Oh yeah—she was mad now.“I just want to talk to you. I’ll let you go if you promise to hear me out.”
“Why should I? I can’t believe anything you say, and I’m not making it easy for you to turn me over to Tony.”
“Goddammit, Kellie!”MacGyver released her and stepped back, keeping his body between her and the door. “I don’t work for Tony Palazzi. I’m on your side in this thing. Don’t ask me why, but I couldn’t walk away and leave you at Wally’s Tavern, and I can’t do it now. I promised to see you and your stepfather somewhere safe and I will, but you have to trust me.”
“You and the congressman?”
“I don’t know what the hell he has to do with this, but I’m not telling him where we are without a damn good explanation.” Actually, MacGyver would like to throttle the congressman about now. “And even if he manages to convince me, you get the final say. I told you I’d have your back, and I always keep my promises.”
This time she didn’t fire back at him. Her eyes softened as she searched his face, and her body language wasn’t as confrontational as before. Some of the tension left him.
“Now, if you still want to go, I won’t stop you.” He turned away and strode to the bed. Picking up his handgun, he flipped the safety on, then faced her again. “If you insist on going alone, you might need this.” MacGyver held out the weapon. Concern that she might take him up on his offer made his hand shake.
Her attention flicked from him to the gun and back again. For what seemed an eternity, she scrutinized him with distrust, doubt and that same wariness he’d become familiar with. Finally, she shook her head. “I’ll stay.”
MacGyver relaxed marginally as he strode toward her, shoving the gun in his back waistband. He shouldn’t get too close or hold her in his arms, and it would definitely be a mistake to kiss her, though every neuron in his body urged him to do just that. The vulnerability that flashed across her features made him pull up in front of her and gently brush a strand of hair behind her ear.
“Yeah, I was hoping you would.” He wound his hand in her hair and pulled her closer, aiming for her full red lips. At the last second, he settled for a lingering kiss on her forehead. “You won’t be sorry.” Would she ever really believe she could trust him? He turned her toward the bed. “Go. Get some sleep.”
Without a word, Kellie moved to her side of the bed and slid between the sheets. “MacGyver?”
“Yeah?”
“I don’t know if this makes a difference, but if I were going to believe anyone, it would be you.”
Meaning she wasn’t ready to put all of her faith in him yet.Damn the congressman. Damn Wally’s Tavern. And damn her intoxicating green eyes.“Night, Kellie.” He turned out the lamp and settled on top of the covers. His eyes wouldn’t stay closed, and he finally gave up. Grabbing his phone from the nightstand, he reread Congressman Norwell’s texts. Shaking his head, he pounded out a reply and hit send. Norwell wasn’t getting what he wanted until MacGyver got some answers.
When Kellie’s breathing evened out and he was sure she was asleep, he rolled toward her, until her back was again pressed against his front, and draped his arm across her thigh.
He’d wanted to have a serious talk with her tonight about Jeremy Dahl, Palazzi and the money he’d claimed was stolen. MacGyver had gotten some of the answers he’d wanted. She didn’t know Dahl or the congressman. So why had he been directed to meet her and keep her out of sight? And why was he glad he’d been there when trouble found her in that bar, instead of being irritated at the distraction from their case?
Yeah, he was in big trouble. The runaway bride had cast her spell over him, and the lines between short term and long term were starting to blur.
Chapter Eight
Lightning flashed across the dark clouds to the northwest, and thunder boomed a few seconds later. The knot in Kellie’s stomach grew exponentially. They’d left the airport in Deer Park as dawn broke, still barely catching a break in the severe weather system at Felts Field on the outskirts of Spokane, landing in heavy winds as the rain pelted their small aircraft.
She extended the handle of her suitcase and rolled it along as she tried to match the lengthy strides of MacGyver and Travis. The early 1900s airport terminal loomed ahead, through rain coming down in sheets. For the second time in three days, she was drenched.
Blake Sorenson had stayed with the plane, fueling up with hopes of taking off before the storm worsened. She’d be glad to see him go.
The last two days had been a new low for her, and it was going downhill from there. She’d failed to learn anything about her sister’s disappearance, forced Pop to leave everything he’d ever known behind to flee the state and suffered the worst hangover she’d ever had. Now Blake had her stomach tied in knots. She’d sensed his scrutiny of her frequently, and it was obvious he hadn’t liked what he saw.
For a while, it’d seemed as though everything might be all right. She’d escaped Tony’s clutches with the aid of MacGyver and Travis—men who would surely prove helpful in reuniting with her stepdad while staying under the radar. Providing she could keep her suspicions in check long enough. Her trust for them was growing, which was a miracle in itself.
She’d borrowed MacGyver’s phone first thing this morning and again upon landing, dialing Pop’s number and leaving messages each time her call went straight to voice mail.He’ll call. Stay positive.
Talking herself into the right frame of mind wasn’t working, and Blake’s smirks and subtle digs weren’t helping. Neither was MacGyver’s protectiveness.
He held the terminal door open, and she slipped inside without looking at him. He came up behind her as Travis continued straight ahead toward a sign advertising rental cars. Gently, MacGyver pried her fingers from the handle of her suitcase, and she turned to face him.
A frown skimmed MacGyver’s smooth brow, gone as quickly as it appeared. “You’ve been quiet all morning. You’re not still worried about the text, are you?”
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious about the identity of the congressman, but I believe you’re telling me the truth.” And she’d keep believing that right up until she had evidence to the contrary.
“And Blake? He’s acting strange, even for him. Obviously, he makes you ill at ease. What does he know about you I don’t?”
Kellie gritted her teeth as anger churned her stomach, but it wasn’t enough to keep from dumping on MacGyver. “I don’t know why your friend’s acting like an ass, but I bet, if you asked him, he’d tell you what he thinks he knows. Then you can tell me, and we’ll both be enlightened.”Damn, that felt good!But it was stupid to lose her cool. She’d learned the hard way that defensiveness and resentment only made things worse. She whirled away from him on a frustrated sigh.