Page 23 of Hunting the Crossbow Killer

His touch sent a shock wave through her senses, making her long for so much more. She leaned into his touch—

He jerked his hand back and swore. “I’m trying to warn you and here I am doing the same thing.” He shoved both his hands through his hair, leaving it rumpled and disheveled.

Grace’s fingers curled with the desire to feather her hands where his had been, to smooth the waves in his hair, to draw him close.

“Stop it,” he bit out. “Don’t look at me like that, either.”

“Like a wounded puppy?”

“Like a damn temptress. You’re dangerous. We’re dangerous. This has to stop, this…whatever’s happening between us. I don’t understand it and I sure as hell don’t welcome it. Stop being nice and touching me and calling me Aidan with that sexy voice of yours. Nothing good can come of it so just…stop.”

He scrubbed the light stubble on his chin. “For the love of… How did we go off on this tangent? That’s not what I… The reason I asked about your plans is that I’m worried about your safety, your physical safety. Don’t assume that because you were able to put Collier in his place tonight that you’ll have the same success against another man who’s larger and stronger than you, especially if he catches you off guard.”

“Are you trying to scare me into thinking you might hurt me if I’m not careful?”

“Oh, I’d hurt you. No question. By getting you fired as an FBI agent if we aren’t careful. But physically? No way. I’dnever be violent toward you or any other woman. Under no circumstances could I ever do that.”

She stared at him, searching for the truth in his eyes. “You’d never hurt a woman physically. Are you saying that you didn’t hurt Elly?”

“What? That’s not what I…” He swore again. “This isn’t going the way I… Hell. Malone, just be careful, all right? Don’t go around stirring up trouble, trying to find the shooter on your own. Take one of the police officers with you.”

She started to cross her arms, but the soreness in her bandaged left arm had her straightening instead. “As you’ve repeatedly pointed out, I’m a federal agent. Before that, I was a police officer. Notice that I’m in town without a partner. My boss trusts me to take care of myself. You should, too.”

“Does your boss know that your first day in Mystic Lake has ended with two attempts on your life? And an injury from one of them?”

Her face heated. “That’s none of your business.”

His jaw worked. “You’re right. It’s not. But for some reason, when it comes to you, I can’t just look the other way. Don’t risk your life by heading out alone anywhere. Please. You’ve been lucky the first two times this guy shot at you, lucky that you’re still alive and only have a sore arm and a few stitches out of it. Don’t assume he won’t make another attempt, and that this time he won’t hit something vital.”

His impassioned plea, the concern in his expression, had her more confused than ever. Even though she knew he was right that she needed to be careful how she acted around him in front of others, how was she supposed to act in private? She was so convinced he was innocent. Was this sizzling attraction between them completely clouding her judgment? Could he really be guilty of killing the woman he’d claimed to love? The mother of his child?

“Be careful,” he repeated, his voice gruff. “Please.” He crossed to his room and went inside.

She stood outside her own room, her mind a whirlwind as she considered everything that he’d done or said today. He was hiding something, had to be. Was it about the letters? Had their earlier discussion about them made him think of a possible suspect as their shooter? If so, why not tell her? Because he wanted to handle the situation on his own?

She was just about to go into her room when the rich brogue of Aidan’s voice sounded from the other side of his door. He must be on the phone. Who would he call this late at night? Did it have something to do with the case?

Looking around to make sure no one else was in the hallway and that the stairs were empty, she quietly crossed to his door and put her ear against it. Either he was being careful not to be very loud, or the walls in the B and B were insulated really well. She could only make out a few words and phrases.

“Yeah, I know it’s late but—”

“Tomorrow. Can’t wait for—”

“—what I pay you for.”

And finally a name.“Barnes.”

After that, there was only silence. Fearing she’d made a sound and he was coming to the door to check on it, she hurried across the hall and eased her door shut behind her. Then she crossed to the bed and took her laptop out of her satchel.

When it was fired up she put two names into the internet search bar. Aidan O’Brien, and Barnes. She tapped Enter, then gasped at the huge amount of search results on her screen. They were mostly news reports about Elly’s death, Aidan’s arrest, his pleading guilty without a trial. The name Barnes showed up over and over, Nathanial Barnes.

Aidan’s defense attorney.

CHAPTER TEN

Grace adjusted her leather satchel on her shoulder, careful not to hit her sore arm as she headed downstairs the next morning. Her steps were slow both because of her arm and because she was dreading running into Aidan again.

She’d barely slept last night going over everything that had happened and all she’d learned since coming to Mystic Lake. She’d read and reread his folder, searching for inconsistencies, proof about his guilt. Or innocence. But no sooner would she find the answer to one question than she came up with another one. She was more confused than ever.

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