Stolen by Julie Kenner

Author:Julie Kenner [Kenner, Julie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781488086304
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2004-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 7

KYLE POKED INSIDE the little paper carton with his chopsticks, trying to grab the last mushroom. They’d worked into the night, and now the office was officially closed. Not that you could tell from the conference table. It was littered with Chinese food containers, Diet Coke cans, file folders and paper.

Beside him, Mel was handling the chopsticks like a pro. She looked up with a grin. “Years of practice.”

He gave up, snagged the mushroom with his fork and nodded at the papers. “See anything interesting?” It was just past seven, and they’d been working since Miss Emily had left about five hours earlier.

She shrugged. “It’s all interesting. The question is still where to start.” She blew out a noisy breath. “I wish Driskell would call you back.”

So did Kyle. He’d left a message for the client about three hours ago. He’d been pressuring Driskell to set a date for Kyle to test and inspect the system, but the man had been in constant meetings and his assistant couldn’t set a date without her boss’s okay.

The delay was driving Kyle crazy, but at the moment, he had to admit he was enjoying the dinner break with Mel. “Thanks for working late,” he said.

“Well, you know, we security consultants are a pretty committed bunch.”

“So I’ve noticed.” He reached out, smoothing his finger down her arm. She’d taken off her suit jacket and was now wearing a simple sleeveless top and a tailored skirt. She’d untucked the shirt and her pumps were in the corner of the room, next to the briefcase she’d dropped into a chair. She looked tousled and studious and sexy as hell.

He knew he should keep his hands to himself, but dammit, he didn’t want to. He cupped the back of her hand in his palm, their fingers interlaced. She glanced sideways at him, a little smile on her mouth, and she didn’t pull away.

“So this security consultant thing runs in your family,” he said.

“It skips generations,” she said, the hint of a laugh coloring her voice. “My father worked as a machinist. I take after my grandfather.”

“What do your parents think about your choice of profession?” He watched her face, looking for a reaction. He knew he was prying, but he was curious. He tried to tell himself that he didn’t often have the chance to chat with retired cat burglars, but it was more than that. He wanted to know Melissa Tanner. So help him, he wanted to know everything about her.

She didn’t answer at first, and he feared he’d gone too far. Then she took a shaky breath and met his eyes, her own brimming with tears. “They were killed when I was eleven. And, no, they didn’t approve of my grandfather.”

He drew a breath. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. I miss them, but that was a long time ago. And Gramps did everything he could for me.”

“Even taught you a trade.” It was a bad joke, but she didn’t seem to mind.

“Yeah.” She pulled her hand free to run her fingers through her hair, and he immediately felt a sense of loss.

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