Free Retribution Boxed Set (Books One and Two) by Cindy Stark Page B

that night? I guess it doesn’t
matter because they have video footage, but did you come across anyone who
could testify against you, or who could testify there was someone else in that
area?”
    Her heart sank. “I didn’t see anyone. It was
strangely quiet to be honest.”
    “Maybe we can find out who was on staff.”
    “There has to be someone who saw something .”
A chilling thought raised the goose bumps on her arms. “Do you think this
person specifically targeted me, or was I unlucky enough that he chose my
computer and even unluckier that I went back into the building after hours?”
    Xander narrowed his eyes. “Good question.”
    “And what if I’d run into him while he was at my
computer? Emotion raised her voice a bit. “Would he have made some excuse and
not stolen the money, or would he have…” She couldn’t say it.
    Xander cleared his throat. “You can’t think about
that.”
    “But what if?”
    He shook his head. “There are many white collar
criminals who think nothing about heisting millions, but they would never
physically harm someone.”
    “Unless desperation drove them to it.”
    He folded her hand in his and squeezed. “You’re
going to drive yourself insane if you get caught up in what-ifs. Let’s stay
focused on the facts at hand.”
    She blew out a shuddering breath. “I’ve been so
caught up with the whole police questioning thing that I hadn’t considered what
might have actually taken place that night. But you’re right. No sense worrying
about what didn’t happen.”
    He pulled into a parking space not far from her
building. “Is this your house?”
    “Yes. I’m surprised you found it so easily.” She’d
only given him her address and had then become distracted by her thoughts and
hadn’t realized they’d arrived.
    He shrugged. “I used to work not too far from
here. I know the streets pretty well. Let me get your door,” he said as he
exited, the rain still spitting from the sky.
    He opened her door, letting Stormy out and
extended a hand to her. She stepped into the drizzling weather. Her dog lowered
her ears as the water pelted her, and she ran for the covered entrance to her
building.
    “Let’s make a run for it. I don’t want you
getting too wet.” He held her hand as they dashed across the sidewalk. The feel
of his hand around hers comforted her and excited her at the same time.
    They stopped under the awning shading her
doorstep, both breathing a little heavier from their sprint. She tilted her
head up to his and laughed. Sprinkles of rain covered his hair and cheeks.
    He grinned and wiped a droplet from her nose.
    “You didn’t have to walk me to my door in this
weather.”
    “I wanted to.” Attraction glimmered in his eyes.
    “I’m not going to invite you up, you know.”
    His smile grew wider. “I figured you’d say that,
but a guy can hope.”
    There was something about this man she really
adored. “I’ll see you in the morning?”
    “About ten?”
    “Ten, it is.” Compelling currents of attraction
raced through her, and she wished she dared to invite him to spend the night
with her. But she didn’t want him to get the wrong impression and think that
was something she did often. “Thank you for a wonderful evening.” She slid her
arms around his neck, moving in for a hug, but he kept his eyes pinned to hers,
and she found herself drawn to his face. She moved closer, and the next thing
she knew, she’d placed her lips on his.
    Dangerous longing slammed into her, and she
couldn’t resist sliding her lips over his and deepening their kiss. He
responded by crushing her against him. Her tongue found his, and she slipped
her fingers into his rain-soaked hair.
    Far too quickly, he pulled back, ending their
kiss. A sigh of satisfaction escaped her before she could stop it.
    She met his darkened gaze with wide eyes. Had the
intensity of their kiss surprised him as well? She shook off the awkwardness
with a small laugh. “With that, I