She shook her head. “No. I kept watch on the cars behind us.”
“Then the shooter isn’t the senator’s hitman.”
She shrugged. “I suppose you’re right. There’s no way it could be.”
“And I highly doubt it was a hunter.”
“What makes you think that?” She moved to her bed and sat on the edge.
“Because there was more than one shot fired. And the shots were all toward us. It would have been different if the shots weren’t so close that we felt them pass by our faces.”
“Yeah, I think you’re right.” She tapped a finger on her knee. “So if it wasn’t a drunken hunter or a paid assassin, who could have been shooting at us?”
He moved in front of her and stopped. “Good question. I’m thinking it’s someone on this ranch. Joe said he doesn’t get trespassers.”
Her stomach lurched, not wanting to believe that one of Joe’s employees would want to shoot at Zack – or her. She wrapped her arms around her middle as her tummy continued to rumble with trepidation. “We need to talk to Joe about our concerns.”
Finally, Zack sat beside her. “Are you all right?”
Seeing the unease on his face wrenched her heart. He was so caring. She’d never dated anyone who had bothered with her feelings before. She could get used to feeling a man’s protection. But no, she mustn’t. Not yet.
“I’m okay. I’m just worried about this.”
“I am, too.” He lifted his hand to touch her, but he quickly pulled away. “If we tell Joe, we need to make him promise not to tell anyone.”
“I agree.”
His gaze wandered slowly over her face. His eyes still held a hint of disappointment, but mainly she could tell how he cared about her.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
Since she hadn’t yet eaten, that could be the reason her stomach was queasy. “A little, yes.”
“Gladys wanted me to tell you she made your favorite breakfast.”
“When was this?”
He chuckled, but the humor hadn’t touched his eyes. “Before I went outside to find you.”
“Then I’m sure the food is cold.”
He stood and held out his hand for her to take. “That’s why they have microwaves, remember?”
Without thinking, she slid her hand into his. Immediately, warmth filled her and made her heart flip excitedly. She groaned in silence. She really needed to remember that he was her assignment – not the man of her dreams.
* * * *
WHITNEY SAT IN JOE’Sstudy and listened as Zack explained to her father what they had been discussing earlier in regard to the shooter. She concentrated on watching Joe’s features turn from worry to anger. Because of her and Zack, her father now couldn’t trust his employees. Guilt ate at her gut. Maybe that was why she hadn’t eaten her breakfast.
Soon, her attention strayed to Zack. It didn’t take long before her mind drifted away from the conversation. Gradually, she relaxed and her stomach stopped twisting. His rugged good looks made her breathless. Staring at him for too long also made hermindless. All thoughts of stepping back into her big-girl FBI agent shoes slipped farther and farther away, leaving her with daydreams of being in Zack’s life even after the trial was over.
Would he still want her once he was free and the senator was in prison? She would definitely still want him. And yes, heaven help her, she would seriously consider leaving the FBI after that. She wanted to do something that she was good at – something that her heart would be in, too. Joe would let her stay here and work the ranch with him, she was sure of it. But... would Zack want to be with her?
“Let them believe I’m dead.”
The worddeadsnapped her out of her thoughts and she sprang to her feet. “What?” She aimed her question at Zack. He held up his hand in an attempt to calm her. It wasn’t working.
“It’s just something I was thinking earlier this morning,” he said softly.
