Out of Circulation (Hemlock Creek Suspense Book 1) by Heather Day Gilbert Page B

This frantic race to find the bank money was driving her to overcome those fears...that, and the confidence of having Ace Calhoun by her side.
    As they stepped onboard, she took the steadying hand he offered, glancing at his face. His Yankee candor seemed to have been replaced with reticence since the explosion. It was like he had gone inward, and she really wished she knew how those gears in his head were churning.
    She fiddled with the rusty lock on the cabin door, finally jiggering it open. They stepped into the small space that smelled faintly of mildew. Mom had never cared much for sailing, so it hadn't been cleaned for a while.
    "We need to get looking or we'll melt in here." She propped the door open, then gestured to the cabinets by the small refrigerator. "You check the right side, I'll check the left. Or should I say, you check starboard and I'll check port."
    He cracked a smile. "Well, aren't you all nautical?"
    "I'd forgotten how much I love this. I used to wish I could live on a houseboat, like MacGyver."
    "You watched that show?"
    "Just the re-runs."
    "I didn't know you were a retro TV girl. I'm a big A-Team fan, myself."
    They fell into a companionable silence as they began to plunder the cabinets.
    Bypassing cans of Spam and pork and beans that were probably three years expired, she pulled up a zippered pouch. "Hey, what's this?"
    He was by her side in a moment. His cologne made it hard to concentrate, and she couldn't ignore the way his damp T-shirt draped his muscles. Seriously, the guy could probably beat up three men at once.
    After unzipping the pouch, she pulled out folded bank statements and handed him half of them. She felt somewhat traitorous sharing them with someone outside the family, but it was for the greater good.
    They read over the papers, finally coming to the conclusion that nothing looked amiss. No out-of-the-ordinary deposits or strange payments had been made.
    "It's hopeless." She yanked out another drawer. The heat was so smothering, she had the ridiculous—and inappropriate—urge to strip to her unmentionables and jump in the lake. "Let's go on deck and get some air," she suggested instead.
    Outside, Ace didn't hesitate to sprawl out on the warm wood deck, and she carefully lowered herself to join him. But it only took a few moments to realize the blinding sun was going to scald her pale skin. Ace probably couldn't feel it—he had that skin color that seemed to maintain a perpetual tan. She struggled back to her feet. "We might as well get going. Mom's probably working on supper soon and I don't think there's anything here."
    "Let's jump in first."
    Had he read her mind? It was so hot...
    "We can't go home all wet—" she started.
    But he had already begun stripping off his T-shirt. He laid his holstered guns on the deck, then boosted himself over the back railing and began to doggie-paddle in the dark lake. He grinned up at her.
    "Come on in—the water's fine!" He splashed water on the deck.
    How could she resist?
    She carefully slid off the port side and did a butterfly stroke to him. She'd forgotten how swimming seemed to erase her limp.
    Good grief. She would have never guessed a couple weeks ago that she'd be swimming in Sutton Lake with a personal bodyguard. Especially not with one who looked a whole lot like Superman.
    "Are we friends?" The question popped out before she could stop it.
    "Of course." He floated languidly, drops of water flecking his sleek chest.
    "Good." His companionship had almost been like a security blanket these past few days.
    She dove into the cool water, paying no attention to the sopping blouse and pants that weighed her down. She felt like a carefree kid again.
    Boldness filled her and she voiced something she'd been curious about. "So...Ace is an interesting name. Is that your real name?"
    He swam closer, his look unreadable. Why had she felt compelled to ask that? She did a few strokes backward, wishing she could vanish.
    But his lips curled into a