Free Flirting With Danger by Suzanne Enoch Page A

was going. But it wasn’t one of my staff.”
    “How about their family members?”
    “No.”
    “Well, it wasn’t me. What about personal…friends in Germany?”
    “You mean do I have a fraulein in Stuttgart?”
    He thought a blush crept up her cheeks, but with her face in profile he couldn’t be certain. It surprised him. She seemed so worldly and capable, yet she could blush.
    “Sure. Do you?”
    “Not on this trip. I was there on business.”
    “Hm.”
    “Hm what?”
    “I’m thinking. Give me a moment.” Sam wandered past him into the hallway again and back toward the front door.
    “What are you thinking?”
    She shot him another look, a half smile still on her face. “What are you thinking, Addison? You’d never have invited me in here if you really thought I’d set that explosive, so who are your suspects? What are their motives? Any other signs of breaking and entering? I mean, I said I’d help, but you have to do some of the work.”
    The antique grandfather clock in the main hall chimed six times. “I don’t keep an enemies list.” He smiled briefly, noting that she still refused to use his first name. He wondered how many other roadblocks she might attempt to set up and how much he would be able to find out about her. He had herfirst name, which was more than he’d known last night, but given the reluctance with which she’d handed that out, this wasn’t going to be easy. Thankfully, he liked a challenge. “And no, the police didn’t find any other doors or windows forced open,” he continued. “We did assume that it was you who used the mirrors at the front gate and cut open my patio window. Would you care for dinner?”
    Her expression drew tighter. “I’m not staying.”
    “You’re safer here than anywhere else, especially until we can find a way to convince Detective Castillo of your innocence.”
    “I’m safe here unless someone tries to blow you up again, you mean. You’re charming, but I prefer to keep breathing.” Taking a last step forward, she curled her fingers around the handle and pulled open the door.
    “I will sound the alarm if you try to leave,” he said quietly. She wasn’t getting away. Not yet.
    One hand still on the door, she stopped. “I thought we had an agreement.”
    “We do, love. You will help me, and I will help you. I thought I’d grill some steaks, since you and Tom are here.”
    “Does Harvard sleep at the foot of your bed, too?”
    “He’s my friend, and he thinks I’m being foolish. I therefore expect him to annoy me to a certain degree. Don’t worry; he’ll leave soon.”
    Her shoulders heaving with the breath she took, Samantha faced him again. “Steak sounds delightful. But then I’m afraid I must depart for my chateau.”
    “Your chateau in Pompano Beach? I’d avoid going there, if I were you.”
    “Pompano Beach. That’s near here, isn’t it?” she asked, not batting an eye. “Is that where you think I live?”
    “Someone thinks so. Now come along, and I’ll show you to a room. I have a few minutes of business with Tom, then we’ll start dinner.”
    “You can’t keep me prisoner here,” she said as she brushed past him, heading deeper into the house.
    “I’m merely making certain we’re both in a position to uphold our ends of the bargain.” He closed the distance between them. “You are a self-confessed thief, Samantha. Don’t expect me to forget that.”
    “I don’t. But I’m not going to forget anything, either. Where’s my cell?”
    It wasn’t worth arguing about what she chose to call her accommodations. But he could change his mind about which room he would give over to her. Richard led the way upstairs to the second floor. “You’ll find some clothes in the closet and appropriate toilette items in the bath.”
    “Your ex-wife’s?”
    His jaw closed over a retort. “I frequently entertain visitors on short notice,” he said instead. “I’ve found it prudent to keep a few extra items about to