Bed of Lies by Paula Roe Page A

back in the luxurious leather, trying to put her thoughts in order. Yet she kept returning to the same conclusion. She might not like his methods. His mere presence may set her pulse racing and her internal alarms on high. But short of a miracle, she needed help finding Ben and sorting out her bank mix-up.
    Plus, his staying with her was a perfect chance to convince him to sell.
    Her mouth tightened as she turned back to him. “We need to set some ground rules.”
    One eyebrow rose. “Okay…?”
    “One. We share whatever information we find.”
    Luke nodded.
    “Two. No physical stuff. I mean it, Luke,” she warned as his eyes crinkled. “No touching. No smiling. Definitely nothing else.”
    “So I can’t smile at you now?”
    “You know what I mean. No Mr. Charming. Stop it!”
    Luke, to his credit, tried to swallow the offending grin. “I can’t promise that, cara. But I will keep my distance if that’s what you want. However,” he added, his mouth kinking up, “if you should change your mind…” Her heart beat a little faster.
    “I won’t be asking.”
    “Really.”
    She narrowed her eyes. “Do you doubt my willpower?”
    “No.” He grinned. “Just questioning why I get you all flustered in the first place.”
    The arrogance of the man! Beth looked away as the car finally pulled into the driveway and she leaped out as if her life depended on it.
    He followed her up the front steps. “Running away won’t do any good, cara. ” His liquid voice dropped to a husky rumble. “You tell me I need to relax, but look at you. You’re a bundle of nerves.”
    Welcoming the cold indignation that started in the pit of her stomach, she whirled on him.
    “You ever think maybe it could be you stressing me out?” She jammed her keys in the front door and managed to break a nail in the process. Cursing, she glared at him. “I’ve spent the better part of ten years getting my life just the way I want it and suddenly it’s snatched away. Do you know how damn frustrating that is?” She tightened her hands into fists and placed them on her hips, the keys forgotten, dangling from the lock. “It galls me to ask for help but yes, I need it. But let me get something straight—I don’t need fixing or saving or anything else. And I’m not going to be your project, so you can get that out of your head, too.”
    She paused for breath.
    “You finished?” Luke asked quietly.
    “Yes.”
    “Good. You got the wrong guy. Playing the knight in shining armor isn’t my thing. All I want is to clear my name and get back to my job. And we both want to keep this out of the papers.”
    The keys suddenly fell from the lock and they both bent for them. Their hands collided. Then their gazes. Luke was so close he could smell her—lemons and freshness and rain—could nearly touch those soft curls that framed delicate earlobes. Could even feel the slow heat humming through her skin.
    The woman was a baffling mix of “back off” and steely determination. She didn’t want him around, yet she wasn’t going to leave. He’d never felt more confused.
    She was the first to straighten. She did it so smoothly and with such aplomb that he almost missed the shadow of regret clouding her eyes.
    Finally, Beth managed to open the door. Touching is supposed to be a major release for stress, she reminded herself as she walked down the hall. It boosts your immune system, it eases tension. It releases endorphins to help you relax.
    Whoever thought that one up obviously hadn’t been touched by Luke De Rossi.
    She glanced back. Luke stood in the doorway, looking very large, very male and totally in charge.
    The expression on his face made her nerves backflip. “Trust me, Beth, I’ll get to the bottom of everything.”
    Yeah, that’s what she was afraid of.

Six
    B eth fought the overwhelming urge to pack up her things and drive away until this horrible situation was a distant memory. Instead, she went into the kitchen and watched Luke