Tempest - Kris Michaels Page 0,45

know she hurt you. I tried to report it." God, he had to know she'd tried.

"You did what I asked. What I had no right to ask of you. When your mother found out, you could have been in grave peril."

She carefully moved her foot and turned in her seat to look straight at him. "Peril? Me? From the information you have, do you think she'd... hurt me?"

He twisted in his seat and faced her. Those gold-flecked green eyes were so damn serious. "It would be speculation on my part and as her lawyer, do you really want to know?"

Her eyes lowered to the tabletop. "Perhaps we should agree the information I am transcribing is sufficient and leave any discussion about my mother out of future conversations?"

His hand covered hers. "I'd enjoy that. Although our topics of conversation may be limited."

Her brows furrowed. "Why?"

"My past with Guardian is... classified."

"And? Does classified mean I can't ask you if you like pepperoni on your pizza or if you like your steak rare?"

"I'm a carnivore. I love all the meats on my pizza, but I haven't had one in... damn, years and as far as the steak, the rarer the better. Still mooing would work. What about you?"

Laughter bubbled past the guilt and self-doubt which had threaded through the earlier conversation. "I'd prefer my steak without the sound effects and give me a cheese and veggie pizza. You can keep all the other stuff."

"Wine or beer?" His eyebrows rose in challenge.

"Beer with pizza, red wine with steak."

His grin spread into a brilliant smile. Lord, he took her breath away. He was absolutely gorgeous. "I like you, Pilar Grantham."

"And I like you, Luke Wagner. Should we get to work so we can continue our discussion?"

He slid his hand off the top of hers. The warmth which had infused her skin evaporated, but still flooded the recesses of her being. The tingle of radiant hope skittered through her body.

She readjusted in her chair and stared at the computer screen. The feelings she'd been nursing for the man had taken root. Every time he smiled or touched her, those small seeds of hope had flourished, grown, and shaded the dry, forsaken parts of her life. Careful does it, girl. Don't pin your future on someone you barely know.

"Is something wrong?" His question snapped her back to the present.

"Oh, no. I was thinking." She flipped the page in her notebook and started another set of circumstances, times, places and events which could only lead to one conclusion. Her mother was a criminal.

It was completely dark by the time she'd typed the last words. A heavenly smell from the galley produced a wicked roar from her stomach. She clutched her cover up and felt her face flame. "Sorry."

"Don't be. I'm going to save these documents, then I'll go grab us a cocktail and something to nibble on to hold you until dinner." He moved the mouse and clicked to save the documents. "What would you like to drink?"

"Ah... A glass of the white wine I had when I boarded?"

"Perfect. Let me help you to the deck. You deserve some fresh air." He stood and offered her his arm.

"Such a gentleman." She leaned carefully as she put weight on her foot. The toe had swollen from not being elevated all afternoon, and she could definitely feel her heartbeat in the darn thing again.

"I have been accused of many things; being a gentleman isn't one of them." He smiled and walked slowly as she hobbled across the open deck to the chaise lounge. Once she sat down, he moved to grab a large pillow from another lounge and placed her foot on top of it. "I'll bring some ice for your foot, too."

She watched him go back into the interior cabin before she glanced heavenward. The multitude of stars unfettered by the lights of a city wrapped around the heavens. She sighed and relaxed against the warm canvas of the deck chair. With her work complete, she had thirteen days of sun, and hopefully, thirteen nights of adult fun with Luke. Presumptuous? Perhaps, but there was an attraction and even if it went no further than the confines of this ship, she wanted to know him, as a man, not as a prisoner, not as a person working a case against her mother, but as Luke Wagner, the young man who'd gotten into trouble and the man who'd worked his way out of a bad situation. She smiled at the