Chapter 14 #3
She had to get to her files before Dr. Cooper did.
“We need to leave. We need to get to my office at the clinic and delete all the files related to John Doe and the formula,” she said. She slipped her arm through his and tugged him back toward the front hall.
“I thought you had the John Doe files secured?”
“Most of the paper files are at home—but I’ll need to get the rest and deal with the computer files. I need to get everything that could possibly compromise us removed from that office, onto a zip drive, and to my house.”
“Tonight? Now?”
She nodded. He paused a beat with an unreadable look on his face, probably hiding his anxiety.
She could feel the tension in the muscles of his arm and back from where she stood close to him.
A new panic rose in her: concern for him.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, she now worried about all the tension and pressure and the serum she was giving him, and she began running down the possible implications of the combination in her mind.
“Then let’s get out of here,” he said. He took her arm and, snapping her from her panic, moved her to the hall.
“I wasn’t panicked about leaving. I was . . .” What could she tell him? That she was concerned for his health?
He stopped as a man brought their coats to them. “What are you panicked about?” He held her coat and she slid into it. The cold silky lining against her bare skin made her shiver.
“What is it, Charlie?” He spun her around and held her shoulders as they stood at the door. The worry was overwhelmed by the warmth she felt at his unabashed concern. It was a luxury to have someone concerned and wanting to help her.
But that wasn’t her. That was Suzette. That was her mother.
She was the strong one. The one that didn’t need help. The one who took care of others.
She was sorry she’d told Trent about the family disease.
His knowing made her feel too vulnerable, too much like damaged goods.
Who wanted a woman who would never be able to have children for fear of passing along a dreadful disease like the one that marked her DNA?
But she needn’t worry. That wasn’t what her relationship with Trent was about, was it?
Getting married for real, let alone having kids, was the furthest thing from their plan, not even close to the real nature of their relationship.
Sex. Lies. Dark secrets. That’s what she and Trent were all about. Partners in crime.
She pulled from his hold and walked outside where she slid into the back of the limo.
“Maybe we should go back and get my car. This limo is going to be too conspicuous,” he said, sliding in next to her and keeping his hands to himself. He was good at picking up on her cues and seemingly undaunted. Unaffected. Her nerves jumped and a swell of acid pitched up from her gut.
“No one will be there at this hour. We’ll park around the back of the building and use a service entrance.
I have a key. It’s the door I usually use.
We’ll run to the office and download all the files from computer, erase them from the server, and grab the remaining paper files then leave.
” Settling back in her seat, she forced herself to relax, forced her muscles to melt against the plush cushion of leather and felt his thigh spread to touch hers.
The spark of heat made her pull her leg away as if he were a white-hot flame.
“Paper files?”
She nodded. “Backup.”
“I’m going in with you.” He smiled a predatory smile and slipped his arm around her, forcing her to submit to his warmth as if the overwhelming sensation of protectiveness, of safety, of home, was somehow punishment.
“I’ll cure you of that martyr complex yet.” The relentless twinkle in his eye forced her to sigh. She leaned into him, but the comfort was tainted. A rough grain of pretense marred the perfectly smooth feel of Trent Lockheed’s affection.
He insisted on opening the door to the building and walking ahead of her in spite of the fact that he didn’t know where he was going and she had to direct him as if he was blindfolded in a maze.
The halls were dark and she’d forgotten a flashlight.
All they had were their cell phone lights and the occasional windows where the outside nightlight of moon and streetlights spilled in.
“Okay. Second door on the right.”
“I see it,” he whispered “There’s a light under the door.” He halted and turned, putting an arm out to stop her.
“That’s not good. I didn’t leave lights on. But maybe—”
“Your new assistant could be working late?”
“That’s one way to put it.” She clamped down on the jitters and the strangling rise of bile in her throat.
“You wait here—I’ll go in and check.”
“No—I’m coming. I know her and you don’t. It could be . . . innocent.”
He gave her a look but they both moved forward.
When she stepped in front of him to grab the door handle to go in first, he didn’t stop her, but he put his hand over hers and she felt the heat of his body right behind her and another hand on her shoulder.
He had her covered. Literally. A frisson rose through her body caused either by the pleasure of him being there, or the fear of facing whoever might be in her office. She didn’t know which.
The door made a loud click and whoosh when they opened it and stepped into the low light. Their sudden appearance was enough to startle Dr. Lisa Cooper. Her new assistant investigator.