His lip quirked up on the right side. “Were you not the one who said we shouldn’t be subtle?”
She pulled a stray strand of hair back behind her ear.“I understand that, but we’ve given her so many shocks already. I’m worried about how much more she can take.”
“Shocking a living person into a new direction has worked every time for me.”
Her stomach clenched at his words. “But that’s why you are on this assignment in the first place. Remember, if you don’t change your ways, you could disappear. I’ve become less subtle. Maybe you could be lessshocking?”
He shook his head. “I don’t think I’m supposed to change. I believe Cameron was told to tell me that so it would be harder to motivate Holly. I think he’s the one on trial here, not me.” The smile he gave her concerned her.
“But what if you’re wrong? There has to be a middle ground you could take, just in case.”
He gazed into her eyes, his brown ones revealing nothing of his thoughts.“Why do you care so much?”
Sugar, she’d walked in to that one. If there was any kind of caring in his gaze, she could admit the growing feeling in her chest, but there was nothing. Only the interrogator studying her like a suspect. Breaking his gaze, she shrugged. “Because I want us to be successful.”
“Do you mean something like how you care for the families of your hospice patients.”
Relievedat his assumption, she gave him a soft smile. “Yes, something like that.”
His lip curled up into a sneer before he turned. At least she thought that’s what it was. Quickly, she floated next to him. “Did I say something you don’t like?”
He brushed it off. “No. Let’s get back inside before Holly is overwhelmed by Sophia’s scheming.”
She nodded, but her stomach tied itself into knots. The lastthing she wanted to do was hurt him, but there was no way she could tell him that her feelings for him were evolving. She didn’t have time to sort them out yet. All she knew was her concern arose from far more than attraction…and far more than for the families of her patients.
Malcolm grinded his teeth as they floated back into the study. He wasn’t even entirely sure why he felt so frustrated,but he did. Why would Joy have a picture of him in her nightstand drawer before they’d even started this assignment if she only thought of him like a family member of a patient, a far more distant relationship than the photo indicated? He prided himself on reading his suspects, knowing if they would make a run for it or stay and face the consequences.
But she’s not a suspect. You’re not objectiveand she’s your lover.His conscience just irritated him more. Aye, he’d hoped for something different in her answer. He’d thought he’d seen something in her eyes, but he must have been wrong.
It made the end to the assignment that much easier.
Sophia’s voice interrupted his thoughts as he stopped next to Joy. “I didn’t expect to get pregnant, Ethan. I promise you. I just needed some comfort,and you needed some, too.”
Ethan rubbed the back of his neck, obviously unhappy.
Holly floated next to the man. “Don’t do it, Ethan. It’s a trick. She must have become worse after Thea died. Don’t give in.”
“Sophia, I’m half to blame and I’ll be a part of this baby’s life. It’s the right thing to do.”
“No, Ethan, don’t.” Holly’s upset gave Malcolm something to work with.
“Thank you. I alwaysknew you were a good man.” Sophia rose and kissed Ethan on the cheek. “I’ll come back on the weekend with my things. In such a large house, you’ll hardly know I’m here.”
Holly turned to Joy, tears in her eyes. “There has to be some way to stop this. Tell me, if I can keep Thea from dying, will thisnothappen?”
Before Joy could open her mouth, he spoke. “Only one thing can stop this from happening.”
Holly’s face snapped to him. “What?”
“If the woman he loved, loved him back.”
“But I don’t know who that is!” A tear slipped down her cheek, and Joy took her hand.
She could give all the comfort she wanted to Holly, but he would make the woman open her eyes. “Pay attention and you’ll figure it out.”
At his words, Holly’s face lit with a tremulous smile. “I will.”
While they spoke, Sophiahad exited the room. Malcolm felt a certain sympathy with Ethan. The man had just been duped by a woman much like he’d been duped by his “wife,” Coira. At least Ethan wouldn’t pay with his life like he had.
