LITMIR.BIZ

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you know Tiberius’s death has been ruled a homicide?” Logan asked when at last they reached the elevator.

      “Last night Violet mentioned that the police thought there was something suspicious about his death.”

      “He overdosed on digitalis.”

      “Sure, but he was taking that for his heart, right? He just accidentally took too much?” She sounded way too hopeful.

      “The digitalis in his system had a different chemical signature than what he was taking. Someone wanted to make it look like an accidental overdose.” Logan regarded her dispassionately. “I hope this convinces you how dangerous these files are to have in your possession.”

      “Your concern is touching.” If she gave them up would he remain concerned about her? Scarlett wasn’t willing to find out. “But you have no idea why someone killed Tiberius. For all anyone knows, he might have been the victim of a random crime.”

      “Not random. Someone knew he had a bad heart and wanted to make his death look like natural causes.”

      “So maybe Tiberius was blackmailing someone. With his death, that stops.”

      “Unless that person thinks you are going to pick up where he left off.”

      “I’d never do that.”

      “I know that, but—”

      “You do?” She’d had to interrupt him.

      “Of course.” He shot her an exasperated glare. “My opinion of you isn’t as bad as you think.”

      “Thank goodness.” She sighed in exaggerated relief, earning still more of his displeasure.

      “Do you ever stop acting?”

      “Only when you’re kissing me.” She wasn’t sure where she found the courage to speak so boldly, but when his eyes widened with surprise, she was delighted she had.

      She lifted her chin and offered him her lips but the elevator doors picked that inopportune moment to open. He growled and dragged her inside.

      “If there weren’t cameras in every inch of this hotel, I’d make you prove that statement,” he muttered, jabbing his thumb into the down button.

      “We could go back to your place after we check out the storage space,” she offered, every inch of her skin tingling where his gaze touched her. Lowering her voice, she whispered, “Unless you’ve got cameras there for personal use.”

      Her innuendo was so outrageous that he laughed. “You have a smart-ass remark for everything, don’t you?”

      “A girl learns to stay on her toes in Hollywood. There are a lot of smart people ready to take advantage if you’re not careful.”

      “Have you told my niece that?”

      Scarlett smiled. “She knows.”

      “How are things going with her?”

      “We spent the afternoon at the pool.”

      “The pool? I thought you understood she’s here to learn about hotel management.”

      “Relax,” Scarlett told him. “Every Wednesday I host a fashion show. You know, resort wear, swimsuits. The girls strut around, showing off the clothes we sell at our boutique.”

      “And what was Madison wearing?”

      “I put her in the tiniest bikini I could find. She had men stuffing tens in the itty bit of string that held it together.”

      Logan drew in an enormous breath, preparing to deliver a lengthy tirade outlining all the reasons Scarlett was unsuitable as a mentor, when he noticed the glint in her eyes. She was teasing him. He shoved his hands into his pockets to keep from strangling her. Or worse. Kissing her.

      Her red lips had softened into a slight smile as she watched him. That mouth of hers was going to be his undoing. Whether she was using it to taunt him or yielding to his kisses, he was completely enthralled.

      “What was she really doing?”

      “I considered putting her in the show, then decided you’d prefer it if I had her emcee the event. She did great. Quite a natural.”

      Logan knew he should thank Scarlett for demonstrating some common sense, but anything he said would probably come out wrong.

      “She’s done a lot of plays and public speaking,” he said instead, wondering what he could possibly do to keep this exasperating woman from creeping beneath his skin.

      “It shows.”

      The elevator finally deposited them in the lobby, and Logan escorted Scarlett toward his Escalade parked outside the main entrance.

      “You sure like your vehicles big,” she commented, stepping nimbly into the front seat.

      “And green. It’s a hybrid.”

      “You and Violet.” She gave her head a wry shake. “Made for each other.”

      He shut the passenger door harder than necessary and circled the car. She was right. He and Violet shared a like-minded philosophy about lifestyle and work. So why did it bug him that she kept pointing out the fact? It was either a subtle rejection or a defense mechanism.

      Defense mechanism, he decided as he slid behind the wheel. There was nothing remotely subtle about Scarlett.

      Which meant she had a reason to feel defensive around him. Interesting.

      “Any chance you’ve talked Madison into going to college this fall?”

      “I’ve had her for a day and a half,” she reminded him. “Give me a little time to gain her trust. Then I can start steering her in the direction of school.”

      “How much time?”

      “I don’t know. How long is it going to take you to trust me?”

      Her question startled him. “I don’t know.”

      “Give me a ballpark.”

      “I don’t know that I ever will.”

      “There’s more of that Wolfe charm.” She didn’t look the least bit hurt by his reply. “You should package it and sell it on eBay. You’d make a fortune.”

      Her sarcasm rolled off him like water off a newly waxed car. “Don’t ask the sort of questions you won’t like the answer to.”

      “You know what I think?” She prodded his arm. “I think you’re going to wake up one day and decide you really like me.”

      Did anything faze this woman? “What makes you believe that?”

      “Call it women’s intuition.”

      “Do you say things like that to annoy me?”

      “Most of the time. I love it when you scowl at me. Which is a good thing, since that’s all you ever do.”

      “Why would you like that I find you irritating?”

      “Because every other man I meet finds me beautiful and desirable. It gets tiresome. Our relationship is completely adversarial and I appreciate knowing where I stand with you.”

      “You don’t think I find you beautiful and desirable?”

      “I guess you might.” Her expression lacked its usual guile as she watched him. “But if you do it’s secondary to the fact that you don’t like me. I find your honesty refreshing.”

      Only, he wasn’t being honest. With her or himself. She disturbed him in a way no other woman had. Which was unfortunate because he didn’t trust her and he would never start a relationship, physical or emotional, with a woman who guarded her secrets as closely as Scarlett Fontaine.

      * * *

      By

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