Grace Under Fire (Buchanan-Renard 14)

“Anyone who looks into your background would know you’re goal-oriented. You set the goals and then you exceed them. You don’t know what the word ‘defeat’ means.”

“Of course I do,” he argued. “I fail all the time, and I’m not inflexible.”

“It’s not a flaw,” she said. “You’re also inflexible in your values, and so are your brothers. I know what your next challenge is, and I know that you’re going to do well and end up at the top because that’s what you always do.”

She set the tray aside, then folded her napkin and placed it on the table. “Do you wonder how I know all this?” she asked. “It’s simple. There aren’t any secrets in the Buchanan family. You know that. I heard Dylan telling Kate that you’re going to Quantico soon to train to be an FBI agent, and you’re hoping you’ll be assigned to the antiterrorism department... whatever that is.” She continued, “You told Dylan you’ll stay with the Bureau until you retire, but Theo isn’t giving up. He wants you to work for the Department of Justice and put your law degree to good use.”

Michael leaned back in his chair and looked amused. Then he said, “There aren’t any secrets in the Buchanan family? Are you sure about that?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then everyone knows that you and I had sex.”

Mortified by the very thought, she said, “Absolutely not. I don’t want anyone to know, and since you believe it was a mistake, I’m going to assume you haven’t told anyone.”

He didn’t comment, and because he said nothing to deny it, she concluded he hadn’t changed his mind. His obvious insensitivity hurt and embarrassed her. She pushed her chair back and stood. “Soon we’ll forget it happened. In fact, I’ve already forgotten,” she lied.

“I haven’t.”

Just sitting across from Isabel made Michael want her. She was so damned beautiful and sexy and loving, and he remembered how good it had been between them. Her next comment pulled him from his erotic thoughts.

To Isabel, changing the subject seemed safer than getting into a talk about sex. “I’m still feeling jet-lagged. What about you?”

“I’m okay. Listen, we can’t leave just yet. I’m waiting to hear from Nick. He’s gathering some information for me.”

“Can’t you talk to him in the car?”

“Not until I know you’re going to be safe. That’s when we’ll leave.”

What kind of cryptic answer was that? “Has he talked to the police here?”

“We both have.”

Before she could ask him what, if anything, he had found out, his phone rang. That one call turned into six.

Isabel sat on the bed to wait and within minutes fell asleep.

It was close to two in the afternoon when Michael nudged her awake. “We can leave now.”

Isabel sat up and stretched her arms over her head, feeling refreshed from her short nap. “I’ll be ready in a few minutes,” she promised.

Michael leaned against the door and waited with a resigned look on his face as Isabel got organized.

After looking for and finding her jacket with the hood, then checking to make sure she had her cell phone and charger, she slid her cross-body bag over her shoulder and said, “Let’s go.”

“Where’s your car parked?”

He held the door open for her, and as she walked past, she said, “Down the street. I’m going to drive it to Henson’s Motor Store and Smart Repairs. It’s just a couple of blocks away, and the owner will see that the car is returned to the rental agency.”

“Why are you taking it to a motor store?” He had asked what he thought was a normal question. Her reaction wasn’t normal at all. Her face turned bright pink faster than a blink.

“I’m driving the car there because it’s easier than driving back to the airport.”

“Couldn’t you just leave the keys at the front desk?”

She rushed down the stairs. “No.”

What wasn’t she telling him? She reached the front doors, but he grabbed her before she could go any farther. “When we’re outside you stay close to me. Understand?”