Free Beneath the Stetson by Janice Maynard Page B

in a sharp breath, but otherwise managed to face him with a neutral expression. Her hands continued to move, tidying up the work space, but her body was rigid.
    Gil didn’t look any happier than she felt. “I had five phone calls today,” he said abruptly. “All of them wondering why I’ve allowed a woman I’m dating to spend time at the club without me present.”
    She winced. “So they know what I’m doing?”
    “Not specifically. It’s my fault for giving the receptionist my key. She’s a nice woman, but she can’t keep her mouth shut.”
    “What did you tell them?”
    “I thought about making up a story, but frankly, you’re a state investigator. Everyone in town knows it. Sooner or later, people were going to put two and two together. It was one thing for you to be seen eating lunch with Cade and me at the club. But I should have thought through the implications of you being here on your own today.”
    “So you told them the truth.”
    He nodded his head. “I did. And I can’t repeat most of what was said in return. People don’t like knowing that their personal business is being opened up to an outsider, especially one with government connections.”
    “I’m sorry, Gil.”
    “It’s not your fault.” He shrugged, his expression rueful. “You’re merely doing your job. I can handle a little heat, Bailey. It’s you I’m worried about.”
    “I told you...I can take care of myself.”
    “Alex Santiago would have told me the same thing, and look what happened to him. Some nutcase decided to kidnap him.”
    “There had to be a reason. Some connection we’re not seeing.”
    “Yes. And because we can’t point to the perpetrator yet, the danger is still very real. What if someone tries to dissuade you from probing any further?”
    “I take precautions. That’s one reason I’m not staying in town. Chance’s place is as safe as anywhere I can think of. Too many people around for anyone to get to me unnoticed. Not to mention the fact that I can keep an eye on Chance.”
    Gil ran a hand across the back of his neck, his face a thundercloud. “He has nothing to hide, Bailey. I’ll be damn glad when this is all over.”
    “Not me,” she said quietly. “At least not entirely. Because that means I’ll have to head home.”
    His jaw tightened as the truth of her words sank in. Whatever time the two of them shared was likely to be very brief. Her heart shied away from that knowledge. Leaving Royal was a reality she didn’t want to contemplate. Especially not now that Gil had admitted he wanted her.
    He frowned as he took her shoulders in his hands and squeezed gently. “ Please be careful, Bailey.”
    She moved closer into his embrace, kissed his cheek, and sighed. “I’m always careful.” For long seconds, they stood there quietly as something fragile and precious bloomed. To have the right to lean on him, even symbolically, was very sweet. His hard frame seemed to shelter hers, even though she was quite capable of caring for herself.
    The pull of his masculinity called to a part of her she often kept out of sight. Being “girlie”was the last thing she needed in her line of work. But with Gil, she felt herself letting down barriers. Softening. Needing.
    “Tell me,” she said, idly running her fingers over his collarbone. “What is this idea you were working on?”
    He set her at arm’s length, his expression unreadable. “You want to interview club members—right?”
    “Yes. Maybe half a dozen or more.”
    “The thing is, Bailey, I can’t stop you from doing what you were sent here to do, but I also can’t condone using the club for those interviews. The TCC is where guys come to get away from life. To chill out and kick back. They have a right to their privacy. But...”
    “But what?”
    “But I think it might go down better if we do it at my place. I’ll contact whomever you tell me and invite them out to the Straight Arrow tomorrow night. I won’t lie. I’ll tell them