Free Hide'n Go Seek by Dale Mayer Page A

timing, huh?"

    Still, Kali had a hard time dragging her gaze away from the tight faded jeans encasing his muscled thighs. And the cream golf shirt stretching across his chest didn't help either. She swallowed. She might not want him here, but he was definitely eye candy.

    The twinkling front bay windows of her house caught her attention. The rest of the world danced with the dawn of a new day, whereas she...she felt like shit. And probably looked it, too. She'd been gone for days and had spent the last twenty-four hours in the same dirty clothes, her hair covered in dust and her skin gritty as sandpaper. Lovely.

    The flight home from California had been postponed by a good six hours. She thought it was Friday. Her inner clock was beyond screwed. Thank God Stan had been waiting to pick her up when she'd finally made it in. She could have begged off the next step, too, except she'd been doing this for far too long to shy off work when everyone else was exhausted. Together, they'd transported gear and animals to the center for unloading in the large garage. Later, equipment would have to be washed and sorted, checked to see if it was safe to reuse, and kits restocked. First, the team needed rest. Janet, a long time volunteer and dog trainer, had sent Kali home. Her good humor had been a balm to Kali's stressed nerves.

    Right now, all she wanted was sleep.

    Grant strolled over as Kali let Shiloh out of the Jeep, then headed to the back for her gear.

    "Good morning."

    Shooting him a quick glance, she reached for her grubby travel bag. "Well, it's morning. I don't know about the good part. It's a little early for a visit, isn't it?"

    He reached inside the cargo area and lifted her bags in a smooth easy motion before she had a chance to argue. She turned to face the second man and her brain stalled. Christ he was gorgeous, cool and classy, with Adonis-type features. He wore black jeans and a silver knit shirt tight enough to show the muscles rippling with every movement, but not so tight as to label him a player. He nodded his head in her direction, a small smile playing on the corner of his mouth. "Good morning."

    Holy shit. The warm chocolate voice rolled through her ears and down to her tummy. She couldn't pull her fascinated gaze away. She must look like an idiot. She didn't need this. She needed rest. No matter how many male models Grant put in her path today, nothing was going to stop her from heading to her bed - alone!

    Grant passed her on the way to the front door, his spine stiff, his movements clipped, bags carried easily in his hands. Sure, he hadn't been up for the most of night, she thought, disgruntled. Slamming the Jeep door shut, she made her way to her front door. If Grant wanted to ask questions, he was going to have to let her shower and eat first. Hell, no. Better to give him what he needed then collapse. Besides, what she really wanted was another look at her painting.

    "Just put the gear by the back door, please. I'll clean it up later." She tossed her keys on the counter and faced him and the hunk who had walked in behind him. "I have to feed Shiloh. You have about five minutes after that before I collapse." She turned her attention to rummaging up a meal for the dog. With Shiloh happily wolfing her food down, she faced the men. "What's so important that you had to come this early? And who's your friend?"

    Grant crossed his arms and leaned against the counter. "Stefan is a consultant. You were part of an investigation down in California yesterday, I understand." He regarded her intently. "At the apartment collapse. Apparently you found a body."

    Shit. How had he known? And so fast? Was there anything the FBI didn’t know?

    She turned to face him, widening her gaze in what appeared, she hoped, casual interest. She kept her gaze on him, refusing to be sidetracked by the mind blowing Stefan. This time there was no mistaking Grant's assessing look. Brushing her hair back off the side of her head,