Blink of an Eye (Kendra Michaels #8) - Roy Johansen Page 0,28
of some value to the investigation.”
“Oh, it goes a lot further than that. You should have seen the look on his face when you were on that driveway doing your thing with the footsteps, tire prints, and rollaway luggage tracks. A combination of being so moony-eyed and so respectful, I thought I was going to lose my lunch. He’s obviously crazy about you.”
“You’re crazy.”
“Then there was the after-hours dinner invitation…”
Kendra walked back toward the car. “He invited both of us.”
“Because he’s a gentleman and couldn’t think of any other way to do it. But he was looking at you.”
“I’m no longer listening.”
They both climbed into the car, and Jessie started it up. “For someone so damn observant, you sure can be obtuse about some things. It took you ages to admit that Metcalf has a thing for you.” Jessie frowned. “Oh, poor Metcalf. He’s not going to be happy with this development.”
“There’s no development.”
“But I don’t feel sorry for Lynch at all. It’ll be good for him to have such a gorgeous-looking rival for your affections. This is going to be interesting.”
“Stop it.”
“Just commenting. I don’t get the opportunity very often to give you a hard time about your love life. You’re so damn discreet.”
“And you’re not? Privacy is important. And I don’t have a love life. I’m too busy.”
“Hmm. What would you call it then? Your relationship with Lynch is definitely combustible.” She held up her hand. “Never mind. You’re right, I don’t want to become involved in the fireworks between you and Lynch.” She added wearily, “You’re both too complicated, and I have enough complications in my life right now. Maybe I was only looking for a distraction.”
“That’s probably it,” Kendra said gently. “I can see it. I’m feeling the same way. But don’t use my relationship with Lynch to do it. Whatever is between us is a very delicate balance, and I don’t know where the hell it’s going. Probably nowhere.” She made a face. “But I should mention that even if I wanted to have fireworks, it would be extremely difficult when half of the equation is saving the world on a snowy mountain in Tibet.”
Jessie laughed. “All the more reason to bring in a pinch hitter. Though I’ve seen Lynch perform harder tasks if he set his mind to it. So have you.”
“But I don’t want to be another project he has to set his mind to accomplishing. Talk about distraction.” She kept her tone light. “Governments could fall. Revolutions erupt around the world. Bombs fly. I don’t want the responsibility. So could we drop this discussion about him?”
“Sure.” She shrugged. “I’ve forgotten him already. Now all you’ve got to do is convince him to forget about you…”
“That’s no issue at the moment.” She was looking back at the door of Katy’s place and frowning. “The only thing I’m worrying about right now is that I have a nagging feeling there’s something that I missed back there with Adrian’s girlfriend.” She rubbed her temple. “And I’m just too tired to know what it is.”
“It will come back to you. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
“But I want to know now.” She saw Jessie shaking her head and sighed. “Right. Okay, rest and then see what happens…”
Jessie nodded. “Now you’ve got it.”
* * *
Her phone was ringing…
Kendra drowsily reached out to the bedside table. It seemed as if she’d just gotten to sleep, but the light streaming in the guest room window was twilight-dim. She must have been even more tired than she’d thought…She glanced blearily at the face of the phone. No ID and she was tempted not to answer, but she couldn’t risk that it might be Kelland or one of his men with information. “Kendra Michaels.”
“You sound delightfully sleepy,” Lynch said softly. “I’ve always loved to hear that froggy hoarseness in your voice when you first wake up. It reminds me of Kermit. But since it’s only seven in the evening your time and you’re always too alert for naps, I’m suddenly very curious.”
She sat up straight in bed. She could almost see Lynch there before her, the piercing blue eyes, those movie-star good looks, that mischievous sense of humor. “I don’t sound froggy. And it took you long enough to be curious about anything concerning me, Lynch.”
“No more Kermit.” He sighed. “I startled you out of it. How pissed off are you with me?”
“Not at all. I have no right to be upset. You don’t owe me anything…except courtesy.”