Page 149 of Untouchable
“Okay. But be careful. I’m liking this less and less.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t like it either, but that’s not really the point.”
“I know. I know. The truth shall set you free and all that shit.” Jack gave a soft, exasperated groan. “I’ll have you know I worried a lot less before I met you.”
That made her feel strange and uncomfortable. She didn’t like the idea that Jack—that anyone—was worrying about her. “No one asked you to worry.”
“Yeah, but I’m a go-getter, you know. I don’t wait to be asked.”
She couldn’t help but smile. “Who would have thought the tough security type would be a mother hen at heart?”
“Well, don’t spread it around. Don’t want to ruin my tough-guy image.”
“My lips are sealed. Are you feeling better? Sorry you had the flu. I was wondering why I hadn’t heard back.”
“Yeah, sorry about the delay. I feel basically alive today, which wasn’t true of the past two days.”
“Good. Well, I better go.”
“Okay. Take care. Don’t do anything else stupid.”
“It’s too late for that kind of advice.”
“Don’t I know it.”
Kelly said goodbye and disconnected the call, lowering the phone and staring at Ralph, who was running in circles trying to catch a bird, which seemed to be intentionally teasing the dog.
This was almost over. Pretty soon she would have the answers she needed.
And she wouldn’t have to feel like this—completely conflicted, completely helpless, completely trapped in her feelings and what she was afraid might be true. In this downward spiral that had no end.
She could hardly believe that, not so long ago, she’d started out on this plan to coldly, heartlessly bring Caleb Marshall down.
When now all she wanted to do was prove he wasn’t guilty at all.
She was anxious and restless when she got back to the house. What she’d suggested to Jack was a good idea. She would make up an excuse today to stay away from Caleb. She would go back to her apartment and get her grounding again. Then she would know the truth and she could figure out what to do from there.
The more distance she could get from him to prepare for the final step, the better it would be.
He was coming down the stairs, dressed in an expensive black business suit, when she came back into the house.
She paused, staring up at him as he descended.
For a moment she lost her breath. He was so gorgeous and so confident, and intelligence and depth radiated off him like an invisible force field.
And there was something so tender underneath it all, something she never would have dreamed of until she’d gotten to know him.
He smiled at her. “You’re up early.”
“Yeah. I don’t know what happened, but I couldn’t seem to stay in bed. It’s a beautiful day.”
“I know. I was just checking my schedule, and I have a light afternoon. I thought I might cut out early.”
She blinked, so surprised she couldn’t think of anything to say immediately. “Leave work early?” He never did anything like that.
“Yeah. Do you want to do something outside? It’s too nice a day to stay indoors.” He was still smiling, this time in a slow, seductive way that was almost impossible to resist.
This wasn’t at all what she’d been expecting. She was going to make up an excuse today to stay away from him. “I’ve got to finish up a portrait today,” she began, trying to fall back on the reason she’d come up with earlier.
