“I will not ruin your life.” She backed away from him, putting the chair Dominic had been sitting in between them.
“Katrina.” He started toward her, determined to change her mind.
She held up her hand. “Don't come any clo...” Her words died in her throat. Out of the corner of her eye she'd glimpsed a sparkle of blue. Her gaze shifted from him to the coffee table.
Boyd saw the color drain from her face. “What's wrong?”
Her hands grasped the back of the chair. “Dominic left something on the coffee table. I forgot about it when you suddenly appeared.” She felt sick to her stomach.
Boyd's gaze followed hers and his expression turned grim. The object on the coffee table was Leona's ring.
Tears began to trickle slowly down Katrina's cheeks. “She always said the only way anyone would get that ring off her finger was to take it off her dead body.”
“She shouldn't have tried to make it on her own,” Boyd growled.
“She always thought she was cleverer than others.”
“Apparently she overestimated her ability.” Reaching her side, Boyd placed a protective arm around her shoulders. “Everyone needs someone when the going gets rough. You're stuck with me whether you like it or not.”
Her chin trembled. “You are so tempting. But I've made up my mind and one day you'll thank me for not letting you link your life to mine.”
“You're one stubborn woman. But I can be just as stubborn.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “We'll talk about the future later. Right now, you've had a shock. Come in the kitchen and I'll make you some coffee, then I'll call headquarters.”
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By the end of the day, word had filtered through the streets and the local agents had learned from informants that the hit was made in Canada the day before. But no one knew who the shooter was. The guess was that it was outside talent. There was also word that what Leona had taken with her had been returned to Garduchi and he was satisfied that he was safe.
Late in the evening, sitting on the couch, her feet propped up on the coffee table, Katrina stared into space. The ring was where Dominic had left it. She hadn't been able to make herself touch it.
Boyd sat beside her, his arm around her. “Penny for your thoughts.”
She liked sitting there with him. He made her feel warm and safe and wanted. Tomorrow she would make him go, but for now, she would allow herself this final time in his company. “They're dumb.”
“All right, half a penny.”
“I was wondering what my life would have been like if I'd been born into a normal family.”
“You'd probably be married with two kids, spending your days carpooling and going to PTA meetings and we'd have never met. And I'd have to spend my life wandering alone, sad and forlorn, wondering where my soul mate was.”
Tears burned at the back of her eyes. She forced herself to her feet. “I cannot be your soul mate. You have no clue what it's like to have people constantly watching you as if they expect you to suddenly metamorphose into some horrible beast.”
Boyd rose. His hands closing around her upper arms, he looked hard into her face. “My mother is full-blooded Apache. When my father married her, half of those he considered friends turned away from him. The other half took a while to accept her. My mother's people weren't pleased with the marriage either. But my parents didn't let what anyone thought bother them. They loved each other. That's all that mattered.”
She pictured a man very much like Boyd and a young Apache maiden looking lovingly at each other. Tears of frustration welled in her eyes. “It's obvious how much your family means to you. They might never accept me. My father was the same breed of man who killed your father.”
“My family judges people for who they are, not who their parents were.”
“You can't be certain of that.”
His gaze bore into her. “There is only one question that concerns me...do you love me, Katrina?”
She dropped her gaze to the top button on his shirt. “No,” she lied. “Now go away.”
“Look me in the eye and say that,” he ordered.
Steeling herself, she met his gaze. The soft brown depths of his eyes drew her in, threatening to drown her in their warmth. “Go away,” she managed to choke out.
“You're not answering my question.”
She tried to lie again. The words formed on the tip of her tongue. Instead, she heard herself blurting, “Yes. I love you. I love you. There, are you satisfied?”
Triumph spread over his features.
She twisted out of his grasp. “Now get out!”
He frowned impatiently. “You don't seriously think I'm going to give up on you now.”
Her jaw firmed. “It's over between us. Absolutely over.”
“I guess that means you want me to sleep in the guest room tonight. That doesn't sound like much fun.”
She scowled at him. “Go tell your family all about me. See their reaction. Then remember how even Eldridge went to Santa Fe. If you're honest with yourself, you'll see I'm right and someday you'll be grateful I sent you away.”
He shook his head at her obstinacy.
His stance and the set of his jaw told her that arguing would be useless. The desire to invite him to share her bed once again swept through her. But the fear that if she did, she might never be able to send him away held her back. “You're the most exasperating man! I'm trying to do right by you,” she snapped, then needing to flee before she gave in to the fire burning within, she added, “I'm going to take a shower and go to bed
alone.”
Boyd frowned at her departing back. She was his woman and he was determined to convince her of that.
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Lying in bed, staring into the dark, Katrina wished with all her heart there was some way she could prove her good intentions to the authorities and Boyd's family.
A plan began to form in her mind. It wasn't a great plan but it was the only one that might possibly work. She knew he'd try to stop her if he found out what she was up to. Besides, it was risky and she didn't want him involved. “So I just have to choose the right time to get away from him.”
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The next morning she rose early, wanting to be up and dressed before Boyd. She was in the kitchen when he came in wearing only his jeans. Her gaze traveled over his broad shoulders and muscular chest. “You're not playing fair,” she said. “Go get dressed.”
Reaching her in two long strides, he drew her into his embrace. “All's fair in love and war.”
Knowing that meeting his gaze could be fatal to her resolve, she leaned the top of her head against his chest and stared down at his bare feet. Even they looked enticing and mentally she groaned. “I'm trying to do what's right.”
He kissed her hair. “Did you miss me last night?”
“If I say yes will you please go shave and get dressed?” she pleaded.
He smiled down at her head. “If that's what you really want.”
“Yes, that's what I want.”
Liar!
What she wanted was to stay in his arms forever.
“So did you miss me?”
“Yes, now go.”
“I'm going to take a shower. I don't suppose you'd consider coming in and washing my back for me?” he coaxed.
“No. Now go.” Straightening away from him, she gave him a determined push to send him on his way.
He kissed her lightly. “Too bad.”
The moment he was gone, she wrote a note saying she had an errand to run and would be back soon. Then, waiting until she was sure he was in the bathroom, she grabbed her purse, left and drove straight to Garduchi's estate.
“Didn't expect to see you here,” Joey Green, the guard at the gate said, his tone unfriendly.
“Just tell Mr. Garduchi I want to see him,” she snapped.
Joey placed a call to the house. “He says I have to search your car and then frisk you to make sure you don't have any wires or weapons.”
Katrina smiled to herself. Vince was so worried she'd come seeking revenge, he wasn't letting her through his gate until she was checked. Well, she had come to bring him harm, but not his way. Stepping out of the car, she spread her arms to allow the search. The malicious glimmer in Joey's eyes caused her stomach to knot. “Just make sure all you do is look for wires and weapons,” she warned. “Or I'll scream loud enough your wife will hear about it.”
“Joey.” Dominic's voice came over the speaker. “Remember she's a guest. Mr. Garduchi wouldn't want her to feel misused.”
“You ain't my type, anyways,” Joey muttered. He made a quick inspection of her and a more thorough one of the car, then opened the gate.
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Boyd was scowling at the note Katrina had left when his cellular phone rang.
“This is Agent Harlow,” the man on the other end of the line said, when Boyd answered. “I'm out here keeping an eye on the Garduchi estate.”
Boyd's stomach tightened. “What's going on?”
“Maybe you can tell me. We were told you were baby-sitting Ms. Polenari,” the agent said.
“I am.”
“So what's she doing at Garduchi's?”
Boyd's hand balled into a fist, crushing the note as he fought a rush of fear for Katrina. “When did she get there?”
“Just now. Doesn't look like she got too friendly of a welcome either.”
Boyd's fear for her safety multiplied. “Damn!”
“You want us to do something?”
“No. I'll take care of it.” Hanging up, he punched in another number.
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At the house, Katrina was subjected to a second, more thorough search by the maid who had searched her on her last visit. Apparently Garduchi wasn't taking any chances that she might be here to avenge her aunt, she mused. Finally, she was led into his study. Dominic was standing to one side of his father-in-law. Louey and Victor took positions behind Katrina. A curl of fear wove through her. She thought of her life without Boyd and it disappeared. She would stroll through Hell if it meant being able to spend the rest of her days with him.
“I'm truly sorry about Leona,” Garduchi said, his voice too sticky-sweet with sympathy. “But when you trod a dangerous path you must expect adversity.”
Katrina schooled her voice into one of respect. “I appreciate your words. My aunt was thoughtless in her actions. You treated her well and she betrayed you. I accept the consequences she brought on herself.”
Vince nodded his head approvingly. “That's very reasonable of you. Dominic tells me that you are considering moving to a more comfortable environment. Have you made a decision?”
“Yes, I'll be moving soon.” Katrina was aware that he'd given her no indication that he wanted her to sit so she remained standing. This too was another show of respect, and she wanted him to think that her aunt's death had shaken her so badly, she was completely cowed.
“Good.”
“But I would like to bury my aunt before I go.”
He spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “With that I cannot help you.”
Continuing to keep the respect in her voice, she added a plea. “Surely you cannot begrudge her a Christian burial so that her soul may rest in peace.”
“Professionals are careful people. They send photographs and personal belongings, and, in your aunt's case, property that was stolen, as proof the job is done. But the body, they prefer never to be found. A person cannot be brought to trial on rumors.” He rose. “If there is nothing else...”
His dismissal was cut short by the sound of a helicopter.
Dominic hurried to the French doors that opened onto the patio as the machine landed on the back lawn. Katrina followed with Victor and Louey close behind, their guns drawn. Continuing outside, Dominic motioned for Victor and Louey to take positions behind him and to either side. Seeing the police markings, he cast Katrina a threatening look.
“I had nothing to do with this,” she yelled above the sound of the machine.
The moment it landed, Boyd climbed out. When he was out of range of the propellers, he waved to the pilot and the helicopter took off.
“Put your guns away,” Dominic ordered Louey and Victor, never taking his eyes off of Boyd. “And to what do we owe this visit, Agent Logan?” he asked as Boyd reached the patio, letting Boyd know his identity was now known to them.
“I've come for Miss Polenari,” Boyd said curtly.
Dominic smiled at the anger he saw Boyd direct at Katrina. “Women can be very difficult.” He glanced at Katrina. “Some more than others. You are welcome to her.”