you’re determined to stay?”
“I still have a lease, in case you’ve forgotten. Legally—”
“Look, if you were in any position to call a lawyer you would’ve done it hours ago. Right? So if you’re not moving out and won’t consider my offer, it leaves with me with only one option. I’m moving in.”
Her mouth gaped before she snapped it shut. “That’s not funny.”
“I’m not joking. I’ve got reporters camped out at my apartment, so I can’t go back without leading them to the house. And—” He stopped abruptly, but she already knew what he’d been about to say.
I still don’t trust you.
Well, fine. She didn’t trust him, either.
“Take it or leave it, Beth. Do we have a deal?”
As the moment stretched in the cool silence, Luke tried to ignore that wide-eyed stare, the frustration and indignation playing out so clearly on her face. Tried, but somewhere inside, something tugged annoyingly on his conscience.
Finally, she said, “Why are you doing this? There’s nothing more to find out and the house will be yours in three months.”
“Because I’m involved.”
“You want to make sure your name stays out of the papers.”
“Yes. And because, a long time ago, there was no one there to help me or my family.” He deliberately avoided those accusing eyes, lingering instead on her mouth.
Damn. Bad move.
“You were told the owners were overseas, right? So why would they lie to you? Plus, there’s the mater of your missing money.”
Luke watched her expression go from shock to resentment, her cheeks twin flaming spots of frustration. He could practically see the steam coming from her ears.
“Get on board or leave, Beth.” He added, “I can help with your bank problem—”
She pulled out her phone and dialed while Luke remained in frustrated silence.
“So a woman came in claiming she was a friend of the owners requesting the tenant be ‘preferably female, single, nonsmoker, employed or owning own business.’”
She nodded, studying him as he proccessed that information. “It’s time to pay my aunt a visit.”
Luke must have let something slip in his expression because a small frown marred her forehead as she studied him.
“You don’t want to see her,” she said slowly.
He shrugged. “What makes you say that?”
“Oh, the scowl, the tight jaw. The way you’re narrowing your eyes right now. Plus the lawyer told you in no uncertain terms you should.”
He remained stubbornly silent until he finally said, “I haven’t seen her since Gino’s will reading two weeks ago.”
“So why—”
“It’s complicated.”
“I see.”
And still she continued to sit there, watching him in silent scrutiny until frustration seeped warmly from his skin.
“First this inquiry, then Gino’s heart attack, the funeral. She’s been through a lot.”
“So have you.” When she tilted her head, a blond curl slid across her cheek. “All that anger isn’t good. You should see someone.”
“I don’t need a shrink.”
She brushed the curl away. “I meant a physiotherapist or masseuse.”
“It’s nothing sleep can’t fix.” He stretched his legs, crossing them at the ankle before eyeing her speculatively. “You know, we’re more alike than you think.”
“Really?”
He ignored the sarcasm. “We’re both work driven, handling a lot of stress, and now we’ve got this situation messing up our lives. Which brings me back to my original problem. What’s our connection, Beth Jones?”
“I know as much as you do.” She glanced out the window as they passed the sign to Sunset Island.
“Sure.”
“So you think I’m hiding something.”
“I’ll bet my fifteen years at Jackson and Blair.”
“And in fifteen years you’ve become a master of avoiding a question,” Beth pointed out.
“What question?”
“Relaxation? You’ve got nothing to lose. Unless you like having a sore neck.”
He gave her a look. “Sounds like you want this for me more than I do.”
She blew out a breath and rolled her eyes. “Fine. Ignore the expert.” Yet he couldn’t miss that fleeting look of concern as she turned back to the window.
He paused, allowing the events of the last day to press oppressively down. If he watched his back, he could hide out until the press frenzy blew over. Maybe. If luck was on his side.
But there was one big problem. A blonde, beautiful, hostile problem.
“Okay. A massage,” he said suddenly. But when she turned back to him, a small smile blooming, he added, “A massage for some background information.”
She blinked. “Some things are personal.”
“And we’re in each other’s faces, which is about as personal as it gets.”
The silence was absolute, a stark and obscene contrast to the noisy thoughts warring in Beth’s head.
Damn Luke and his steady chip-chip-chipping away at her defenses. She needed space, much more space than this luxurious interior would allow. Like another continent’s worth.
“Look,” she finally said, “I’m tired of arguing.”
“Then don’t.”
For one crazy second, Beth thought about walking away and letting him deal with the mess. Quickly, she rejected it. He’s prepared to fight for this. So am I.
“I promise I’ll get to the bottom of this, Beth.”
Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
“And I can pull my weight around the house. I can clean, fix that loose pantry door. I even make a mean lasagna.”
A vision of Luke cooking in her kitchen jolted her. Another quickly followed—only this time he was stripped
