Read Online Smoke and Fire: Part 1 by Donna Grant - Free Book Online Page A

as you’ve been around, you must’ve had plenty.”
    Was that jealousy he heard in her voice? That made Ryder want to smile. Perhaps she still felt something for him after all.
    “No, to answer both your questions. No past lovers of anyone—including mine—have shown up besides you.”
    “I’m the lucky one, huh?” she mumbled and returned to face the screen and Ulrik’s pictures. “Do you have any photos of his associates?”
    “There are literally thousands, by my guess. He’s never seen with any of them.”
    “So that’s a no,” she said. “You’re right. It could be anyone, but the fact is, that had anyone mentioned your name, I would’ve been suspicious.”
    “They probably wouldna have. What about Dreagan?”
    She shook her head. “Not that I can remember.”
    Ryder could see that she was becoming agitated by not having any answers. He was as well, but when it came to Ulrik, Ryder was used to this.
    “Let’s start with something we already know is fact. Someone used your name to write up the work order to send you here,” he said.
    Kinsey turned the chair to face him, leaning an elbow on the arm. “Right. We don’t know who that is though.”
    “No’ yet. Truthfully, we many never know. It might be pointless, because it could be just some lackey that Ulrik used to get something done.”
    She nodded as she listened. “That’s a good point. What else do we know?”
    “That you are innocent of putting in the work order.”
    Kinsey chuckled and shoved her hair over her shoulder. “Yes, I am. That’s all we know, isn’t it?”
    Pretty much, but Ryder had gone on less before. “I know Ulrik is involved. I’m going to need time to piece it all together.”
    “ We’re going to need time,” she corrected.
    Ryder smiled. He hadn’t realized how much he missed being near Kinsey until she had walked into his office.
    The problem was, there was too much suspicion still in regards to her. Con would want her isolated from Ryder and the access she had with the computers.
    However, Ryder already had an argument in response to what he knew was coming from Con.
    “Does it bother you that I’m here?” she asked.
    Ryder was so surprised by her question that it took him a minute to respond. “No. I understand that you’d rather no’ be here.”
    “That was true at first.”
    “Which means you do now?” Hope sprung in his chest. Ryder held his breath as he waited for her to answer.
    Kinsey motioned to the room. “Look at this place. I’ve never seen a room set up the way you have it. All the latest and greatest technological marvels at your fingertips. You have access to everything you want, and the money to back you if you need it.”
    Disappointment quickly replaced the hope within Ryder. He should’ve known she would be completely geeked out by all that surrounded her. It was her passion, just as it was his.
    And yet, he yearned for something more.
    It could’ve been his. It had been his.
    Until he walked away.
    If only Ryder could reverse time and do it all over again. Perhaps if he’d spoken to Kinsey and told her who he really was she wouldn’t have been so scared.
    That night she saw him shift had been horrendous. It scarred her from within in ways that few would ever understand. But he did.
    “Besides,” she said with a smile. “I’m going to find whoever set me up and learn why.”
    “You may no’ like what you uncover,” he cautioned her.
    Kinsey used her foot to swing her chair from one side to the other. “I’d rather know what I’m dealing with instead of walking with my head in the clouds as I have for years. How you must have laughed at me.”
    There was no heat to her words, but Ryder still heard the pain she couldn’t quite manage to conceal. All kinds of responses sprung in his mind at once.
    “I never laughed at you,” he said. “I marveled at your enthusiasm for the world. I admired your dedication to your career and your family. I was amazed at your