Lesley straightened, one hand holding the shovel as she glared at Cole.She half expected him to look different, to have changed since their last meeting.He hadn’t.One glance and her heart began to flutter wildly.The control he had over her was both dangerous and foolish.The stranger’s words about Cole having a way with women sparked her indignation.
“What does it look like?”she shot back, slamming the blunt edge of the shovel into the compact snow on her driveway.Now, if she could only hold her tongue...But sometimes it was impossible to hold things back.
“Let me do that.It’s too hard for you.”
“It is not too hard for me.”Her hand tightened its grip on the wooden handle.
“Don’t be silly.I don’t want you out here—”
“I’m sure that’s true.You’d like to be rid of me all together...and it’s not because you’re attracted to me, either.”
His laugh was mirthless.“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lesley swung around, intent on ignoring him.
“What’s so important about doing this now?I was planning to do it in the morning.It doesn’t make sense to do it twice.”
“It makes perfect sense,” she shouted, and tossed a shovel full of snow to the side.“Now kindly leave me alone.”
“Lesley, please.Will you listen to reason?”
“Reason?”she echoed.“All these weeks I’ve watched you.It isn’t normal, the way you live.A hundred questions demand answers.”
“What are you talking about?”
“It doesn’t matter.Go inside where it’s safe and you don’t have to deal with me.”
“Lesley.”He sounded exasperated and angry.
By this time she didn’t care.“But then I could be easily silenced.”She paused and placed a hand on her hip, her chin angled flippantly.“After all, you do have a way with women.I’m no problem.”Realizing what she said, Lesley gasped and turned around.
His hand, biting roughly into her upper arm, turned her to face him.“What did you say?”
Pinching her lips tightly shut, she met his angry glare.“Nothing.”
“Don’t give me that.”
“I just did.”The acid sting of tears burned in her eyes.How could she possibly have fallen for someone like Cole Daniels?
“Lesley.”He ground out her name impatiently.
She could feel the heat of his gaze studying her face, pausing to linger for a heart-stopping moment on her parted mouth.
Lesley struggled.At the first sign of resistance, Cole dropped his hand.
“Don’t make judgments when you don’t understand the situation.”He ran a hand through his hair.His steel-sharp gaze pinned her as effectively as a vise.“What else did you hear?”
With a determined effort, Lesley lowered her eyes.“Enough, Mr.Engstrom.”When she glanced up, she saw that Cole had closed his eyes, his mouth tight and controlled.
“Have you told anyone?”
Lesley shook her head.“Are you in any danger?”
“No.”
He was lying, Lesley was sure of it.Hadn’t the stranger said Jennings was after him?
“Are you in trouble with the authorities?”
