she advanced slowly down the hall. Her secret was safe. He couldn’t accuse her of exploring where she had no right. She pasted on a smile and entered the great room. Then froze.
Hank stood by the chair in front of the newly lit fire, his hand buried deep in her handbag.
“Find what you’re looking for?” Icicles hung from her tone.
“There you are.” He smiled, oblivious to her concern. “I need your car keys. I thought I’d just…” His brows shifted to a frown as he groped in her bag. “What the hell?”
He pulled one of her many prescription pill bottles out for closer inspection…then another… and another.
Here it comes . He’ll want to know about the pills. She imagined pity would soften his eyes. His voice would lower with concern. He’ll treat her like a fragile doll, an invalid, too delicate to touch, too temporary to care about. Just like her family. A lump lodged in her stomach.
He raised his gaze to hers. Four fat amber bottles sat clutched in his hands. She knew an equal number remained in her purse. She moistened her lips.
“This is the medicine you mentioned earlier.” He lifted the clattering bottles. “These pills?”
She nodded. The lump moved to her throat.
“Is it HIV?” His voice caught while concern darkened his eyes. She hobbled closer.
Gas from a hissing log popped, sending a shower of sparks to the grate. Frightened, Oreo scrambled behind her legs, knocking her off-balance. Hank was beside her immediately, catching her, offering his strength and support.
“Tell me,” he practically snarled. “Are you dying?”
“No.” Her pulse sounded in her ears, reminding her of the truth of that statement. The thought brought a faint smile. “I’m fine,” she insisted. How many times had she said that today? How many more would she have to say it until he believed her?
Her lips lifted in a slight smile. “At least, I will be as long as I keep taking those.” She tilted her head toward the pill bottles scattered on the floor.
“Well.” His audible exhale ended with a nervous laugh. His thumbs stroked the top of her shoulders in slow sensuous arcs. “Then by all means, keep taking them.”
Her heart pounded. Dangerous. It was dangerous standing this close to him. Dangerous feeling his fingers through her blouse. Dangerous knowing they’d be there alone.
With a quick smile, he got on his hands and knees to gather the fallen pill bottles and stuff them back into her purse. Oreo hampered the search, believing this to be a new game invented for her enjoyment. Angie watched their antics, trying to hold her heart in check. When he brought her the restored handbag, she pulled out her key ring with its identification heart.
His hand closed around the keys. His dimples flashed. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her on the cheek. But he didn’t. Instead he pointed to her purse.
“We’ll talk about those pill bottles when I return.”
Her lips tilted in a smile she didn’t really feel. He left her standing firmly on her own two feet.
But they didn’t talk later. He returned to an empty, dark house. She was gone.
Chapter Six
THERE WAS NO answer on her phone. He didn’t leave a message. He drove to her house, but it was dark, no one home. After a long restless night, he tried again on Sunday morning, afternoon and evening to no avail. He couldn’t find her.
Hank searched his phone for limousine services. What was the name of that company she drove for? But before his scan of the results was complete, he realized Angela wouldn’t be able to drive with her injured foot. He searched the brother’s name, but to call him would be to betray Angela’s trust, so he didn’t call.
He didn’t call, he didn’t sleep, he couldn’t concentrate and it all made him mad as hell. Why should he care so much about one mere slip of a girl? He didn’t have time for this nonsense, and he certainly couldn’t afford to get involved. Not now. His arrangement with Owens made
Hank stood by the chair in front of the newly lit fire, his hand buried deep in her handbag.
“Find what you’re looking for?” Icicles hung from her tone.
“There you are.” He smiled, oblivious to her concern. “I need your car keys. I thought I’d just…” His brows shifted to a frown as he groped in her bag. “What the hell?”
He pulled one of her many prescription pill bottles out for closer inspection…then another… and another.
Here it comes . He’ll want to know about the pills. She imagined pity would soften his eyes. His voice would lower with concern. He’ll treat her like a fragile doll, an invalid, too delicate to touch, too temporary to care about. Just like her family. A lump lodged in her stomach.
He raised his gaze to hers. Four fat amber bottles sat clutched in his hands. She knew an equal number remained in her purse. She moistened her lips.
“This is the medicine you mentioned earlier.” He lifted the clattering bottles. “These pills?”
She nodded. The lump moved to her throat.
“Is it HIV?” His voice caught while concern darkened his eyes. She hobbled closer.
Gas from a hissing log popped, sending a shower of sparks to the grate. Frightened, Oreo scrambled behind her legs, knocking her off-balance. Hank was beside her immediately, catching her, offering his strength and support.
“Tell me,” he practically snarled. “Are you dying?”
“No.” Her pulse sounded in her ears, reminding her of the truth of that statement. The thought brought a faint smile. “I’m fine,” she insisted. How many times had she said that today? How many more would she have to say it until he believed her?
Her lips lifted in a slight smile. “At least, I will be as long as I keep taking those.” She tilted her head toward the pill bottles scattered on the floor.
“Well.” His audible exhale ended with a nervous laugh. His thumbs stroked the top of her shoulders in slow sensuous arcs. “Then by all means, keep taking them.”
Her heart pounded. Dangerous. It was dangerous standing this close to him. Dangerous feeling his fingers through her blouse. Dangerous knowing they’d be there alone.
With a quick smile, he got on his hands and knees to gather the fallen pill bottles and stuff them back into her purse. Oreo hampered the search, believing this to be a new game invented for her enjoyment. Angie watched their antics, trying to hold her heart in check. When he brought her the restored handbag, she pulled out her key ring with its identification heart.
His hand closed around the keys. His dimples flashed. For a moment, she thought he might kiss her on the cheek. But he didn’t. Instead he pointed to her purse.
“We’ll talk about those pill bottles when I return.”
Her lips tilted in a smile she didn’t really feel. He left her standing firmly on her own two feet.
But they didn’t talk later. He returned to an empty, dark house. She was gone.
Chapter Six
THERE WAS NO answer on her phone. He didn’t leave a message. He drove to her house, but it was dark, no one home. After a long restless night, he tried again on Sunday morning, afternoon and evening to no avail. He couldn’t find her.
Hank searched his phone for limousine services. What was the name of that company she drove for? But before his scan of the results was complete, he realized Angela wouldn’t be able to drive with her injured foot. He searched the brother’s name, but to call him would be to betray Angela’s trust, so he didn’t call.
He didn’t call, he didn’t sleep, he couldn’t concentrate and it all made him mad as hell. Why should he care so much about one mere slip of a girl? He didn’t have time for this nonsense, and he certainly couldn’t afford to get involved. Not now. His arrangement with Owens made
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