Mac's Angels: The Last Dance: A Loveswept Classic Romance Read Online Free PDF

away.”
    “Maybe—maybe you’re overreacting,” he suggested. “Why would he think you can identify him now?”
    She shot a quick accusing glance at him. “He knows, or at least he suspects. Otherwise, why the search?”
    He nodded. “Even if we’re wrong, we have to assume that you’re in danger. It’s a good thing my plane was already gassed up for the return trip. We might not have been allowed to leave the airport.”
    “Airport! What about Conner?” Sterling asked. “He deliberately hit that man. What will they do to him?”
    “Conner can take care of himself,” Mac said absentmindedly. “We have to figure out what we’re going to do about you.”
    “I’ll go to the police if that’s what I have to do to save Conner.”
    “And say what? That the leading presidential candidate’s trusted adviser is a murderer and a thief? I don’t think they’d buy it. Besides, we don’t know who we can trust.”
    “What about the press? I’ll admit I don’t look forward to being headline news again, but if that’s what it takes …”
    “Not yet, Sterling. Let’s not make any decisions until we get a little more information.”
    She let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Mac. I’mnot usually a coward, but you have no idea what the press can do to you.”
    He could have told her he knew. Long ago he’d discovered that sad truth for himself. But that was a road he didn’t want to go down—not today.
    “I don’t think the senator’s aide will release this to the press and I doubt March knows the truth. For now, we’ll just leave him in the dark. We have some serious planning to do—away from here.”
    “Mac, there isn’t anywhere far enough away that a government official can’t reach. Once you put me on this plane, your life was changed forever.”
    “My, we’re being pretty pessimistic, aren’t we? You know what they call me, I’m the head angel. I have friends in high places. Cheer up. Barney Rubble’s baby won’t be born in prison.”
    “Mac, stop it. I know you’re only trying to get my mind off the gravity of the situation. But please don’t joke about having children. It isn’t funny.”
    Apparently his attempt at relieving the tension with levity had touched a sore spot.
    “I’m sorry. I’m only trying to keep your spirits up. I never meant to cause you pain.”
    Sterling stretched her shoulders. “If you really want to do something for me, you’ll get me home to my hot tub.”
    “Good idea. One hot tub coming up,” he said, “but it won’t be at your place. You’re right about one thing.” He studied her seriously. “I’m sorry, but you can’t go home again. I think it’s time you got personally acquainted with Shangri-la.”
    Shangri-la. Sterling knew about Mac’s hideaway in the mountains of New Mexico. Conner had spent time there, recovering from the wounds he received in Berlin when his brother was killed. Conner wasn’t the first. Mac had his own private medical facility. Anyone he helped was safe and welcome there, for as long as necessary. That’s where Mac had lived for all the years Sterling had known of him.
    “Will your family be there?” she asked curiously.
    That question caught him off guard. “Family?”
    “You said you watched
The Flintstones
. I assume that means you have children.”
    “I have a daughter. But she doesn’t have any contact with our guests.”
    “And your wife?” Sterling was being uncharacteristically direct. Mac’s personal life was none of her business. She couldn’t imagine what had come over her.
    “I lost my wife, fifteen years ago.”
    “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to pry.”
    It seemed natural that she should reach out and touch him, share the pain she saw in his eyes. She hadn’t expected the feeling of protectiveness that swept over her when she did. As they looked at each other, for one electric moment everything seemed to stop.
    “It’s all right,” he muttered. “I’ve asked you some pretty