Withholding Evidence Read Online Free PDF Page A

takes charge.”
    Trina let out a frustrated sigh as she led him to the secluded corner. “Please, Senior Chief, those are my coworkers. Don’t give them the wrong idea about you and me.”
    He smiled, giving his eyes a sexy heat. “Please, call me Keith. And I didn’t say anything that was inaccurate.”
    “Keith, why are you here?”
    “I read your e-mail after you left this morning. All of them, actually. I didn’t receive them because… It’s a long story and not relevant. But your e-mails made me realize you weren’t just showing up out of the blue on a Sunday morning. And I not only came on strong, I was a total ass. I wanted to say I’m sorry.”
    His words caught her off guard. Honestly, even though she agreed he’d been an ass, she hadn’t really felt she deserved an apology. She did barge into his house uninvited on a Sunday morning, after all, and it wasn’t as if she wasn’t aware that SEALs had to be closemouthed about their ops. “Thank you. This is…unexpected. And nice.”
    His smile was softer now, subtle, and somehow warmer. “I enjoyed meeting you this morning. You were quick, even when I was being a jerk.”
    What was he saying? That he was interested in her? “Well, I work for the military. I’m used to your type.”
    “Dollface, I’m not a type. I’m one of a kind.”
    Ahh. There was the man she’d met this morning. She’d been wondering where he’d gone. She rolled her eyes and fought a smile. “Thanks for the apology, Senior Chief. Now, if you’re done, I have people I need to talk to.”
    “Wait.” He caught her arm as she turned. “I didn’t come here just to apologize. I’d…like to see you again.”
    Wow. She’d hadn’t taken him for the direct type. Then again, offering to masturbate in front her had been pretty damn direct, but he’d been trying to scare her off, not turn her on.
    Admittedly, he’d done both.
    “You expect me to believe you came all the way out to Annapolis to what… Ask me out?”
    He cocked his head. “I don’t expect you to believe it, but it’s true.”
    “You were talking with Alec. You know him. That’s why you’re here.”
    “I was invited because I know Alec. I came because I guessed you’d be here. So what do you say, Trina? Want to have dinner with me?” He paused, then added, “Now?”
    She cocked an eyebrow. He couldn’t be serious. “You mean leave the party?”
    “Yes.”
    She hesitated and couldn’t believe she even considered his offer. This was a pseudowork event. And she’d come here intending to flirt with Perry.
    Perry. Crap. She hadn’t even tried to talk to him yet. Perry, who was her type. Perry, who respected her.
    She frowned. “I’d say yes to dinner with Senior Chief Hatcher so we could talk about the Somalia op. I don’t think I could handle Keith, who wants to ditch the party.”
    “You don’t have to handle me.” His smile turned just a bit wicked, telling her exactly where those words sent his thoughts. He shook his head. “It’s just dinner. A conversation. Where it goes from there is up to you.”
    But the very fact he said that left the door open for it to go somewhere. “You’re very…direct. I didn’t expect that.”
    He held her gaze. “I’m always direct. I have no patience for games or bullshit.”
    She could be direct too. “Will you tell me about Somalia?”
    “No.”
    “Then I’m sorry, but no thanks.” She turned and walked away, shocked she had the nerve to do it. She was ten times a fool, because who knew if he’d change his mind over dinner. But he didn’t have patience for games, and she couldn’t stomach them. She couldn’t go out to dinner with a man because she wanted something from him. But still, she couldn’t help but regret having a conscience.

    K EITH WATCHED HER walk away, taking in the swing of her ass that told him what her answer had not—she was interested. She wanted him to notice her.
    And he did. Now more than ever.
    He had to respect her