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

hard questions. Now it’s your turn to ask me.”
    “No. Your family is private. Your helping me—is different. I mean … that’s what you do, isn’t it? Iknow you helped Conner and Erica. And Katie Carithers. And there was that football player, too, a friend of Conner’s. I’ll be glad to pay you.”
    “Sterling, I never helped any of them personally. I have people, on my staff, outsiders who’ve been helped in the past. They do the real work. Not me. I’m just the connection, the arranger. I’m not someone you’d want to depend on.”
    “Yes, you are, Lincoln McAllister. You’re exactly the man I’d want to depend on. But—” She pulled back, reminding herself that she could get him killed, that she’d sworn to protect herself alone. “Because of me, Conner might be in jail. I’ve probably spoiled Katie and Montana’s wedding, and I’ve put you at risk.”
    “Yep, you’re a dangerous woman, Sterling Lindsey. And you’re brave and you’re beautiful. And I’m taking you home to meet Jessie.”
    “Who’s Jessie?”
    “Jessie is the woman I love most in this world.”
    Conner Preston sat sprawled in a straight-backed chair, presenting the illusion of total relaxation, a pose that was just that—an illusion.
    “I told you, my name is Conner Preston.”
    “And do you normally interfere with a police action?”
    “No, but I was trained as a Green Beret. When I saw you, I thought you were a hijacker and I reacted automatically.”
    The man in the gray suit rubbed his cheek and frowned, not yet ready to accept Conner’s explanation.
    “You know who I am,” Conner said. “How about telling me who you are?”
    The man in the gray suit looked startled, as if he expected everyone to know him. Conner bit back a smile. What an inflated ego, he thought.
    He finally answered. “My name is Vincent Dawson.”
    “Sorry, Vince, but”—Conner rubbed his neck—“you only got a black eye. Your guys almost broke my neck.”
    “You’re lucky they didn’t.”
    “So, who were you going after out there?”
    The man leaned casually against the wall of the small airport security room. But his eyes belied his movement. Conner decided this was a man who never relaxed. Men like him always had something to hide. Conner wondered what his secret was.
    “Doesn’t matter, Mr. Preston. It’s none of your concern. I think I’m going to let you go. For now. Next time stay out of something that isn’t your affair. That’s the way people get killed.”
    “Sure.” Conner watched him leave the room. Vincent had just issued a veiled threat. Something wasn’t right here. Being released after what happened didn’t make sense. Unless his interrogator already knew about his connection to Sterling. Unless he wanted to keep his interest secret.
    That had to be the answer. Vince knew that Sterlingwas with Mac. Mac’s plane had filed a return flight plan on arrival, and Sterling had boarded that plane. With the Secret Service and the FBI files available to Mr. Vincent Dawson, he’d already learned who Conner Preston was and probably why he was here. And he knew that Mac had Sterling.
    Conner allowed himself a grim smile. He’d been surprised when Sterling had agreed to come to the wedding. Then he’d heard Mac would attend. Even then the connection hadn’t come to him. It had been Erica who knew how often Sterling and Mac talked. She suggested the possibility that they might be intrigued with each other. Sterling had come a long way from the beaten-down young woman he’d met in the rehabilitation center of a hospital ten years earlier. But Sterling and Mac?
    The more he thought about it, the more it made sense. Mac had lost his wife and Sterling had lost the use of her legs. Two wounded people who needed love. Not a bad idea.
    Conner would leave Sterling in Mac’s hands. He had a wedding to attend.
    Then he’d do a little checking on Mr. Vincent Dawson.

THREE
    A sense of peace enveloped Mac as the plane swept