Part 21 (1/2)
”He just hated not being in control of me. That's why I went to work for people with a much better grasp of the big picture.”
”People who give you carte blanche to run roughshod over anyone who stands in your way?”
”Like I said, you just have to be smart about it.” He smiled faintly. ”And avoid trying to do it to the Kendra Michaelses of the world. It doesn't work.” He started the car. ”Now, if you're finished probing old wounds, I'll take you home, so you can get some sleep. It's been a long day.”
”We're not going back to Rancho Bernardo?”
He smiled. ”You're a glutton for punishment. I doubt if we're going to spot any of that Pineland Hibiscus at this hour.”
She supposed he was right, but she wasn't sure if she could sleep even if she tried. Every nerve was alert, and her mind was on edge and working double time. ”I'm not going to find Jeff or help that woman in the hospital if I keep bankers' hours. I want to get back to teaching my kids, and I can't do that until this is over.”
He shook his head ruefully. ”It's almost one in the morning. I don't believe anyone can declare that as bankers' hours. I'm going to go back to my place and get a few hours of shut-eye. We'll start again in the morning.” He saw the frown on her face, and said gently but firmly, ”In the morning. We may have more to work with by then. I've already put in a request for video from all the traffic cams up there. The Bureau A/V guys will hate me for it, but I'll have them scan the tapes for Jeff's car. Maybe they can give us a better idea where he went.” He paused. ”And see if there is any more of that Pineland Hibiscus in the area.”
She gazed at him with narrowed eyes. ”Are you throwing me a bone to get your way, Lynch?”
”Do you think that's what I'm doing?”
”Yes.”
He chuckled. ”That bit of deduction was too easy for you. I'll do better next time. I wouldn't want you to get rusty.” His brows rose. ”Home?”
Her adrenaline was still high, and she most certainly did not want to stop yet. But he was being disappointingly reasonable, and she knew that sometimes she was driven to the point where there was only the goal ahead, and she trampled everything else in its path.
She stared at him for a brief moment before slowly nodding. ”Home.”
CHAPTER.
9.
IT WAS NEARLY ONE THIRTY when Lynch pulled into the parking s.p.a.ce in front of Kendra's condo.
”I'll see you in the morning.” Kendra reached for the handle of the door. ”Unless you've changed your mind about-”
”I've not changed my mind.” He got out of the car and strode around it to open her door. ”But I'm not leaving you until I've checked out your apartment.”
”That's not necessary. I have an alarm system, and I can take care of myself. I let you go through my condo after the attack on Jimmy and me, but I don't need you to protect me, Lynch. Jeff made sure that I knew how to defend myself in any situation.”
”I hate to offend your sense of independence, but dead bodies seem to be dropping all around us. I'm going to take a look around.”
”Why now? Why weren't you this worried last night?”
”Actually, I was.” He took her arm and walked with her toward the condo. ”I didn't want to make you nervous about the possibility, but I wanted to be sure. So I stayed in the parking lot for thirty minutes or so and watched the lights go on and off in the rooms in your condo.”
”That's kind of creepy. Sort of like a Peeping Tom.”
He chuckled. ”Only you would think that I was creepy to try to protect you.” He watched her unlock the front door. ”Though I admit my imagination was working a bit overtime as I mentally followed you around that condo. I was making bets with myself what you were wearing or not wearing when you left that bathroom to go to bed.”
”What did you decide?” she asked suspiciously.
”A San Diego Padres baseball nights.h.i.+rt.”
She went into the condo and turned on the overhead lights. ”Search away.”
He headed for the bedroom. ”Aren't you going to tell me if I was right?”
”Nope.”
He sighed. ”Cruel.” He disappeared into the bedroom. He came out in only a few minutes and moved toward the kitchen. ”Unless the nights.h.i.+rt is in the wash, I think I was wrong.”
”I don't appreciate your pawing through my things.” She gave him a cool glance. ”Particularly since it's only to satisfy your licentious curiosity.”
”'Licentious,' that's the same as 'l.u.s.tful,' right?” He opened the pantry and checked the back door. ”Yes, that's definitely where I was at.”
”Over a baseball jersey?”
”What can I say?” He was coming back across the room to where she was standing. ”Ask any guy what turns him on the most. s.e.xy lingerie or a woman naked beneath a sports jersey or a crisp white man's s.h.i.+rt.” He stood looking down at her. ”I'll get out of here. You're safe now.”
She didn't feel safe. She was tingling, aware of Lynch's closeness, the warmth of his body, the smell of his musk-based aftershave. d.a.m.n, where had that flood of sensation come from? One moment she had been slightly annoyed, even a little indignant and the next she was feeling this melting and thinking about how close they were to the couch across the room. She should have been more wary of Lynch. She had known from the moment she had met him that he was dangerous to her in every way. Intelligence, intuition, a boldness and power that she always found attractive in a man.
And he was reading that effect on her, she realized. His eyes were narrowed on her face, and he was smiling. ”Say thank you, Lynch,” he said softly. ”Go on, it's easy.”
Nothing was going to be easy with Lynch. Her relations.h.i.+p with Jeff should have taught her a lesson. He had been driven and completely ruthless about using her, but Lynch put him in the shade. Lynch was larger-than-life and would try to manipulate her in any way he could.
And she was already afraid she was letting him do it. She would be crazy to also let him have s.e.x as a weapon over her.
She stepped back and opened the door. ”Screw you, Lynch. You were only protecting an investment. Good night.”
He laughed. ”You're wrong, you know. I'm self-serving, but I'm not that cerebral.” He went out the door and paused. ”Lock it behind me. I'll pick you up at eight.”
”Nine. I have calls to return from my mother and Olivia. I don't seem to have time during the day.”
”Your decision. You're the one who's been keeping me hopping. Not that I'm complaining.” He moved down the hallway. ”In certain areas, you're very entertaining.”
She opened her lips to make a scathing reply, but he had already rounded the corner.
She slammed the door and turned the lock. Block Lynch from her mind. Forget those last few disturbing minutes and get to bed. She turned out the top light in the living room and kitchen and went to the bedroom.
Suddenly, she stopped in her tracks.
”I watched the lights go out one by one.”
Could he be- She strode to the patio door overlooking the street and threw it open.