Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti

to protect—and never would be. That truth clawed
    through him with sharp blades.
    Once again, he wondered if he should’ve taken her with him five years ago whether she liked it or not.
    At least she wouldn’t have been caught in the explosion. Nor would she have learned how to mask her
    emotions so well. Maybe there was more of her mother in her than he’d feared, because without his
    abilities, he’d have no clue she was even affected right now.
    He tore his gaze away and turned toward Lilith. Tall and willowy, the accountant had a sharpness to her
    that would’ve impressed him had she not been trying to commit fraud. The red designer suit she wore
    hugged a too-thin body. “What points would you like to discuss?” he asked.
    She pursed ruby-tinted lips. “The property taxes are a nice place to start. We’d like them waived.”
    Audrey leaned forward, her voice level but her heart racing. “On page three of your report, you’ll see a
    list of the counties that will forgo property taxes and can compare their requirements to see which ones you
    prefer.”
    Nate compared the two women. Audrey’s nicely rounded form filled out her understated blue suit in a
    way that made him salivate. Even now, with so much time and distance between them, he wanted her,
    which did nothing but irritate him. “So you’ve bribed the county officials already?”
    Sparks lit her blue eyes. “No. Individual counties can waive such taxes because jobs will be created by
    the company that will help the local economy. I’d assumed you would’ve known that, Mr. McGovern.” She
    lifted her chin in challenge.
    Damn, he’d love to meet that challenge. “I understand.” His special abilities gave him the edge he
    needed, and it was time to use them. He turned toward the senator. “Are we getting funded or not?”
    The senator tapped one file folder, his gaze remaining steady. “I haven’t decided who to recommend
    yet.”
    Lie. Definite lie. The politician’s heart rate sped up, and tiny facial muscles twitched. While the senator
    lied with skill, Nathan detected lies with hard-earned experience. Nate glanced at Audrey, who stared
    intently at him.
    Yeah, she knew his skill.
    She also knew he’d figured out the senator was lying. The smile that lifted Nathan’s lips held a warning.
    From the widening of her eyes, she read it correctly.
    “Well now”—Nathan leaned forward—“I think we can start negotiating so you do decide who to
    recommend.”
    At that point, his wildcat flashed him a smile that held more menace than a panther eyeing dinner.
    His cock instantly flared to life.
    Challenge lit her eyes in a way that heated every nerve in his body. “Yes, let’s start,” she said.
    Two hours later, Nate sat back in his chair, more impressed than ever with the blue-eyed, sick-tongued
    woman who’d once held his heart. “You drive a tough bargain.”
    The senator stretched his neck. “Audrey’s the best.”
    Yes, she was. Enjoyment had illuminated her face during the entire talk, and Nate wondered if it was the
    nature of politics or the challenge of sparring with him that had brought her to life. While watching her the
    last week without her knowledge, he hadn’t seen nearly the passion on her face for her job as he had in the
    last two hours.
    Years ago, not once in their time together had Audrey expressed an interest in either politics or
    lobbying. In fact, she’d wanted to work with young kids, hadn’t she?
    The door opened, and a slightly graying head poked in. “Sorry to interrupt. Audrey, do you have a
    minute?”
    Ernie Rastus, the senator’s chief of staff, was thinner than Nate had expected from the background files
    he’d dug up.
    Audrey excused herself and left the room, shutting the door quietly behind her.
    That quickly, the fun of negotiating disappeared. Nate kept one ear on the conversation between Lilith
    and the senator, while listening intently to another conversation in the hallway. Had Audrey