“Can I wait?”
She shook her head. “You shouldn’t be here at all. We’ve tried to involve as few people as possible. As it is, I’ll have some explaining to do when I get inside. I’m sure they’ve seen us.”
Jared would have been glad to come in and help with the explaining. Instinctively, he knew that she would not allow it. For all her talk of escape, she wasn’t a coward. She was a professional, through and through.
But she wasn’t racing to get out of the car.
So he asked gently, “When is Megan due back?”
“The money is to be delivered at eight. Sometime after that, Will should get a call telling him where she is, and sometime after that we’ll pick her up.” She looked worried. “God only knows what will happen then.”
He reached over and touched her cheek lightly with one finger. It was a gesture of encouragement that came, left its mark, and vanished. “You’ll be working late.”
She nodded.
“You were with me last night, then at the office today. Tonight you’ll be here, or wherever. When doyousleep?”
“I’m like you, I guess. I don’t need much. And when I need more than I get, I make up for it on weekends.”
“But weekends should be for regenerating.”
“Sleep is regenerative.”
“I was thinking about taking in shows and concerts and museums, skiing, shopping, sunbathing on the lawn.”
“Sunbathing on the lawn.” She smiled. “Mmmm, that sounds nice.”
Her smile was so soft and alluring that Jared wanted to take back what he had just said. He could spend the weekend in bed with her, and it would probably be the most regenerative thing he would ever do.
Watching the gray flecks in his eyes darken, Savannah felt an answering awareness deep inside. “I have to run,” she whispered and reached for her briefcase. When she had its straps firmly on her shoulder, she gripped the door handle. Although she knew she should resist, she looked back at Jared for a final eyeful of his strength.
He swore softly. Nearly as softly, and very hoarsely, he said, “I may have the patience of a saint, but I’m not made of stone. So help me, Savannah, the next time you look at me that way, I’m going to kiss you.”
Her heart beat wildly. “I have to run.”
“Did you hear what I said?”
Opening the door, she said, “Thanks for driving me here. It was a break.” She slid out.
He leaned across the seat. “Savannah?”
She swung the door closed, but he quickly rolled down the window. As though she’d intended to all along, she leaned in. “Will you let me know if you find anything in those reports?”
“You know I will,” he said gruffly. Tugging open the glove compartment, he pulled out a small pad of paper and a pen. He jotted down several phone numbers, tore off the sheet of paper, and held it out. “You can reach me at any time.”
Savannah grasped the paper but he didn’t immediately release it. Uncompromisingly, his eyes held hers.
“I have to go,” she whispered in a pleading tone.
Still he bound her, reinforcing the bond between them with each second that passed. Finally, when his own heart was thudding under the pressure, he released the paper.
Savannah quickly pocketed it. “Thanks. Thanks for everything, Jared.”
“Savannah—”
“I’ll talk with you later.” With a wave she was away from the car, an elegant figure trotting up the front steps. The door opened as soon as she reached it. Without a backward glance, she was gone.
***
