Page 17 of Daring Lance

“Sit and eat.”

Willow sighed and brought her previously discarded bagel to her lips, taking a large bite out of it. “Fine. I suppose this bagel does taste much better than anything else that I might have tasted instead.” She smirked and took another bite of the bagel.

Lance raised a taunting eyebrow. “Is that a challenge? As I said earlier, we have all day. Right now, I would like to know what you have uncovered so far regarding the Ruby and friends’ laundry scheme before we become otherwise distracted.” He ran his thumb over the corner of her mouth and then wiped his hand on a napkin. “Cream cheese.”

Willow was glad to have swallowed her bite of bagel, or she would have choked on it. How did he make the simplest of gestures so provocative? She stared at him, unable to speak and not sure she wanted to for fear of what she might say. Had she ever noticed how smooth his skin was or that there was the faintest of lines at the corner of his eyes, the same eyes she swore she might drown in some day?

“Willow? You mentioned that you’d made some progress on the money laundering investigation?”

She blinked and shook her head. “I, ah, sorry. No. I mean, yes, I think I have. I interviewed each of the five residents that had anonymous deposits into their accounts, and they each confirmed they have received deposits but no withdrawals. What’s most interesting is that they all opened new accounts in the last six months at the same place, the Sunshine State Bank.”

“What? That can’t be a coincidence. It must be the link.”

Willow took a sip of the orange juice that Lance had poured in a glass for each of them. “I agree. There’s no way it’s a coincidence. I think that whoever is making the deposits works for the bank.”

Lance set down his coffee cup, and as Willow watched him, she realized that he was far more graceful than she would have expected for someone who works in construction all day with large tools and building equipment. He appeared at ease rather than uncomfortable with the delicate China cups he had chosen from her cabinet.

“Is it a particular branch location?”

Willow swallowed another bite of her bagel. “That’s the intriguing part. Each of the residents opened an account in the last year, but didn’t go to the bank. Apparently, the bank came to Regency Palms and set up a table in the lobby for a few hours, enabling residents to open accounts or ask questions.”

“You’re kidding?”

Willow smiled. “Nope, that has to be the link. I just can’t figure out the why or the who.”

“I hate to say it, but I think you are going to need to interview the residents again.” Lance sat back in his chair, and Willow realized she wanted nothing more than to jump into his lap. She knew he’d welcome her if she did, which thrilled and terrified her at the same time. Since he’d shown up at her apartment this morning offering breakfast and a kiss, she’d been playing a dangerous game with her emotions. She had made the decision that she’d spend however long they had together, which was likely only a few months, having the time of her life. Lance was a great guy who enjoyed a lot of the same things she did and demanded nothing in return. Would she ultimately get hurt? No doubt about it, she would, but she’d survive. She couldn’t remember the last time she had wanted to be in a man’s arms like she did Lance’s, and she planned to enjoy it while it lasted. She’d likely have the pity party of the year for herself when he left, but it was nothing a good bout of tears watchingTitanicorThe Notebookor some equally depressing love story wouldn’t cure. At least, she hoped it would.

Willow let out a sigh. “Yeah, whoever is the source of the mysterious deposits into the residents’ accounts must know each of them.”

Lance sat forward in his chair. “And there are definitely not any mysterious withdrawals from any of their accounts?”

Willow nodded. “None, according to what each of them told me. And why would they lie?”

He raised his coffee cup to his lips and paused. “Should we try to interview some of them this afternoon?”

“I’m sure they are all at the bingo marathon.”

Lance placed his coffee cup on the table. A slow grin made its way to his lips. Willow raised her eyes from the last remnants of her bagel to find him staring at her.

“I guess that means we have a few hours to fill before we can meet with any of them.”

Willow took a deep breath. Did he mean what she thought he did? And was she mentally ready if he did? Desire-wise, without a doubt she was ready. Rational-wise, there was still a teeny, tiny part of her holding back, fearful of the inevitable heartbreak ultimately in store for her. “We could go snorkeling, if the water is calm enough.”

“We could.” Lance leaned toward her. He placed his fingertips on each of her forearms, slowly tracing an imaginary line to her wrists and then back up again toward her shoulders.

Willow’s heart kicked up a notch and then ten. “Or we could play tennis!”

“You play tennis?”

She nodded eagerly. “Yes, don’t you?”

His earlier grin curved further upward on one side of his mouth. “Yeah, I do.” His fingertips trailed a path upward over the column of her neck, eventually running soft circles below her earlobes.

Willow closed her eyes while letting out a groan she couldn’t hold back. “It’s probably too hot out to play tennis right now. It’s best to play first thing in the morning this time of year.”

“Hmmm.”

Willow opened her eyes to find Lance’s head hovering above her, his lips a moment’s touch from connecting with hers. “Lance?”

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