her voice upbeat and stress free. “I get assigned to cases. You’ve got to stop worrying about me. I’m good at what I do.”
“I can’t ever stop worrying about my daughter, especially considering what you do for a living.”
“And I do appreciate it, Mom, really. Listen, I’m going to have to get going. I’m in the middle of something. You won’t hear from me at least for a few days. We got an unexpected turn in the case—”
“You’ve got a lead on the killer?”
“Well, not yet, but I will.” She kept that positive note in her tone. “And after he’s arrested, I’ll come out to see you and Dad. Maybe we can do brunch.”
“Oh, your father would love that.”
“Well, I love him, and I love you. See you both soon.”
“All right, honey. Love you.”
Camille disconnected and took a shaky breath. It had taken everything in her to sound positive and upbeat to reassure Mom. Now she was simply shaky. If her parents knew the risks she took, they would never sleep easy. As it was, they hated her job even more than they hated her living in the city. Though she wished she could confide in her mother, at least, she couldn’t do that to her. Which meant she had no one with whom she could talk things through when they went wrong. She slipped the cell back into her pocket and opened a bottom dresser drawer.
“Hey, what’s taking so long?”
Fetching the laptop, she turned to find Drago standing in the doorway. His gaze flicked past her for a second—to the bed—and then back to her again, effectively pinning her in place. The breath caught in her throat and the skin along her arms prickled. Four years and she hadn’t beat the attraction that had pulled her straight into his arms. But not now; they were too different, she thought. Not when she knew he’d committed a felony. She couldn’t afford to make another mistake. Couldn’t afford to be distracted.
“I had to take a call, but I have the computer now.” She waved it at him.
“I see.”
He moved closer, putting her on guard. Now standing in front of her, close enough to touch her, all he did was hold out his hand. She blinked a moment in confusion and then gave him the computer.
“What, did you think I needed help in here?”
His eyebrows arched. “Do you?” He flicked his gaze back to the bed for a second.
She flushed and pushed past him, feeling a slight give in his stance.
Now following directly behind her, he was close enough to make the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. “Angel is in the chat room.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Camille raced ahead to take a look.
She slid into the chair. Aware of Drago’s breath along her cheek as he bent over to read with her, Camille forced herself to concentrate on the screen. As usual, the chatter was quick and interspersed with porn sites pitching their wares.
JeanneR: any hot guys want to chat?
coolboy: my skype j.fuentes10
Although uncomfortable with Drago so close, Camille began typing.
Angel: I’m looking for someone
Carol2: Ooh, how hot are you?
JeanneR: hey, he’s mine
grrrl: not if I have anything to say about it
guest: Meet hot girls! Free! Go to: http://hotgirlsforyoubaby
The inference of sex made Camille all too aware of the heat pressing into her shoulder where it connected with Drago’s chest, but suddenly she went ice cold inside.
Angel: actually looking for Morrigan
Carol2: haven’t seen her online
JeannR: forget Morrigan—why don’t we meet?
No response from Angel.
Biting her lip, Camille took a quick look at the list in the room. “He signed off.” And feeling a bit relieved to be able to move away from the computer and from Drago. “He asked about
me
…my alter ego.”
“Because he knows he didn’t get who he expected.”
Drago was still too close for comfort. And the familiar way he was looking at her, his eyes narrowed suggestively, reminded her of that hotel room.
“Then why did he take her? Why not leave Sandy
“I can’t ever stop worrying about my daughter, especially considering what you do for a living.”
“And I do appreciate it, Mom, really. Listen, I’m going to have to get going. I’m in the middle of something. You won’t hear from me at least for a few days. We got an unexpected turn in the case—”
“You’ve got a lead on the killer?”
“Well, not yet, but I will.” She kept that positive note in her tone. “And after he’s arrested, I’ll come out to see you and Dad. Maybe we can do brunch.”
“Oh, your father would love that.”
“Well, I love him, and I love you. See you both soon.”
“All right, honey. Love you.”
Camille disconnected and took a shaky breath. It had taken everything in her to sound positive and upbeat to reassure Mom. Now she was simply shaky. If her parents knew the risks she took, they would never sleep easy. As it was, they hated her job even more than they hated her living in the city. Though she wished she could confide in her mother, at least, she couldn’t do that to her. Which meant she had no one with whom she could talk things through when they went wrong. She slipped the cell back into her pocket and opened a bottom dresser drawer.
“Hey, what’s taking so long?”
Fetching the laptop, she turned to find Drago standing in the doorway. His gaze flicked past her for a second—to the bed—and then back to her again, effectively pinning her in place. The breath caught in her throat and the skin along her arms prickled. Four years and she hadn’t beat the attraction that had pulled her straight into his arms. But not now; they were too different, she thought. Not when she knew he’d committed a felony. She couldn’t afford to make another mistake. Couldn’t afford to be distracted.
“I had to take a call, but I have the computer now.” She waved it at him.
“I see.”
He moved closer, putting her on guard. Now standing in front of her, close enough to touch her, all he did was hold out his hand. She blinked a moment in confusion and then gave him the computer.
“What, did you think I needed help in here?”
His eyebrows arched. “Do you?” He flicked his gaze back to the bed for a second.
She flushed and pushed past him, feeling a slight give in his stance.
Now following directly behind her, he was close enough to make the hair on the back of her neck stand on end. “Angel is in the chat room.”
“Why didn’t you say so?” Camille raced ahead to take a look.
She slid into the chair. Aware of Drago’s breath along her cheek as he bent over to read with her, Camille forced herself to concentrate on the screen. As usual, the chatter was quick and interspersed with porn sites pitching their wares.
JeanneR: any hot guys want to chat?
coolboy: my skype j.fuentes10
Although uncomfortable with Drago so close, Camille began typing.
Angel: I’m looking for someone
Carol2: Ooh, how hot are you?
JeanneR: hey, he’s mine
grrrl: not if I have anything to say about it
guest: Meet hot girls! Free! Go to: http://hotgirlsforyoubaby
The inference of sex made Camille all too aware of the heat pressing into her shoulder where it connected with Drago’s chest, but suddenly she went ice cold inside.
Angel: actually looking for Morrigan
Carol2: haven’t seen her online
JeannR: forget Morrigan—why don’t we meet?
No response from Angel.
Biting her lip, Camille took a quick look at the list in the room. “He signed off.” And feeling a bit relieved to be able to move away from the computer and from Drago. “He asked about
me
…my alter ego.”
“Because he knows he didn’t get who he expected.”
Drago was still too close for comfort. And the familiar way he was looking at her, his eyes narrowed suggestively, reminded her of that hotel room.
“Then why did he take her? Why not leave Sandy
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