Grave Danger by Rachel Grant

enough.” She leaned back and studied him. What would Simone think of him? She could guess easily enough—he’s hot, but more than that, focused. Confident. Appealing.
    Mark took another slice of pizza. “Do you have any colleagues who are incompetent? Or even negligent?”
    His question was a jarring contrast to the adjectives she’d been thinking. “What?”
    “Are all archaeologists perfect at their job?”
    “Hardly. We have our share of incompetence.”
    “Who should I base my opinion of your entire profession on? You, or the incompetent ones?”
    His meaning was more than clear. “I didn’t give you a chance, did I?”
    “No, you didn’t.”
    “I’m sorry.”
    He smiled. “And I’m sorry for jumping to conclusions yesterday.”
    Warmth spread through her. After the way he’d questioned her last night, she would never have guessed the initial attraction could return with such force, but here she was in the full throes of fluttery anticipation, something she hadn’t experienced in a long time.
    She may as well ask the question that had nagged her since she noticed the paint stains on his jeans when he helped change her tire. “Why did you answer my 9-1-1 call yesterday? The way you were dressed—you weren’t on duty.”
    “I was closer than the patrol car and didn’t want you to be out there alone.”
    She stared at him in silence, the air thickening as it entered her lungs. She knew her weaknesses all too well. She was a sucker for men with a protective streak, probably because her father hadn’t been around much during her adolescence. Simple attraction ballooned into full-blown desire.
    Talk about foolish.
    Mark Colby sat across from her wearing an expression that hinted at a similar interest, reminding her that on her second date with Aaron she’d made a stupid self-conscious joke about her lack of father figure making cops appealing. Her words had been a feeble attempt to convince herself to be attracted to him, but it had backfired, and later Aaron used those words against her.
    Now she had to wonder, did Mark know about that? He could be testing her, to determine if she were a groupie.
    The doorbell rang, an excuse to escape the moment, the attraction, and the suspicion. She jumped up, seizing the opportunity. After rounding the bend from the dining room to the living room, she saw Jason Caruthers through the door and came to a dead stop.
    Mark walked into her. He placed his hands on her hips to steady them both, triggering yet another foolish flutter. His fingers clenched as he said, “Jason,” and then he released her.
    What had she done to deserve this karma? Couldn’t things go smoothly for ten minutes? She faced him. “We didn’t have plans.”
    His eyes were intent but unreadable. “Then you should find out why he’s here.”
    She opened the door. Jason glanced at Mark and then leaned toward her. She stiffened as he kissed her cheek. They barely knew each other and he kisses her hello in front of the suspicious police chief?
    “You okay?” he whispered.
    “Just dandy,” she said, barely succeeding at keeping sarcasm from her voice.
    He stepped into the room and stood protectively close to her. “Sorry to drop in unannounced, but I found the boxes containing my mother’s research materials. I hope I haven’t come at a bad time?” He studied Mark warily.
    Jason’s protective manner made sense; he was, after all, a defense attorney, and yesterday the police chief had rattled her to the degree she’d cancelled their dinner plans.
    On her other side stood Mark, equally wary, gauging every nuance of her interaction with Jason. “Mark came by to ask me some questions about what happened yesterday.”
    “What did happen yesterday?” Jason asked.
    “I had a scare at the site, that’s all.”
    Mark placed a hand on her shoulder in a gesture that wasn’t the least bit comforting.
    Jason’s gaze fixed on Mark’s hand. “A scare? Is this something Jack should know