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His eyes narrowed into green slits. “Keep it up,” he said softly. “See just how far you can push before I reach overload.”

The thought of him on overload sent a chill down her spine but she kept the phony smile on her lips.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to tell before that happens. The smoke rising from your circuit-boards will be a dead giveaway.”

It was a good line and she made her exit on it, the spot between her shoulder blades tingling in expectation that he’d come after her, but he didn’t. She even thought she heard him laugh, but that had to be a mistake.

She found the kitchen easily enough, a big, bright room loaded with shiny stainless-steel appliances and enough gadgets to satisfy any man’s soul. The coffee was where he’d said it would be, as were the sugar and milk.

Whose house was this? she wondered as the coffee dripped slowly through the filter. She went to the sliding glass doors that led out to a large deck surrounded by flowering shrubs in a riot of colors.

A place this beautiful wouldn’t belong to a man who was a killer. But that’s what Matthew Knight was. He’d brought her here so they could be alone. So he could do whatever he figured it would take to wring the truth from her.

Mia shuddered.

What was she doing, making coffee? He’d left her alone. All that stood between her and freedom was a glass door…

“Don’t even think about it.”

She whirled around. He was right behind her. How could a man his size move so quietly?

“The doors and windows are all on a security circuit. Touch one and they all lock, and enough sirens go off so that there wouldn’t be a chance in hell you could evade me.” His smile was quick and sharp. “In other words, you’re trapped.”

Trapped. The word was terrifying, but she’d be damned if she’d let him know it. She turned away from him and reached for the coffeepot.

“I’m impressed,” she said, as if she actually gave a damn. “A high-tech security systems, all this land… Who owns this place?”

“I do.”

Her surprise must have shown on her face.

“Want to see

the deed? It’s mine, baby. Lock, stock and barrel.”

“Don’t call me that. And why are we here?”

“I told you. For the peace and—”

“Damn it,” Mia said, the words tumbling from her lips without plan, “stop toying with me! Whatever it is you’re going to do, just—just do it and get it over with.”

The careful mask she’d worn had slipped. Matthew heard fear in her voice and saw it in her eyes. She thought he was going to hurt her unless she came clean.

For one crazy minute, he came close to taking her in his arms and telling her that no matter what she’d done, he wouldn’t hurt her. Wouldn’t let anyone else hurt her…

But the insanity passed.

She was dealing in drugs.

She was another man’s woman.

Nothing about her was any good, except for the feel of her in his arms. The taste of her against his lips.

Just the thought of her in Hamilton’s arms, in his bed…

He shut his eyes. Forced himself to take a couple of cleansing breaths.

“We’ll talk later,” he said. “Right now, I want dinner.”