Against the Rules Read Online Free Page B

she would die from the embarrassment, she realized all she had to do was let go of the handle.
    Reese dropped his cases and went to her. He frowned at the deep red marks forming on her hand and pulled her palm to his mouth, kissing the pain away. “What happened?”
    As he made love to her hand, his eyes held her gaze. She’d never had trouble breathing before, but right then she wasn’t sure she was capable. Her heart beat wildly, her brain so full of mush she couldn’t figure out how to form words.
    “Are you okay?” he asked again.
    She nodded then swallowed several times trying to find her voice.
    “I’ve been thinking about you,” he whispered into her hand. “You haunted my dreams.”
    She giggled nervously. “I will admit to dreaming about you as well.”
    Praying to all that was holy that his eyes hadn’t yet wandered to the letters sprawled across the table, she pretended to fall and bumped into it with such force that everything went flying to the floor. Her tush would be black and blue by morning, but it kept him from seeing her pitiful message.
    “Are you all right? What happened?” His voice was edged with concern.
    “I’m a klutz! Surely you’ve noticed.” She laughed in what she hoped was a casual manner, when deep inside she was desperate. Today was Friday. If she didn’t get him to ask her out, it would be Monday before she could break the stupid copier and see him again.
    “Maybe you should sit down.” He moved a chair closer to the copier for her and began clicking a few keys. Dutifully, she took a seat.
    “I wanted to thank you again for dinner. I had a wonderful time.”
    “If you don’t already have plans, would you have dinner with me again tonight?” He kept his eyes on the screen in front of him.
    The invitation had sounded like an afterthought. She wondered if the offer was a matter of convenience or if he really wanted to see her again. “It does go against the single girls’ union to accept a date without at least twenty-four hours’ notice, but I won’t tell if you don’t.”
    He granted her a wide grin that made his eyes shimmer. He motioned that his lips were sealed. Damn, he was handsome.
    Reese seemed distracted. “These codes aren’t making any sense. It looks like I’m going to be here a while. Why don’t you stop back after school and we’ll firm up our plans?”
     
    * * * *
     
    Robert entered the security code and keyed the deadbolt with the mental alertness of a zombie. He was dog-tired. Last night he hadn’t slept. Instead, he’d paced his study wall to wall, developing a plan of action. Not even twenty-four hours later, his plan had been shot to hell and there was no plan B on the horizon.
    He dropped his briefcase in the hall. As he passed the fireplace, he slid his badge and pistol on the mantel then headed into the kitchen. Intent on a cold beer, he almost missed the typed note magneted to the door. Don’t worry about Trish and Bobby. They made it safely to Grandma’s. You need to concentrate on the target coordinates. Time is running out.
    Robert’s legs buckled, sending him to the ground as he scrambled for his cell phone. He hit the speed dial from memory and aged at least fifteen years before his wife picked up.
    “Hi, honey. Did you forget how to heat up the pot roast?”
    “Get out of there now . Take Bobby and your mom. There’s an agency office in El Paso. Go there and ask to speak to the chief. I’ll call ahead. Don’t go anywhere else and for heaven’s sake don’t leave there until I call you back.”
    “What’s wrong, honey? What’s going on?”
    “Don’t fucking ask questions. Go now ! Do you hear me? Go now!” He was an agent used to making life and death decisions. Panic was unacceptable. Only the life and death decisions he’d made had never involved his loved ones. This time panic was alive and growing with every breath he took.
     
    * * * *
     
    Though the lasagna melted in Chantel’s mouth, she barely noticed