Free 2000 Kisses by Christina Skye Page B

when I'm talking to a strange man who's had his hand under my skirt.”
    His lips twitched. “Point taken.”
    Tess gnawed at her sunburned lip. “Has Andrew phoned you today? My cell phone doesn't work, and I haven't spoken to him since last night.”
    “We talked about an hour ago. He said he was working on two leads.”
    So much for her hope that the problem would be solved by now. She started to rise, only to feel die room spin.
    T. J. pushed her back onto the cot. “Tell me what you need, and I'll get it.”
    “What I need are some answers.” Tess stared down at her waist, stirred by a sudden memory. “Did you take off my belt?”
    “I surely did.”
    “And you unbuttoned my shirt?” she asked stiffly.
    “It's a tough job, but a cowboy never sidesteps his duty.”
    “Very funny.” She pushed away the cloth at her neck. “I want to phone my brother.”
    T.J. cupped her wrist, checking her pulse. “First you'd better drink some more water.”
    Tess took a sip from the glass he held to her mouth and then sat up slowly. “Andrew will probably be worrying. For some reason this whole business has him spooked.”
    “If he's spooked, there's a good reason.” He handed her the phone, then turned away and started going through a pile of paperwork.
    Tess still felt shaky, but she was getting more clearheaded by the minute and she was certain the arrangement wasn't going to work. Andrew would have to come up with something else.
    She reached Andrew's crusty secretary, gave her name, then waited interminably to be put through.
    The line clicked. “Thank heavens you called. I was about to send out my own search party.”
    “I can't imagine why. You had every state trooper between Massachusetts and Arizona watching out for me.”
    “Just keeping an eye on my baby sister. Since I couldn't go with you myself, my network of spies was the next best thing. I hear you did something to your hair.”
    “Just a few subtle highlights.”
    “Not exactly subtle, I'm told. Are you in Almost?”
    Tess sighed. “I'm afraid so.” Tess frowned at the mountains shimmering in the distance.
    “So what do you think of Sheriff McCall?”
    She was certain that the man in question was listening to every word she said. “Nice enough, I suppose—if you like that type.”
    “What type?”
    “Oh, you know. Big.” Slow. Arrogant. Irritating.
    “Don't be fooled by that slow-as-molasses drawl. McCall is a good man, Tess. Otherwise, I wouldn't have sent you there.”
    Tess didn't want to discuss the sheriff. “What about your investigation? It's been four days now, Andrew. Someone should have reported that money missing.”
    “I'm working on it, Tess. We need more time.”
    “How much more time?” She hunched closer to the receiver. “How long am I going to be stuck here?”
    “I can't say yet. So far there's nothing concrete.”
    “Of course there's not. You're letting this get all out of proportion.”
    “Until I verify the source of that million dollars, you aren't going anywhere. It's simply not safe.”
    “The deposit's probably from Richard's account. He can afford to give me that kind of bonus—or maybe he made a simple accounting error,” she finished weakly with the feeling that she was grasping at straws.
    “I need to be sure. So far I haven't been able to reach him, and his accountants won't release any financial information without his approval.”
    “You can forget about that. He just bought an island in French Polynesia and he'll be out of reach there for at least two weeks.” Her voice fell. “Look, I can't stay here, Andrew. I haven't seen a single
Wall Street Journal
since I left St. Louis and I'm having serious news withdrawal. The last thing I want to do is stay boxed up in some dusty little town at the back of beyond.”
    “It's for your own good, Tess. When that money is traced and the coast is clear, you'll be the first to know. Until then, the subject is closed.”
    “No, I'm leaving tomorrow.