Nowhere Safe

CHAPTER 28



Josh was stunned for the microsecond it took to realize Trish was kissing him. Erotic pleasure bolted through him at the first touch of her lips.

She had her hands in his hair.

Man, she was hot and kissing him with passion that rocked him.

The need to taste Trish overpowered the voice whispering Rule Number One in his head.

Instinct took over.

He knew exactly what to do with a soft, willing woman in his arms. Knew what he wanted. Her.

This amazing woman who smelled fresh and powdery.

He cupped her face, taking over the kiss, hungry for more. When he slowed it down, she nipped at his lip and the race for satisfaction took off again. He didn’t know when his hand moved, but he had that plump breast out of her low-scooped top and in his palm. He lowered her back over his arm until he had her stretched out on the sofa. A perfect position to drop his mouth down and scrape his teeth lightly over the thin material covering her other beaded nipple.

She gasped and let out a sound that said do-whatever-you-did-again.

I aim to please. He eased the dress off her shoulders, baring both breasts, and gave attention to both at the same time. “Jossshhh.” She grabbed his shoulders, tensed up and arched with a quick intake of air.

She was incredible.

Kissing one breast, then the other, he used both hands to massage the soft mounds, gently rasping his thumbs across the tips.

She made sweet little cries and shivered.

Her reaction stroked straight through him.

Every time she gasped and tensed as if she leaped closer to an orgasm, he felt his groin tighten and his erection get harder. She rubbed her hips against him.

He sucked in a sharp breath.

Another move like that and he’d have to be inside her or this would get embarrassing for someone with his experience. He didn’t lose control. Not with a woman or on a mission.

That’s why he shouldn’t be doing this.

Rule Number One.

He should end this now, but he’d have better luck stopping a locomotive at full speed by jumping in front of it.

Hell, he wrote damn Rule Number One.

It was his to break, because giving her up right now would be impossible.

Josh gripped Trish’s perfect little bottom with one hand, pulling her closer to him. He groaned in pain and pleasure.

Narrow fingers combed through his hair, down his neck and over his chin, driving him mad with her frantic touch. She hooked her hands around his shoulders, fingers digging in to hold tight.

And he wanted her to. He forged ahead with the kiss, sending his tongue in to tangle with hers.

She kissed him right back, meeting his demands with those of her own. He loved the way she gave over to passion, holding nothing back. Her tongue mated with his as it moved in and out. He felt each stroke in his groin. In and out.

Exactly what he wanted to do.

With her. Right this damn minute.

His conscience roared no! She was vulnerable after what happened last night. She’d even told him she wasn’t ready for this. She was sweet and sexy and trusting...the wrong man.

She might be making a bold offer, but she didn’t know who she was dealing with. She thought he was an FBI agent with the task force and that was a lie.

He was here to watch over the bait for the Chessmaster.

Just thinking of that pissed him off all over again.

She dropped her head back from him, panting. “What’s wrong?”

Her lips were puffy from being kissed. Her eyes were heavy with desire when she looked up at him, breasts heaving up and down with each deep intake and exhale. She licked her finger and traced it over his lips.

What’s wrong? Nothing. He drew her finger into his mouth and sucked on it.

She closed her eyes and made an “mm” sound of pleasure.

He wanted to give her real pleasure, but if he accepted her tempting offer now she might regret it later. Would regret it. He was touching her again just to watch her reaction. He tugged on her dress, sliding it further and leaned down to kiss her navel then kissed his way back up to her breast again and took the nipple into his mouth, stroking her with his tongue.

She arched up and called his name.

He wasn’t sure how much more he could take, but what was the old saying? In for a penny, in for a pound?

He was all in.

She rubbed up against him and his muscles clenched. Her body language begged for more. He’d be begging soon, too, but all she had to do was ask.

He’d give her anything at this point.

But he couldn’t make love to her the way he wanted to and face himself later.

Besides, he had no condom. Taking this to its natural end without one was out of the question.

Josh moved back and slid his hands down to where her bunched up dress exposed the long legs now cupping his hips. He explored a little more and ran his finger along the thin elastic then dipped inside.

She was wet and ready. What he wouldn’t give for a condom right now, but he would not deny her. He moved his fingers, teasing her, barely grazing the sensitive skin.

She gripped his arms and tensed. “Oh, uh, Jossshhh...”

Those sounds she made getting closer to climax drove him crazy. He fingered her wet folds, her breath hitched, missed. She shook with need, her body soaring closer, reaching for its limit. Josh caressed one of her dark pink nipples with his tongue, loving the way she whimpered when he stroked the hard bead.

Any second now she’d explode.

Pressure built beneath his zipper.

He’d been denied few things in his adult life. At this minute, he’d give up a lifetime of wishes to drive deep into her heat. He pushed a finger inside her then pumped it again and his thumb toyed with the spot that had her shaking.

A noise nipped at his attention.

He tried to listen, but heard only Trish’s whimpered pleas.

That was...until Dazzle flew down the hall again and into the living room, yapping and spinning around the table. The mutt batted the edge of the sofa with his paws as he jumped up and down then ran to the door. Once there, he repeated the whole process.

Trish tightened around Josh’s finger and his erection pulsed in answer. She was begging him not to stop. Dazzle’s yaps were getting louder and more intense.

The doorbell rang.

Damn media. No way would he leave her seconds from climaxing.

Pounding jarred the front door.

Trish arched hard, her taut body straining as he pushed her to the peak.

Pound. Pound. Pound. A muffled “Trish!” called from beyond the door. Dazzle batted the couch, yapping incessantly.

When Trish started to cry out with her release, Josh kissed her, gorged himself on her taste. Hated that they’d have to stop before he was ready to give her up.

She clutched at him, anchoring herself to him as she shuddered once more. Her labored breathing slowed.

His still chugged as if he’d ran a foot race.

Josh kissed her damp face, his own brow beaded with the strain of resistance.

The doorbell rang over and over and over. “Trish!”

He growled, “Who the hell–”

“Oh, no.” Trish slapped her hand over her eyes.

“Oh, no?”

Trish gave him a look of disbelief. “Not you. Her. That’s Angel, my sister-in-law. She’ll call Zane if I don’t answer the door. Get up.”

He did and took her hand, hauling her to her feet. “Can you walk?”

“Are you always so cocky?” But she would have stumbled if he hadn’t held onto her. Damn right, he was cocky.

Josh kissed Trish’s forehead instead of answering her and leaned close to her ear to issue quick instructions. “Go to your bedroom, put on a robe and wrap a towel around your head like you just got out of the shower.”

“Trisssshhh!” yelled from outside the door with more pounding.

Trish tottered away, apparently not yet recovered.

Male satisfaction at seeing her boneless appeased some of the screaming in his loins.

Now the doorbell rang in between the pounding.

Josh straightened his clothes, all the while coaxing Dazzle to calm down and follow him into the kitchen.

“Commminnng!” Trish called out a minute later as she thudded back down the hall.

Not anymore. Josh curled a wry smile. Flipping on the lights in the breakfast area, he sat in a chair on the backside of the table. This way he could see the kitchen and use the tablecloth to hide his lap until his arousal died down. That might take a while.

With no hope for true satisfaction, the only way to put this one to rest would be if he actually stood naked in snow. Not likely in south Florida.

Trish was making on-the-way-to-the-door noises.

He slouched back against the chair, arms crossed on his chest and legs sprawled to appear as bored as he could with his head slung back and eyes shut.

A door opened and closed in the front room, followed by a short muffled conversation. Footsteps took off in two directions. One set back toward Trish’s bedroom, and the other headed toward him.

“Hellooo?”

“Hmm.” He straightened in the chair, stretching his body, pretending he was a mass of kinks. Blinking as if he worked to focus on the very attractive, very pregnant woman waddling up to him. He stood, banking on his loose khakis to save him.

“Hello.” Josh arranged his face to present confusion. “Where’d you come from?”

“Trish let me in. Guess I caught her in the shower. I’m Angelina Jackson. Everyone calls me Angel. I’m Zane’s wife.”

Josh introduced himself and shook her hand. It was strong to be so delicate looking.

Zane had done well for himself. Angel was tall with strawberry-blond hair woven into some sort of braid. Based on what little weight she’d gained beyond that bulge in her middle, Zane would soon have his beautiful wife back to normal size and a new baby.

If he wasn’t in prison.

Josh took a mental step back as some things clicked into place for him. What man would risk everything dear to him for money? In particular, a man who stood to inherit a fortune in a few short years. Josh knew from Zane’s file that he and Trish’s parents had been wealthy from the oil business and Zane stood to receive a bloated trust fund in the not too distant future.

And Josh had figured out that nothing meant more to Zane than Angel and Trish. Jeopardizing his life with them made no sense, and Zane Jackson was a bright boy.

Josh sure as hell wouldn’t risk losing Trish if she were his.

That thought pushed him off center.

He would never have what Zane had right now and should be running in the opposite direction as fast as he could. That reminded Josh that he had to leave soon anyhow.

“Are you going to be here for a bit, Angel? I don’t want to leave Trish alone, but Heidi is supposed to come get her for lunch.” He took a step toward the front door.

“Actually, Heidi’s bringing lunch here for the three of us.”

Perfect. “In that case, I’ll head out.” Before Trish walks in and one of them gave away what had just happened. He was trained to shield any reaction, but Trish wasn’t and he didn’t want her to do or say something that Angel might notice and tell Zane about.

Angel said, “Don’t rush on my account.”

“I’ve got to go. Just traded off with Heidi this morning so Trish could sleep in undisturbed.”

“Back to the office?” Angel asked in a casual way that wasn’t supposed to sound as if she were fishing. But for what?

“I’ve got a lunch appointment.” The way she nodded slowly and with a cool expression on her face gave him a strange moment of concern. About his having lunch plans? But she’d just said that she and Heidi would be with Trish. Maybe it was something else. “Did the media bother you outside?”

“No, the police were talking to them.”

He yawned to sell the whole nothing-has-been-going-on scene. “Must have dozed off.”

A smile quirked at the corner of Angel’s mouth. She glanced over at the magazine he’d supposedly been reading.

“I can see how ‘Nail and Hair for Women on the Move’ would do that.” Angel met his gaze with a taunting grin in place. “Especially when you read it upside down.

Well, hell. Josh knew when to quit. “Please tell Trish I’ll call later.”

AA

Trish soaped her body. Hot water cascaded across skin that still tingled from Josh’s touch. Had that really just happened? Good grief, Josh could kiss. He should have to register his mouth as a sexual weapon of mass destruction.

That’s all he’d need to rule a female universe.

Just those lips, and maybe that bulge under his zipper.

What would have happened if Angel hadn’t shown up?

Trish had no doubt she and Josh would have finished what they started. She was uber happy, but he couldn’t be. She’d gone after live-in-the-moment sex with a guy who was safe. And she’d encouraged him by walking around in a dress and no bra. She’d figured at the least, she’d test a few limits.

But the minute she’d fallen on the sofa on top of Josh, she couldn’t think about anything except wanting him closer to her. To climb inside his skin.

Correction. Him inside her.

That he hadn’t jumped all over her blatant offer surprised her. He’d given everything to her and asked nothing in return. Men didn’t do that. Not the ones in the past. Josh kept tearing down all her preconceived notions.

Just like he’d said. She might enjoy herself with him if she’d let go of those notions. Therein lay the danger. She was letting go of those and every time she did she found herself caring more for Josh.

He was different. Genuine. And he wanted her.

Now would be the time to decide if this was going any further or not. She’d never had a man think only of her. Josh had and deserved an indication of what this meant the next time they were together. That step toward intimacy had felt exhilarating and terrifying at the same time. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t want to feel more with him, but she couldn’t fence sit on this.

To encourage Josh, whether intentional or not, and not follow through would be wrong. Only a tease did that.

And she’d made the first move.

She finished soaping her body, hissing at the friction when her fingers washed over her breasts. She missed Josh’s hands. And his mouth. And the parts she didn’t get to see.

What would it be like to have him make love to her all the way? To take that step with a man while completely sober, without an accidental, tangled-leg start or an interruption by visiting family?

Amazing.

What would it be like when he walked away?

She might not be as casual about this as she’d thought.

Trish flicked off the water and toweled down then tossed on jeans and a T-shirt. Seeing her airline ticket for tomorrow morning on her dresser brought up a new thought. Josh hadn’t asked her about her flight. Had only said he didn’t want her going alone. Was he really going to let her leave town while she was involved in a murder investigation?

He’d said she could, but that was last night when he might have said anything to keep from stressing her out.

She’d ask him tonight, but not until they reached an understanding about what was going on between them. First, she had to make up her mind about what she wanted between them. Could she spend a couple of weeks making love to him and still kiss him goodbye with no concern when he left?

She didn’t think so. Not Josh.

And this wasn’t some young girl infatuation. Josh stirred something strong inside her, something special she’d never felt with a man before.

For once, something felt extremely right, honest and safe. But she hadn’t known him long and might not get the chance to. There was email and phone calls and airplanes, right? Atlanta wasn’t that far away. But he said he wasn’t there often.

Don’t start thinking that far ahead. Just worry about today.

Taking life a day at a time had been easier before Josh entered the picture. She couldn’t help it. He made her want someone in her life, and for more than just sex.

And that’s what got you into trouble before.

It was true. Her inability to have casual flings had caused her to buy into all those perfect lies the guy back in Houston had told her just before he almost killed her.

But Trish was no longer that gullible young woman and would not judge Josh against a beast. If she told him how she felt and asked him to stay in touch when he left, would he?

His answer to that would determine what happened between them tonight.

She finished with her hair, but no makeup, ready to face Angel. When Trish walked into the kitchen, Angel sat at the breakfast table, flipping through a magazine. “Where’s Josh?”

Angel glanced up then narrowed her eyes. “He had to leave. Said he’d call you later.”

“Oh.”

Angel was still staring at her with curious eyes, which meant Trish had given something away in her voice. Or she probably still had a flushed look the shower didn’t fix.

Trish hurried over to hug her sister-in-law and spun the conversation back to Angel when she plopped down in a chair. “Are you doing okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine and so is the baby. I’ve had a little spotting that got Zane and the doctor all cranked up, but I’m staying off my feet most of the day.”

“How’d you get my insane brother to let you out of the house, much less drive here, with you so close to delivering?”

“I didn’t.” Angel grinned with that mischievous look that had probably tied Zane in knots more than once. “I got a friend to drop me off, and Heidi’s on the way here with lunch so I’ll grab a ride back with her. When he calls, I’ll tell him I was feeling lonely and he’ll get over my leaving home without checking in.” Angel reached over and squeezed Trish’s hand. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. It’s been a little hairy lately.” More like gut wrenching. She’d been scared out of her skin way too often.

Then there had been mind-blowing times like this morning.

“You’re doing so great, but Zane and I are worried about you. What happened last night?”

Trish pulled her hand away to rub her eyes. “I don’t know. I got tired of Big Charlie and his constantly irritating me about selling so I went over to have a come-to-Jesus meeting. We needed to reach an understanding.” Of all people, she hated lying to Angel, but at least she could tell part of the truth. She had meant to confront Charlie.

Her sister-in-law had escaped a crazy man who’d sent thugs to hunt her down, so she’d been in dangerous crossfire and would understand Trish’s need to take care of her own issues. Trish had been with Angel in Zane’s apartment when a dangerous guy broke in while Zane was gone flying. Angel had fought the guy–before she was pregnant–and given Trish the opening to escape. Trish had been tipsy at the time. Zane eventually rescued Angel, but Trish was ready to quit drinking that day.

She’d put her life on track at that point and refused to look behind her.

But telling Angel the real reason Trish had gone to Big Charlie’s–to confront him about being a stalker–could put Angel in danger, too, and stress her to the point of affecting the baby.

Trish would walk through the fires of hell to prevent that.

Angel grimaced and rubbed her side where the baby had probably kicked her somewhere like the kidneys. “Zane told me Big Charlie was stabbed. We’re just relieved whoever it was didn’t hurt you any worse than hitting you.”

Death and blood had wandered through Trish’s nightmares last night. Heidi had stayed downstairs on Trish’s sofa and shaken her awake more than once.

Trish had to put on a strong front so when Angel reported back to Zane, he would calm down. “Yeah, well. Now that I think back on it, I must have walked in and not realized someone was behind the door. The killer must have panicked and hit me, then run, or he’d have taken the time to make sure I was dead. Or she would have. I shouldn’t assume it was a man. I never saw a face.” She’d managed to share that without her voice quivering so she kept going. “I will be fine. Tell my brother I’m not going to break down or fall off the wagon.”

Angel grimaced. “We’re your family, Trish. None of us is waiting for you to stumble.”

Dial back the defensive attitude. Trish rubbed her eyes and dropped a fisted hand on the table. “Sorry. I guess the truth is that I’m the one waiting on me to fail.”

When Angel smiled with understanding, Trish added, “But I won’t so tell my brother I don’t need babysitters around the clock. I’m perfectly safe here on my own today.”

“Safe from crazy killers, but what about tall, sexy babysitters?” Angel arched an eyebrow, a direct challenge if Trish tried to lie to her.

How could her sister-in-law have figured out anything when she hadn’t even observed Trish and Josh in the same room? Trish had to shut this down or Zane would really come unglued. “What are you suggesting? That there’s something going on between me and Josh?”

“Is there?”

“Be serious. Zane claims Josh is gay.” Nice divertive answer.

“I heard him say that, too. You haven’t answered my question.”

“I enjoy his company.” She wanted to enjoy more of it and often.

Angel tapped her fingers across her rounded belly, trying to decide something. “Zane tells me little about what goes on at work, which is fine with me because it’s his job, but I heard something that concerned me that I think you should know. I wouldn’t bring this up now, but after meeting Josh this morning....”

Worry started churning in Trish’s stomach. “What about Josh?”

“Don’t share anything I tell you–”

“I won’t,” Trish assured her.

“Zane and Ben think there’s still a mole inside the DEA.”

“Really? What about Colbert?”

“They think he was just a link in the chain. I don’t know everything, just that some new things have come to light. Zane was pretty upset about Josh being with you last night. If I weren’t so close to delivering and hadn’t had the spotting issues, he would have been here all night.”

Trish argued, “I do not need anyone here besides Heidi.”

“I understand,” Angel quickly assured her. “But neither of us is going to change your brother at this point and if Colbert hadn’t been killed–”

“Hold everything.” Trish lifted her hand like a stop sign. “What happened to him?”

Angel looked up at the ceiling, muttering, “Hormones are going to be the death of me.” When she lowered her eyes to face Trish again, she said. “Zane doesn’t even know that I heard this.”

“Wait. Are you telling me you got all this eavesdropping?”

“Yes. Zane thinks I’ll be stressed out if I know what’s going on. He can’t get it through his head that having to guess what’s going on bothers me more.” Angel’s sigh ended with a growl. “As soon as this baby is born, I’m straightening him out, but he’s so wigged out over the birth I don’t have the heart to yank him back in line.”

Trish laughed. “I’m so glad he married you. If he’d picked some mouse to be with he’d have been miserable and I wouldn’t have a great sister-in-law.”

Angel smiled, her warmth filling the room. “That’s why I had to come over. I never share anything Zane tells me, not even eavesdropping when he’s on a phone call, but when I realized he was keeping you in the dark, too, I knew that wasn’t right. I realize he can’t tell things about his job, but I think you need to know what’s going on. I believe you can handle anything if you know what you’re facing.”

“Thanks, Angel.”

“Back to what I was saying before Heidi gets here so you and I are the only ones who know. I love her, too, and know I can trust her, but I already feel disloyal to Zane by telling you these things. So whatever you do, don’t share any of this with anyone.”

“Deal, if you’ll just spit it out.” Today.

Angel scowled. “Don’t mess with a pregnant woman who has forgotten what it is to go an hour without peeing and...ouch.” She flinched and rubbed her side. “And has a little terror kicking her kidneys nonstop.” She took a breath. “Where was I? Oh, I know. Here’s the down and dirty.”

Sympathizing with Angel, Trish nodded patiently.

“When the DEA was moving Colbert, their transport was attacked and everyone was killed.”

Trish stopped short of saying “no shit.” She might as well start now being careful around her niece or nephew.

Angel went on. “Zane was the one who pointed the task force toward Colbert, which is not a secret, but he’s suspicious about how the information came through to him. It looked like the leak problem had been fixed until last night when some drug bust related to Colbert’s activities played out in a strange way. Zane’s words, not mine. No, I didn’t hear any other details on that, so don’t ask.”

More nodding on Trish’s part.

“It sounds like Zane and Ben have been looking for a second mole still in the task force. That’s why I think Zane is bothered about Josh being around you.”

Trish was stunned. “Whoa, you lost me with that right turn. How does Josh fit into this?”

“The minute Zane hung up from talking to Josh last night, he called back Detective Vickers and asked what your status was. Vickers said he’d released you into Josh’s custody because Josh claimed you and Big Charlie were part of an ongoing FBI investigation.”

Trish cringed at how that sounded, but considering that Josh’s FBI muscle card had allowed her to come home she was okay with it. “That’s how Josh talked Vickers into letting me go and I’m not in a jail cell so I don’t see a problem.”

“We felt the same way last night, especially after Zane had Ben check it out. Ben called back in half an hour and said the FBI had no information on Big Charlie or any case to do with him.”

Way to go, Josh. “See?”

Angel lifted a finger from where her hands rested on her middle. “Ben’s friend in the FBI called him back this morning and said there was now an active file on Big Charlie and you.”

Trish wanted to brush it off as Josh being thorough, but she had a bad feeling she could be wrong. Her heart wanted to be right about Josh. “What does Zane think is going on?”

“This is where I had to do some speculating. I know Ben has a friend inside the FBI who’s another techno genius like him, because that’s who Ben contacted back when I had a run-in with the FBI.”

“Run-in. That’s putting it mildly.” Angel had escaped an international thief bent on killing her. Thankfully, she’d stowed away on Zane’s airplane and the FBI knew she was innocent of the theft or she might not be alive, or free, today.

Angel was more than a survivor. She was a fighter.

Only someone who loved Trish like a sister would come here to share confidential information with her.

Angel continued, “I think Ben had this guy pull Josh’s personnel file or something. Josh’s file is not just classified, but in an electronic vault, which Zane said makes no sense if Josh is only a computer forensics technician. Ben must have agreed because he speculated that Josh could be someone sent in to work deep undercover.”

“They think Josh is here hunting for the mole?”

Angel nodded. “I have no idea how any of that works, but it makes sense after Colbert was killed that the DEA would need someone outside the agency. I’ve asked Zane about his Special Ops work in the Air Force and one thing he told me was that an undercover operative used any and all weapons available to meet an objective. The really deep undercover will do it without concern over collateral damage, if necessary.”

“And how does that have anything to do with me, Angel?”

“Colbert was seen talking to you for a long time at the party then he stopped by ReSolution.”

“But I didn’t date Colbert.”

“I know, but you said he called you a couple of times.”

“He did and I politely refused.” How had Trish been so firm with Colbert and a pushover with Josh?

“This is what worries me. Josh may be trying to get close to you just to determine if you know more about Colbert than what you shared with Zane after Colbert was arrested.” Massaging her stomach, Angel pinned Trish with a questioning stare. “And if that man who walked out of here a half hour ago is gay, then I’m the next virgin queen of England.”

“I didn’t say he was gay. Zane did.”

Angel had watched Trish closely and asked, “Are you sleeping with Josh?”

“No.” Not technically, since Trish had been the only one to get instant gratification this morning.

“Thank goodness.”

Angel’s relief raised a warning flag for Trish. “Why are you so glad we’re not sleeping together?”

“Because he left here to have lunch with Leanne Witherspoon. Zane says Josh never spent time with anyone on the task force, male or female, but now he’s spending time with you and going to lunch with Leanne. Ben heard Josh ask Rhonda out to dinner this weekend. Sounds like he’s making the rounds with women who came into contact with Colbert.”

Leanne wouldn’t make a play for Josh because she knows I...

Trish halted that thought in midstream. She had told Leanne she wasn’t interested in Josh or any other man right now. But that was before Trish realized she was interested. Very.

Had Leanne taken Trish at her word?

Had she told Rhonda?

If what Angel said was true, it colored everything Josh had said to Trish. Everything he’d done.

Was he going to see Leanne today with intentions of seducing her? Or had he already claimed that prize? What about that appointment he’d gone to last night? Could it have been one of those women? He’d hesitated when she’d asked him if the appointment was business.

Technically, he’d be right even if he’d slept with Leanne or Rhonda already.

Trish tried to draw a breath into her tight chest. And she knew why it was tight. She’d started falling for Josh and had exposed herself an hour ago.

Not just physically, but emotionally.

He’d gone from touching her to seeing another woman. Even if it was just lunch, the idea just did not sit well with her, any more than being a checkmark on a list of suspects.

If he was here working undercover, Josh was not the man she thought he was, but playing a role.

Josh Robertson probably wasn’t even his real name.

When she filtered the last two days through the lens of what Angel had shared, Josh’s actions began to sharpen and make more sense. He hadn’t accidentally happened along as Trish was going to Big Charlie’s last night. Josh had been following her. Just like she hadn’t been able to push him away that first night because he was so taken with her.

No wonder he’d been so irritated with her. He probably had orders to stick with her.

What a joke. Actually, the joke was on her.

And what about this morning?

Had that moment on the sofa really happened spontaneously or was she so clueless about men she’d been seduced by a master who let her think she’d taken the lead? Had there been an ulterior motive behind everything Josh had said and done?

Sounded that way.

Just one big game to get her to lower her defenses so she’d trust him.

And she had, because she’d wanted to believe that a man as gorgeous and sweet and wonderful as Josh not only existed, but also wanted to be with her. That he could care for her.

How many times would she have to make a fool of herself with a man before she finally got wise?

She should have stuck to her guns and stayed away from men.

Acknowledging the truth about Josh left an icy ball spinning in her stomach. She sat back, trying not to be nauseous over what she’d gained and lost all in one swift moment.

Angel said softly, “Are you sure nothing is going on between you two?”

Not any more. Trish sat up and put some steel in her spine. “Absolutely. We had a few laughs and he’s been a perfect gentleman, but that’s to be expected from someone who knows how to manipulate a woman, right?”

“True,” Angel said carefully then reminded her, “He’s calling you later.”

Oh, joy. The first response that came to mind involved serious adult language shouted at a loud decibel, but she immediately changed her mind.

She would not lose her composure now or around Josh.

Part of her felt as though she owed him a chance to explain himself, but the angry part said he could have simply asked her about Colbert at any point instead of playing on her insecurities.

If he could keep secrets, so could she.

If she ever allowed him to step inside her hemisphere again in this millennium, she wouldn’t say a word about this. That way, he’d have no idea that she was on to him.

Angel’s eyebrows lifted. “That’s an evil smile on your face. What are you going to tell him when he calls?”

“I haven’t decided yet, but that’s not really going to be a problem as long as he can’t find me to talk.”

“Where are you going?”

“I have a convention in Atlanta tomorrow. I’m supposed to leave super early in the morning, but they offered me an extra night if I wanted to come in this evening since I’m one of the speakers. He said he was going with me, but if I can get an earlier flight out tonight I’m going. He’ll probably be too busy with Leanne to notice I’m even gone.”

“Will you be safe?”

“They arranged shuttles from the airport to downtown and sent out the schedule. I’ll be in the middle of a thousand convention attendees, surrounded by people constantly and I am capable of protecting myself.”

A busy convention didn’t seem like the right setting for the stalker who had yet to show his face, but Arnie’s voice niggled in her head, about how pickpockets and predators work in the middle of crowds for good reason. Okay, so she’d be careful. She’d be on high alert and she’d watch her back. But she was going. Without Josh. She laid her hand on Angel’s arm. “Please don’t say a word to Zane either.”

Angel made the zipping motion across her lips.

Trish was proud of how she’d explained all that, sounding confident and secure, not as if her heart had been shattered with a sledgehammer.