LITMIR.BIZ

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silently—she had to be more careful. “I’d been working for the government, and in physical training, pretty much since I was born. I guess I was just in better physical shape from childhood than most people,” she hedged.

      Of course, that wouldn’t explain why she didn’t have that same strength now, and she hoped her shrewd friend didn’t ask. Risa spoke quickly, filling the gap before Kristy could inquire anymore deeply.

      “I’ve always been curious about things like intuition and gut feelings, though. When you have a feeling about something, do you actually feel it? Is it sensation? Pain?”

      “No, not actual pain. I don’t know if it’s the same for everyone, but I get a kind of sinking feeling in my stomach if I think something bad is happening. Or, for instance, every time I see Ben, I just know that if I could get his attention, we’d be great together.”

      “And you trust these feelings? Without knowing for sure?”

      “Completely.”

      Risa thought about the warm, pleasant sensation she’d had when MacAlister had kissed her, but she wasn’t comfortable discussing it. She’d assumed everyone had that reaction to being kissed, but maybe it came down to chemistry? What did that mean for her and MacAlister? Was that the same kind of gut feeling Kristy had for Ben?

      “But Ben’s never talked to you? You don’t know him?”

      “Not much. Basic conversation, hello, goodbye, how are you? That’s it. But I can’t get my mind off of him. Anyway, I was thinking if I had an inside line, if I knew about his interests, or what he does outside of work, you know, like where he was going this Saturday, then maybe I might fare a little better.”

      “You want me to spy on Ben so you can try to seduce him.” This made sense, and Risa smiled. So maybe Kristy’s gut feelings weren’t so sure—she wanted some thing more solid to go on.

      Kristy smiled, pulling onto Falmouth’s main street, heading toward their apartment building. “I guess that’s the direct way of putting it. I don’t want to really spy on him, I just thought…”

      “You don’t want me disconnecting my monitors?”

      Risa was surprised—and a little worried. Should she do this for Kristy? She tried to quiet her mind and listen to her “gut feelings” but she couldn’t—her rational mind took over. What Kristy was asking was harmless, as long as they kept it under control.

      “Sure, we can see what he’s up to this weekend,” Risa agreed. “But I don’t watch anything too private, so no looking when he’s walking around naked.”

      “He walks around the apartment n-naked?” Kristy’s mouth dropped open, and Risa smiled, saying nothing. This could be fun.

      

      DANIEL WATCHED the two women a few car lengths ahead of him as they raced back up Route 6 toward Falmouth. They appeared to be talking animatedly, and he wondered about what. His mission had been accelerated whether he liked it or not.

      Having family on the Cape gave him a good cover—but he hadn’t counted on bumping into Anna. He gripped the wheel more tightly, barely noticing the landscape around him while he drove. The area hadn’t changed too much over the years—more stores, more people, but it was still relatively deserted. The swell of tourist season was a few months away.

      Keeping an eye on Risa would have been easier with more people around—he could get lost in the crowd. Instead, his sister had found him lurking in the women’s lingerie department at the mall, where he’d stood out like a sore thumb. He’d come up with a believable explanation off the cuff, but now he had more problems. Anna knew he was here, and the rest of his family would know before long.

      Although he’d managed to back out of the fiancé story, there remained several kinks in his cover. He needed to have a convincing reason he wasn’t staying in Harwich, at his family’s home. Pursuing a love interest in Falmouth was the first option that had popped into his mind.

      Risa wasn’t buying any of it, of course. He had to spin the story differently to reassure her that she was safe, and not send her running—especially if she was up to something. Partial truths always worked better than outright lies; he could admit to checking up on her, making sure she was adjusting, but also claim to be visiting his family.

      Would she believe that he’d been harboring a latent attraction to her all those years, and had come to try to make good on it now? Maybe capitalizing on pulling her out of the lab, saving her life? Possible, though he was less comfortable with that angle. Playing both ends of his story was tricky, but not impossible; he’d certainly been in tougher situations. This was merely inconvenient.

      While he’d had his share of affairs, he couldn’t afford to think about Risa that way, not until he knew what was going on. He never let himself get involved that way on the job unless it was unavoidable—and only if he could retain complete control of the situation. Something told him that would not be the case with Risa.

      However, he couldn’t quite erase the lingering sensation of their kiss. He had no idea what had compelled him to kiss Risa. In spite of himself, he’d been carried away, just for a second, shocked at her softness, stunned at his own pulsing reaction to her. Remembering the moment had his heart rate spiking disconcertingly.

      Risa wasn’t experienced, he knew that, but the way she’d leaned in had a sweetness he hadn’t anticipated. She’d responded with more curiosity than desire, but he’d found it just as inflaming. She was beautiful. Innocent—at least in the physical sense. How could a young woman have a normal sex life with Risa’s powers? Not to mention growing up in a government lab where she was constantly monitored.

      As they pulled into the small parking lot in front of her apartment building, he slowed down, lengthening the distance between them, and instead of following, he took a sharp right and hit the gas. He had to think, to process what had happened. Now wasn’t the time to confront her. She’d want answers, explanations, and he had to think, to get the upper hand. Whatever happened between them would be on his terms, not hers.

      

      “OKAY, FESS UP.”

      Kristy cornered her as soon as they got through the apartment door, lugging all of the bags that they’d brought home from the store. God, how many clothes did Kristy think she needed? Risa was only one woman, and she’d done well wearing more or less the same outfits for twenty-six years. What was she going to do with all of this stuff?

      Hoping to deflect the conversation she knew was looming, Risa bent and picked up a scrap of leopard-print silk that slipped from one of the bags.

      “What’s this?”

      “That, sweetie, is a thong. Fashion’s brilliant way of avoiding panty lines.”

      Risa held it up, investigating the thin string of fabric that she logically realized would go…Her gaze swerved back to Kristy. “No way am I wearing this.”

      “You’ll have to at least try it—amazingly comfortable. Men love them—very sexy—so stop stalling. I told you about my crush, so now you tell me about yours.”

      “There’s not much to tell.”

      She had no idea why Daniel MacAlister was here. Why had he intruded and gotten her out of trouble? Kissed her? And then disappeared? Kristy seemed to see Daniel’s appearance as romantic. She wouldn’t if she knew him, and what he was capable of.

      “Um, guys don’t usually materialize out of nowhere, save the day, proclaim they have feelings for you, oh, yeah, and kiss the daylights out of you in front of anyone who’s watching. Share.”

      Risa sighed, relenting. “I did work with him, and it was strictly professional. If he had feelings, I never knew, and I don’t want to.”

      Kristy’s eyes widened with concern. “I’m picking up a weird vibe from you—is he stalking you?”

      “No, no. Nothing like

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