was launching a full-out assault on her senses and it was working. “You’re stalling.”
“Lieutenant Peter Savich, US Navy Intelligence. He and I were in what I thought was a committed relationship, but he was in Germany and I was in DC. He was supposed to come with me to Aruba, but I found out only hours beforehand that not only wasn’t he coming, a trip we planned three months ago, but he’s engaged and had been for six months out of the eighteen that we were together.”
“Sounds like he oughta find another line of work. Intelligent, he ain’t. Is he the guy that keeps calling you and you press ignore?”
“Yes. I can’t imagine what he wants.” She laughed and it felt good, leaving Pete in the past because that was where he really belonged. “You seem to think that you would somehow be taking advantage of me. You wouldn’t be. Just chill about it.”
“My head tells me we should cool it.” But when he lifted his hand, barely brushing the underside of her jaw with his fingertips and tipped her head back a bit farther…she let him.
“Right. It would probably be smart.”
“Trouble is, beautiful Amber, I think about you,” he said, his voice nothing more than a rough whisper. “Much too often. In a wholly distracting way.”
“Ditto,” she whispered back. “So, let’s give ourselves a break and go talk to this Ken Marshall and see what he has to say about Randall Mayer.”
“Are you always so straightforward?” he said, letting her go and stepping back.
She started walking backward toward the door. “Yes. I find beating around the bush just so annoying. It’s best to talk plain.”
He followed her as she made her way back out to the cold afternoon. The sun was getting low in the sky and the temperature was still frigid. She thought fleetingly of the warm sands of Aruba.
“You really aren’t what I expected for an NCIS agent.”
“Maybe I’m growing on you.”
He settled in the driver’s seat. “Maybe you are.”
She leaned back against her seat and took a deep, steadying breath as she replayed, truthfully, what had just happened here. It had been good fun between two consenting adults. Nothing more, nothing less. Certainly nothing to get all worked up over. Fortunately, she’d pushed the situation and it was solid as to where she stood. So it was crystal clear. She was back in control, if not of him, at least of herself. She was sure he knew she was no pushover he could do with whatever he pleased.
She clenched her jaw at that. Her body was already responding to even the merest thought of him doing what he pleased. Right, you’re in such control. Does a hand down his pants ring a bell? She closed her eyes, willing herself, almost desperately, to take a quick moment to gather her wits. In his smile had been a sure promise that if he ever let loose, he was the man who knew how to keep those promises.
The drive to Ken Marshall’s real estate office took about ten minutes. Inside they found him behind a desk, his white shirt and red tie paired with a dark pair of jeans. His white hair was brushed back off his face. He had a hawk-like nose and pleasant features and was as tall as Tristan.
He rose and stuck out his hand. “Hello, folks—in the market for a house?”
“Not exactly,” Amber flashed her badge instead of taking his hand. It dropped as Ken peered at it. “NCIS.”
He mouthed the acronym for a moment then his face brightened. “Like the TV show?”
The office smelled like just-brewed coffee and mint gum. A printer was spitting out paper in a soft whirring, the only sound in the room.
“Yes, just like that.” She introduced Tristan. “I’m here to ask you about Randall Mayer.”
The open look on Ken’s face never wavered. “What about Randy?”
“Were you friends with him? We’re aware he is part of your local Sportsmen Unlimited chapter,” she said.
“Yeah, he’s been with the chapter since he moved here, oh, about two years ago now.” He frowned. “Did he do something wrong?”
“He was found dead on the mountain this morning.”
“Holy God,” Ken said with what sounded like genuine shock in his voice. “What can I do to help?”
“What exactly is your chapter about?”
Now he looked more wary. “Everything sportsmen, but mostly about hunting and fishing. We share the best places to hunt and fish, about dogs, ammo, guns and scopes and bow hunting. Our members come from