The front door of the reverend’s home opened and the chief stepped out.
Sarah straightened. “It’ll have to wait.” Let the chief take out a restraining order against her. There were ways around that scenario, too.Truth Magazinehad dozens of attorneys.
She stared at the door. Willed Lex to exit before the chief spotted her.
“Sarah—”
The door opened wide again, cutting off Kale. Sarah’s breath evacuated her lungs.
Special Agent Lex August strolled onto the stoop and down the steps, his black trench coat unwrinkled and gleaming like he’d only just pulled it off the rack at Nordstrom’s.
As if he’d sensed her presence, he turned from the chief and settled his gaze on her. Even across the distance of the small yard and broader parking lot, she felt the impact of his stare.
“Hello to you, too,” she mumbled. You bastard.
“Sarah,” Conner said, trying once more but failing to draw her attention. “You should come with me.”
“Not a chance.” Her gaze didn’t waver from the man now striding her way. “Bring it on, hotshot,” she added under her breath. She’d waited three years, six months, and eleven days for this moment. Nothing was going to get in her way.
Evidently deciding that he wanted no part in this, the chief opted to wait with his deputy. Just as well. This was between Sarah and Lex.
“Well, well,” Lex announced as he overtook her position. “If it isn’t the truth seeker.” He surveyed her up and down, blatantly displayed his abject disapproval. “How are you these days, Sarah? Still seeing that same shrink?”
“Fuck you, Lex,” she said rather than answer his questions. He laughed. Don’t let him bait you. She reined in her emotions. Stay in control.
“I’d hoped you had grown a sense of humor by now. I guess that isn’t the case.” He adjusted the striped tie that scrupulously matched his crisp navy suit. Not a dark hair out of place. Walking, talking perfection, total attention to every single detail.
Too bad he was all show and no tell.
Sarah made a sound that was nowhere near a laugh. “A sense of humor would be wasted on me,” she tossed back, “just like that puny set of balls is on you.”
Fury ignited in the jerk’s hazel eyes. “What do you want, Sarah? The chief doesn’t want you involved in this investigation anymore.” He glanced at Conner. “You should go along with your babysitter and play nice.” The fury cleared and arrogance took its place. “I’m sure you remember how to do that.”
That was when she lost her cool. She got in his face. Let him see the sheer hatred in her eyes. “I remember a lot of things, Lex. Some I’m sure you’d rather I not recall. Shall we play this that way?” She could take him all the way down. Seriously screw up his glorious reputation.
He chuckled, a dry, thoroughly unamused sound. “You just can’t get beyond the past, can you, Sarah? You’re scared to death you’ll end up just like your mother.”
Sarah fisted her fingers. She wanted to slap his smug face more than she’d ever wanted anything in her life. But she wouldn’t give him that. An extreme reaction was what he wanted. Something else to release to the paparazzi, to draw attention to her flaws. “I’m here about the case. My mother has nothing to do with this.”
“Ah, but she does.” Lex stared at her mouth, made her want to puke, before meeting her eyes once more. “Your whole life is about the past. Hasn’t your shrink told you that over and over again?”
“What’s your problem?” Conner stepped into the mix.
Sarah blinked, glanced at the man who was suddenly at her side looking ready to tear into Lex. Great. She was sick to death of Conner’s insatiable need to take care of her. She could damned well take care of herself. She didn’t need him or anyone else to do the job.
“Back off, Conner.”
“I see you’re up to your old tricks,” Lex said with a pointed glance at Conner. “There are other ways of gleaning information, Sarah. You don’t always have to do it on your back.”
Conner had him by the lapels before Sarah could react. “What the hell does that mean, asshole?”
“I said back off, Conner.” This was expressly why she had made it a rule never to get involved with anyone related to a case. There was always a price to pay.
“Kale!” Chief Willard rushed in their direction. “Let go of Agent August, Kale.” The out-of-shape chief of police huffed and puffed in an effort to catch his breath. “I don’t think the two of you have been introduced.”
Conner gave Lex a little push as he released him. “I don’t need a formal introduction to know an asshole when I meet one.”
Sarah wanted everyone to back the hell off so she and Lex could finish this. “Chief,” she said as calmly as possible, “we’re having a private conversation here.”
