Hero Under Cover. Suzanne Brockmann

to the bay windows on the other side of the big room.

      He pulled back the curtains and looked at each window carefully, checking to see that the locks were secure and the alarm system was working.

      Annie stood in the middle of the room, arms crossed in front of her as she watched his broad, strong back. With his conservatively short black hair, she wouldn’t have expected him to be wearing jeans with his tweed jacket, but somehow it didn’t look out of place. The jacket was well tailored, fitting his broad shoulders like a glove. His jeans were loose enough to be comfortable, yet managed to show off the long, muscular lengths of his legs. Legs that went all the way up to—

      She pulled her eyes away, not wanting to be caught staring at Taylor’s butt. It was exceptional though, she thought, grinning, glancing back at him. Even with his hair cut so short, Taylor would have no trouble qualifying for one of those hunk-of-the-month calendars….

      “What’s so funny?” he asked, pulling the last of the curtains closed again and walking toward her.

      “Nothing,” Annie said, backing away.

      “Look,” Pete said. “I’d really feel a whole lot better if I could sleep in here tonight.” He paused for a moment. “You won’t even know I’m here,” he added.

      Oh, sure, Annie thought. And they’re expecting heavy snow this year in the Sahara desert. She forced herself to stay in control of what was rapidly becoming a ludicrous situation.

      “No,” she said. “Maybe I’d feel different if I thought I was in any kind of real danger. But I just don’t buy it.”

      She walked him to the door. He hesitated before stepping out of the room, but finally he did.

      “Feel free to use the spare room,” Annie said. “It’s across the hall. The bed’s already made up.”

      He didn’t say anything. He just watched her from behind his expressionless mask.

      “See you in the morning,” she finally said, closing and locking the door.

      Pete stood out in the hall, listening as Annie got ready for bed. The water ran for a while in the bathroom, the toilet flushed and finally the lamp clicked off.

      And still he stood there, just listening and waiting.