follow-up?”
“You betcha. Will Mattie be around?” His gray eyes had a slight shimmer. The man was either interested in her friend or laughing at the odd predicament. She hoped not the latter.
Pippa smiled and shoved Basil’s arm away. “Yes. I’ll make sure of it.” She leaned into Doc and whispered, “A bouquet of flowers might be a nice touch with Mattie.”
“Yep, thanks for the tip.” Doc opened the truck cab door.
Pippa climbed behind the steering wheel, then gave Doc a wave and started the engine. A flutter of horse flies buzzed in her stomach and she attempted to calm them. A strange attraction for the Marine took up most of the space inside the cab. The oncoming negative publicity coming down the pike would restrict her time or energy for an affair. She inhaled, taking in Basil’s spicy cologne. Damn, attraction was a beast.
Chapter 4
Recessed lights illuminated the room. Plastic clinked against wood slats as Pippa closed off the outside world. Basil scanned his nemesis’s bedroom, wanting nothing more than to be alone so he could snoop. The decor was simple: gray, black, red, and white. Full dark colors and heavy metal furniture created an obvious hetero complex. Basil’s sister would claim the décor was a stable masculine blend of hues and materials in a contemporary urban-style. He didn’t buy into the style when she wanted to redo his house. As temporary quarters, and to be near Pippa, he could tolerate the dreariness.
Pippa smoothed the black comforter. “I’m glad you agreed to stay. It’s late, so tomorrow you can move your stuff from the hotel. Just think; you’ll save twenty minutes in drive time.”
“I appreciate your consideration.” Being in his arch-enemy’s bedroom renewed his ripe anger toward the man who surely took his friend’s life. Basil abhorred male chauvinism. His stomach turned at the thought Wilson used his sister and her philanthropy to launder money.
She paced as if he kept her from an appointment. It was nine p.m., not late, but since her day started at five a.m. he thought she’d be ready to call it a night. On the long drive home and in the barn as they got Titan settled into a stall, he’d fantasized about snuggling with Pippa on the sofa, maybe necking a little as they discussed the horse. What the hell was wrong with him? He had to focus on finding Harry. Why did he imagine a future with his enemy’s sister?
Because she provided light in his dark world.
“Sure. Why not have you close if you’re going to be shoveling, ah”—she paused and gave a low laugh—“in stable two tomorrow.”
“Thanks. That’s what I was hoping for. Want to get a little nightcap and talk about Titan?” If the horse didn’t drag her attention away from the large numerated clock, nothing would.
“Sorry, can’t. I’m late. I’ve an appointment.” She glanced at the clock. The second hand ticked away, clouding the room with gloom.
“I see. Well, I’ll get my stuff from the Jeep and settle in.” He didn’t need to gather his things from the hotel, as a Special Forces op he traveled light. Only necessary items were carted and always on hand. The hotel had given him a key card, so he’d call, cancel the room, and return the key card tomorrow.
“Yep. Thanks again for…today.” She pulled in her lips, pressed her teeth to the lower one, and ran through the door.
Double French doors led to a patio. He’d walk around to the front to get his gear, traipsing past Miss Sneaky’s room in the process. Either Pippa had a hot date or perhaps she was meeting with her brother. Basil glanced at the terrain and the lighting around the house as his feet covered the distance. Unlikely she was with the banker-boy. She appeared to be standoffish yesterday with the guy and the way she dovetailed him a few hours ago meant Phillipa Wilson might be into Basil Vanguard. He surveyed the trees, evaluating how effective they would be in hiding an intruder. The security lamps
“You betcha. Will Mattie be around?” His gray eyes had a slight shimmer. The man was either interested in her friend or laughing at the odd predicament. She hoped not the latter.
Pippa smiled and shoved Basil’s arm away. “Yes. I’ll make sure of it.” She leaned into Doc and whispered, “A bouquet of flowers might be a nice touch with Mattie.”
“Yep, thanks for the tip.” Doc opened the truck cab door.
Pippa climbed behind the steering wheel, then gave Doc a wave and started the engine. A flutter of horse flies buzzed in her stomach and she attempted to calm them. A strange attraction for the Marine took up most of the space inside the cab. The oncoming negative publicity coming down the pike would restrict her time or energy for an affair. She inhaled, taking in Basil’s spicy cologne. Damn, attraction was a beast.
Chapter 4
Recessed lights illuminated the room. Plastic clinked against wood slats as Pippa closed off the outside world. Basil scanned his nemesis’s bedroom, wanting nothing more than to be alone so he could snoop. The decor was simple: gray, black, red, and white. Full dark colors and heavy metal furniture created an obvious hetero complex. Basil’s sister would claim the décor was a stable masculine blend of hues and materials in a contemporary urban-style. He didn’t buy into the style when she wanted to redo his house. As temporary quarters, and to be near Pippa, he could tolerate the dreariness.
Pippa smoothed the black comforter. “I’m glad you agreed to stay. It’s late, so tomorrow you can move your stuff from the hotel. Just think; you’ll save twenty minutes in drive time.”
“I appreciate your consideration.” Being in his arch-enemy’s bedroom renewed his ripe anger toward the man who surely took his friend’s life. Basil abhorred male chauvinism. His stomach turned at the thought Wilson used his sister and her philanthropy to launder money.
She paced as if he kept her from an appointment. It was nine p.m., not late, but since her day started at five a.m. he thought she’d be ready to call it a night. On the long drive home and in the barn as they got Titan settled into a stall, he’d fantasized about snuggling with Pippa on the sofa, maybe necking a little as they discussed the horse. What the hell was wrong with him? He had to focus on finding Harry. Why did he imagine a future with his enemy’s sister?
Because she provided light in his dark world.
“Sure. Why not have you close if you’re going to be shoveling, ah”—she paused and gave a low laugh—“in stable two tomorrow.”
“Thanks. That’s what I was hoping for. Want to get a little nightcap and talk about Titan?” If the horse didn’t drag her attention away from the large numerated clock, nothing would.
“Sorry, can’t. I’m late. I’ve an appointment.” She glanced at the clock. The second hand ticked away, clouding the room with gloom.
“I see. Well, I’ll get my stuff from the Jeep and settle in.” He didn’t need to gather his things from the hotel, as a Special Forces op he traveled light. Only necessary items were carted and always on hand. The hotel had given him a key card, so he’d call, cancel the room, and return the key card tomorrow.
“Yep. Thanks again for…today.” She pulled in her lips, pressed her teeth to the lower one, and ran through the door.
Double French doors led to a patio. He’d walk around to the front to get his gear, traipsing past Miss Sneaky’s room in the process. Either Pippa had a hot date or perhaps she was meeting with her brother. Basil glanced at the terrain and the lighting around the house as his feet covered the distance. Unlikely she was with the banker-boy. She appeared to be standoffish yesterday with the guy and the way she dovetailed him a few hours ago meant Phillipa Wilson might be into Basil Vanguard. He surveyed the trees, evaluating how effective they would be in hiding an intruder. The security lamps
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