Mad, Bad and Blonde - Cathie Linz [43]
“What were you trying to prove here?” she demanded. “That you can seduce me?”
“You seduced me as much as I seduced you.”
“Me? You’re the one who kissed me. Here and in Italy.”
“And you were the one who kissed me back. Then and now. You slap me, you dump water in my lap, yet you still kiss me back. Why is that?”
Great question. Too bad Faith didn’t have the answer. Because he could really use some answers about now. He sure as hell didn’t know what he was doing with her. Kissing her hadn’t scared her away at all. Instead, her sexy response shook him in a way he didn’t even want to admit.
“You ruined everything,” she said. “I had a plan, and you messed it up.”
Caine wondered if she was referring to his father’s case or to what happened in Italy.
“Does your father know you’re messing with this case?” he said. “Did he send you here to interfere?”
“No and no. He knows nothing.”
“You’ve got that right.”
She glared at him. “I meant about this case.”
“Again, you’ve got that right.”
“Specifically, I really meant he knows nothing about my interest in this case.”
“Why not?”
“Because it would upset him.”
Caine took a moment to digest that piece of intel. “Meaning he doesn’t want you messing with this case. He wouldn’t approve. He wants you to leave it alone, right? He wants you to blindly trust him when he says the case is closed. So why don’t you? What’s your motivation here? Are you just trying to irritate me? Sabotage my investigation?”
“I told you my motivation. It hasn’t changed. I’m going to prove that my father was correct in his analysis of the case.”
“What did you hope to gain by talking to Weldon? And don’t even try giving me that innocent face, Sunshine. I’m not buying that you’re a fan of old sci-fi movies,” Caine said.
“What’s your interest in Weldon?”
“I asked you first.”
“He’s a person of interest. And now I’ve probably missed seeing him because of your antics.”
“Right. So you should just trot on home.”
She stared at him in amazement. “Trot? What am I, some kind of horse?”
“You should march on home.”
“I’m not a Marine. I don’t march.”
“You marched out of that sushi restaurant the other night.”
“I was trying to get away from you.”
“Easy to do. Just stay out of my business.”
“It’s not just your business anymore. It’s mine now too.”
“You father isn’t dead.”
“No,” she said quietly. “And I’m sorry for your loss. I don’t know if I said that before—”
He cut her off. “It doesn’t matter. It’s too late for an apology.”
“Okay. I get that. You don’t believe your father is guilty. So who do you think sold the corporate formula to a rival?”
“That’s what I’m trying to find out.”
“Me too.”
“No, you’re trying to reassure yourself that your rich daddy can do no wrong.”
“That’s not true.”
“Isn’t it?’
“No, dammit.”
“Ohhhh, the librarian swears.”
“And I know how to shoot,” she reminded him.
“Yeah, but you haven’t gone to target practice in months. I checked. There are only a handful of firing ranges in the entire area. I’ll bet you’ve gotten rusty. Besides, you know the rules regarding concealed weapons in this state. You’re not the kind to break the rules.”
“I broke them with you. Big mistake.”
“That’s not what your kiss just said.”
“Another even bigger mistake,” she said. “One that won’t be repeated.”
“Not if you leave now.”
“I’m not leaving. There’s a chance I can catch Weldon when the movie lets out.”
“I have no intention of allowing you to intimidate Weldon into saying whatever you want him to say.”
“Me? You’re the one into intimidation.”
“You do all right.”
“So what are you suggesting?” she said. “That we both work on the case?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them.
“Are you crazy?”
Perhaps. Perhaps she was crazy like a fox. Or so Faith tried to tell herself. She had to be logical here. “If we work together, then we can keep tabs on each other. Make sure that things are aboveboard and that