Read Online For All to See (Bureau Series Book 1) by Megan Mitcham - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Megan Mitcham
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night. Nobody would talk to me and intimidation didn’t go far either.”
“I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you’re not very intimidating.” She hoped her bluff was working, because in truth he was intimidating the hell out of her. Every sentence he uttered in his dungeon-dark voice sent chills down her spine.
“I may not be,” he agreed, “but my gun is.”
She blew it off. “Don’t take it to heart. You’re not a local and you don’t have boobs. So, nobody’s going to talk to you.”
“In that case,” Nathan countered with a sly grin, “you only have half of the criteria.” When she cocked an eyebrow he continued, “You’re not a local. You only moved here three years ago.”
“So, you read my file?”
“No. Di…Special Agent Kepler told me.”
Her stomach knotted. “So, he read it.”
“No, I have it locked up. But he did make nice with the courthouse receptionist. She pulled real estate and insurance records for him.”
She nodded, unable to speak for the momentary relief. After a few moments she said, “The locals welcomed me quickly. For some it takes longer.”
“It’s the boobs.”
“Excuse me?” Her cheeks flamed.
“Hey, you brought it up.” He smirked.
“What?”
“That’s why they welcomed you so quickly.”
“No, it is not. I am a nice person and I have taken an interest in the island’s culture, the community, and the children.”
“Uh-huh.”
How dare he talk about her boobs. They were body parts that had not gotten much attention in an uncomfortably long span of time. She’d all but forgotten about them. Even in her wardrobe they blended in like unfashionable accessories. And here this stranger was making her all too aware of their sudden wanting presence. She struggled to ignore the tingling, made worse by his knowing gaze and her constricting sports bra. Setting her jaw she tried to burn a hole in him with her gaze. Undisturbed, he gave her a killer smile and returned to his food.
“You need to eat,” he said after a beat.
“I’m too irritated to eat. Nichole…my friend can’t be dead.”
They held each other’s gaze for too long. She gulped the raw emotions clawing their way up her throat. “Are you finished?” Her hand shot out to take his plate.
His warm fingers encircled her wrist. Instead of going rigid and cold all over, the contact heated her someplace deep inside.
“I’ll get these.” Nathan’s touch slid from her wrist, taking all the oxygen in her body with it.
He retrieved the plates and cups, stood, and looked over his shoulder at her. “Lock the back door on your way in.”
Since when did she take orders from a man? Apparently, this was a banner day. She pulled herself up, sucked in a deep breath, followed his wide shoulders into her house, and locked the door behind her.
Nathan moved through her space with such easy assurance, like he’d been there a thousand times. But then that’s probably how men moved through life, taking every bump and crossroad in stride. He stepped over Deacon, placed the empty dishes in the sink, tucked her uneaten salad into the refrigerator, and then peered out the two wide slats of the window over her sink.
He turned and walked toward her, only stopping when he was within touching distance. “I need you to do something to help with this investigation.”
“Anything. I want to help.” Maybe contributing in some way would dull the helplessness plaguing her.
“Close and lock the bottom slats of your windows. Keep both the doors in your house and car locked whether you’re in them or not. And stop your investigation.”
Madelyn placed her hands on her hips. “Are you worried I’ll take your job?”
“I’m worried you’ll find something you don’t want to find.”
Her gaze dropped to his chest. She fought to block the gruesome images buffeting her mind.
“Hey.” Her gaze found his. “I also need you to give me directions to Mr. Malik’s house.”
10
E xcitement
“I hate to be the one to break it to you, but you’re not very intimidating.” She hoped her bluff was working, because in truth he was intimidating the hell out of her. Every sentence he uttered in his dungeon-dark voice sent chills down her spine.
“I may not be,” he agreed, “but my gun is.”
She blew it off. “Don’t take it to heart. You’re not a local and you don’t have boobs. So, nobody’s going to talk to you.”
“In that case,” Nathan countered with a sly grin, “you only have half of the criteria.” When she cocked an eyebrow he continued, “You’re not a local. You only moved here three years ago.”
“So, you read my file?”
“No. Di…Special Agent Kepler told me.”
Her stomach knotted. “So, he read it.”
“No, I have it locked up. But he did make nice with the courthouse receptionist. She pulled real estate and insurance records for him.”
She nodded, unable to speak for the momentary relief. After a few moments she said, “The locals welcomed me quickly. For some it takes longer.”
“It’s the boobs.”
“Excuse me?” Her cheeks flamed.
“Hey, you brought it up.” He smirked.
“What?”
“That’s why they welcomed you so quickly.”
“No, it is not. I am a nice person and I have taken an interest in the island’s culture, the community, and the children.”
“Uh-huh.”
How dare he talk about her boobs. They were body parts that had not gotten much attention in an uncomfortably long span of time. She’d all but forgotten about them. Even in her wardrobe they blended in like unfashionable accessories. And here this stranger was making her all too aware of their sudden wanting presence. She struggled to ignore the tingling, made worse by his knowing gaze and her constricting sports bra. Setting her jaw she tried to burn a hole in him with her gaze. Undisturbed, he gave her a killer smile and returned to his food.
“You need to eat,” he said after a beat.
“I’m too irritated to eat. Nichole…my friend can’t be dead.”
They held each other’s gaze for too long. She gulped the raw emotions clawing their way up her throat. “Are you finished?” Her hand shot out to take his plate.
His warm fingers encircled her wrist. Instead of going rigid and cold all over, the contact heated her someplace deep inside.
“I’ll get these.” Nathan’s touch slid from her wrist, taking all the oxygen in her body with it.
He retrieved the plates and cups, stood, and looked over his shoulder at her. “Lock the back door on your way in.”
Since when did she take orders from a man? Apparently, this was a banner day. She pulled herself up, sucked in a deep breath, followed his wide shoulders into her house, and locked the door behind her.
Nathan moved through her space with such easy assurance, like he’d been there a thousand times. But then that’s probably how men moved through life, taking every bump and crossroad in stride. He stepped over Deacon, placed the empty dishes in the sink, tucked her uneaten salad into the refrigerator, and then peered out the two wide slats of the window over her sink.
He turned and walked toward her, only stopping when he was within touching distance. “I need you to do something to help with this investigation.”
“Anything. I want to help.” Maybe contributing in some way would dull the helplessness plaguing her.
“Close and lock the bottom slats of your windows. Keep both the doors in your house and car locked whether you’re in them or not. And stop your investigation.”
Madelyn placed her hands on her hips. “Are you worried I’ll take your job?”
“I’m worried you’ll find something you don’t want to find.”
Her gaze dropped to his chest. She fought to block the gruesome images buffeting her mind.
“Hey.” Her gaze found his. “I also need you to give me directions to Mr. Malik’s house.”
10
E xcitement
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