Sudden Engagement. Julie Miller

the harder it is to solve,” she said, as if explaining her aversion to his touch. “If I don’t have your full cooperation, then this is pointless.”

      “We’ll find out the truth. Together.”

      With the challenge hanging in the air, he dared her to retreat a third time. Her gaze darted from the sidewalk to her car and back to the middle of his chest. “All right. We’ll eat.”

      He rewarded her hard-won agreement with a smile, overlooking the bothersome observation that she hadn’t looked him in the eye. “There’s a diner on the next block. Since the rain stopped, we can walk.” Keeping a comfortable distance between them, Brett headed for the corner, shortening his stride so Ginny didn’t have to pump her legs in double time to keep up.

      “I suppose it makes good sense.” She seemed intent on reasoning this out. “I need background. You need to eat. We can combine both and save some time.”

      “See? It’s a good plan all round. Not bad for an arrogant bozo like me, huh?”

      “I didn’t say…”

      He sensed the snap of her head as she looked up at him. He came to an abrupt stop and turned. Whatever she was about to say died on her lips when their gazes met. She didn’t know he’d been teasing! She would have defended him against the self-mocking insult.

      Big bad Brett Taylor, neighborhood hero and resident handyman, had always taken care of himself and those around him. To know this dainty bit of curves and confidence had been willing to do the same for him warmed a chilly place inside he hadn’t acknowledged for a long time. Ginny Rafferty wasn’t quite the all-business woman who fascinated him. She was human. The woman was as much of a mystery as the cases she worked to solve.

      Reaching an unspoken truce of sorts, he checked for traffic, took her by the elbow and crossed the street with her. He released her as soon as they were safely across. “If we can prove that old man Bishop finally got what he deserved, I’ll answer any question you have, as many times as you want to hear it. There are plenty of folks around here who would love to know the truth.”

      “One thing I’ve learned, working homicide…” He glanced down to see the wry wisdom in her voice reflected in the expression on her pretty face. “There’s always one person who doesn’t want you to find out the truth.”