The Manhattan Encounter by Addison Fox

Author:Addison Fox
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-06-22T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Liam caught Isabella as she backed away from the computer, shaking her head. “It’s not possible. It... No... Just no.”

He knew the details were a shock—hell, he couldn’t believe it and he’d already been toying with the idea all morning—but he needed to keep her calm and able to interpret the data that winked back from the computer screen.

“Explain it to me. Tell me what you’re looking at.” He dragged one of the lab seats from a nearby table to the counter and guiding her, settled her on top. “Walk me through it.”

Fingers trembling, she moved the mouse once more. “I’ll show you his older labs. Ones I ran before he...died.”

Liam heard the strange emphasis she placed on the word “died” but said nothing. They’d know soon enough what they were dealing with.

For several long minutes, she walked him through the details, pointing out several markers of Daniel’s illness and explaining how the DNA coding worked. Although Liam didn’t have his brother’s skills for computer code, he had a head for patterns and at its core, many components of her work were an exercise in recognizing them.

“See these spots.” Isabella pointed at three different points of the screen, then back to the notepad she’d dragged from a nearby drawer. “They all indicate abnormalities.”

“But they’re gone on the most recent tests.”

“Yes.”

“When did they vanish? Let’s trace it back.”

The work took a while, the large files taking time to load and then search through. Liam settled into the moment, curious to see the side of Isabella that emerged as she worked.

While he’d seen several aspects of her personality, from the concerned friend to the nervous houseguest to the fierce warrior, the competent professional was a new one.

And oh, how she shone.

Her proficient fingers flew over the keyboard as she navigated through the various programs, jotting down notes and identifying each stage of what appeared to be Daniel Stephenson’s healing from a terminal illness.

Her long dark hair curled down her back and she continued pushing the heavy mass behind her ear as she worked her way methodically through the data. The traces of embarrassment that seemed to tinge other aspects of her life were nowhere in evidence as she trod the familiar paths of her work.

He fought the urge to run his hand through those lush strands—that fierce concentration was the only excuse he had for the fanciful thought that came next. “You love what you do.”

She twisted her head at the words, her fingers stilling over the keyboard as her gaze met his. “What?”

“Your work. You love it.”

“I do.” A light crinkle worked its way between her bright, expressive eyes. “Why do you ask?”

“As you’ve more than accurately assessed, it’s easy to suspect your motives. My family and I have been rather suspicious of you.”

“Suspicions that—”

He interrupted her, the twin demands to explain and apologize pushing him on. “That all vanishes watching you. You love what you do and it shows.”

Her dark, enigmatic gaze searched his face, as if judging the sincerity in his words.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.