she wasn’t the heroic type, the thought of catching whoever had attacked her and Sally gave her an immense amount of satisfaction. “You’re not going back to Washington. Not until this whole thing is over.” Lexie didn’t hear Reid come up behind her, but his presence didn’t catch her off guard. Her temper started a slow, steady climb. She counted to ten. “Lexie, use your head. This isn’t a Movie of the Week. Someone out there wants you dead. Are you any match for that?” “The FBI will protect me.” “Oh my God,” he said, throwing up his hands. “How naïve can you get?” Something snapped inside her as his words stabbed at the essence of her inner weakness. “Pretty naïve, I guess,” she admitted, the sound just above a whisper. “I believed all your lines.” Reid let out a frustrated breath. His fingers made tunnels in his hair and he held up a hand in front of her. With a harsh sigh, he said, “We’ll talk about last night, Lexie, I promise. But not before we get this settled. You’re not going to be a sitting duck just to make that guy’s job easier.” “Reid, you don’t seem to understand, I have a life--,” “And I want to make sure you’re around to enjoy it.” “—-that I want to get back to.” The emphasis in her voice stopped him. “If I don’t help them, the investigation could take weeks, months. What am I supposed to do in the meantime? Stay here with you?” His mouth slanted in a frown. “Would that be so bad?” Lexie searched his face. Yes, she thought, if you don’t love me the way I do you. “I have a job I’ve been away from far too long. Besides, I’m due for a promotion soon,” she added lamely. Reid looked as if she’d punched him. His eyes became hard, his voice flat. “I see. And that’s so important to you.” “Yes, of course it is,” she responded with a defensive nod. “I thought you realized that. I’ve worked very hard, for a very long time to get where I am.” She would not let him belittle her hard work, her job, her life. A long disgusted breath filtered through his teeth and he lifted his hands. “And look where you’ve ended up.” His sardonic expression sent her temper soaring as his meaning sunk in. With a curl of his lip, he added, “You fooled me. You really did. All that talk about the family you never had. And those kids at the hospital. That was a nice touch.” “Wait a minute. I didn’t—-” Reid put his hands on his hips and let go a disgusted laugh. “What a fool I am. Thinking a husband and kids meant so much to you. Why did you make me believe that?” The bitterness she heard only added to her confusion. “I do want that. I hoped we could have it together.” It was as close as she could come to saying ‘I love you.’ He shook his head slowly. “I want a wife who thinks I’m the most important thing in her life.” “I’ve worked so hard. It’s what I am,” she said, imploring him to understand. “No, Lexie, it’s what you want to be.” She didn’t call out to him as he walked away. She couldn’t.
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