He jogged toward them. When he was a few feet away, he opened his arms and gave her his most camera-worthy smile. No. He couldn’t be planning to hug her. Could he?
He was.
She stuck out a hand in an effort to thwart him, but he never reached her.
Zane stepped between them, hand outstretched. “Hank Littlefield, right? Nice to meet you.”
Hank drew up short. She wanted to laugh at the way he was taken aback but was trying to hide it. He shook Zane’s hand but kept his eyes on her. “Tess—”
“We’re big on freedom of the press,” Zane said to the cameraman, “but we’d prefer not to be included in your B-roll. Could you drop the camera for a minute, please?” The cameraman complied. “Thanks, man. You got a name?”
The cameraman frowned at Zane before replying. “Vince.”
“Vince. Good to meet you. And you too, Hank.”
“Tess—”
“What are you doing here, Hank?”
He winked at her in a way that seemed to indicate he was letting her in on a secret. “Heard there was a story.”
“So you show up uninvited and climb out of the van with a camera rolling?”
“You’rehere.”
“What does my presence here have to do with anything?”
“Come on, Tess.” Hank’s good-old-boy routine was about as charming as the drool dripping from an attack dog’s jaws. “I can do the math. You investigate financial crimes. There must be something going on with Carmichael. That’s news.”
A quick look at Zane, and she could almost hear his commentary in her head.“It’s unprofessional to roll your eyes, Princess.”She dug deep and managed to keep her tone civil, if a bit chilly. “How did you get on the estate property?”
Hank grinned. “I have my ways. Come to dinner with me, and I’ll shareallmy secrets.”
In answer, Tessa stepped into the house and called out, “Graham?”
Graham appeared at the end of the entryway. “Ma’am? Are you in need of assistance?”
“Graham, Mr. Hank Littlefield and his cameraman are at the front door.”
Graham, the urbane and sophisticated, morphed before her eyes into Graham, the ferocious and infuriated. He darted to the front door and jogged down the stairs. “Leave. Now.”
Zane edged closer to Tess so they were standing shoulder to shoulder, but he made no move to stop Graham as he chargedtoward Hank. Technically, she and Zane had no legal right to force Littlefield from the premises. It was private property, but they weren’t the owners.
Graham, however, could act on behalf of his employer.
He held up a hand when Hank tried to speak. “Mr. Littlefield, if you do not remove yourself from the property this instant, I will be forced to contact law enforcement.” Graham, his demeanor both sophisticated and infuriated, glanced over his shoulder at her and Zane. “I have every confidence these agents will confirm that you have insinuated yourself where you are most assuredly not wanted.”
Hank spluttered and postured, but Graham had him on the ropes. Zane leaned closer and whispered, “I’m loving this guy. Do you think we could steal him away from Carmichael?”
“For the office?”
“No. For us. I’ve always wanted a butler.”
Hank pointed toward Tessa as he backed toward the news van. “I’ll call you. We’ll have a drink.”
Tessa didn’t bother responding. She hadn’t had a drink in almost sixteen months, and she had no plans to ever have another one. But she wouldn’t even sip a Coke with Hank Littlefield. Ever.
Graham stood sentry until the van drove away, then he turned smartly and marched toward them. “Special Agent Reed, Special Agent Thacker. My apologies.”
