Free Deadly Valentine by Jenna Harte Page A

lot of circumstantial evidence that doesn't look good for him.”
    “I thought we agreed we couldn't talk about that, under the circumstances.”
    He nodded. “Even if he wasn't a suspect, I'd be concerned.”
    “Why?” She hadn't meant to ask because she was pretty sure he was feeling threatened by Jack's attention. She didn't want to have to remind Daniel, yet again, that she wasn't interested in romantic liaisons with him or anyone for that matter.
    Daniel moved from the coffee table to sit next to her on the couch. “I remember when you came back from D.C. You were so ... lost, unsure of yourself. I don't know all the details of what happened, but I do know that you broke away from everyone including Jack for a reason. I just don't want to see you get hurt.”
    She took his hand, gave it squeeze. “I'll admit, it was a little unsettling to see him again, but it's not going to be a problem. He can't hurt me.”
    Daniel's expression told her he wasn't as sure about that as she was.
    “He's really a nice guy,” she said. “Under different circumstances you two would probably hit it off.”
    “I doubt it,” Daniel said with a scoff.
    “Well not now of course. You think he's a murderer. That can hinder a budding friendship.”
    “There's that. And then there's the fact that he and I are in love with the same woman.”
     

Chapter Twelve
     
    Jack knew the minute she woke, when her eyes latched on to him as he sat in her chaise chair. He resisted looking up. He knew that once he gave her his attention, she would start in with how she didn't need a nursemaid and ask him to leave. So he kept his eyes down on his computer even though he didn't see a thing on the screen.
    After several moments, when she didn't say anything, curiosity got the best of him. He lifted his gaze to find her amber colored eyes studying him. He felt a punch of emotion, the swell of it filling his chest. It spread, leaving him no choice but to smile at the way she brought feeling back to his life.
    "What were you working on?" she asked.
    "Just seeing if I could learn anything about the documents on Asa's computer." He stood then and went to her. Her eyes widened a little as if she was nervous or afraid of him. The reaction bothered him more than a little. He sat on the coffee table instead of the couch as a compromise.
    "Did you discover anything?"
    "Nothing that will keep me out of jail."
    She shifted so she could sit up, pulling her legs in, tucking them under her."Did you find anything interesting at least?"
    "The baby's birth certificate says that the mother, Delia was about twenty when she had the baby, which was about the same age as Asa at that time. And the birth certificate doesn't list a father."
    Tess' brow furrowed as she considered his news. "Do you think Asa was the father?"
    Jack shrugged. "That I don't know."
    "It doesn't seem like the kind of secret Asa would be so eager to disclose."
    "I know. I can't imagine how the information would adequately embarrass or humiliate anyone at the party. And it doesn't explain why it was in a folder with my information."
    "I suppose it might embarrass the Senator a little bit to have his son and his secretary involved in an affair and having a child. He's big on family values," Tess said.
    "It wouldn't be such a big deal today. And the woman and the baby are dead, so what's the prize in it for Asa?"
    "You're right. There had to have been more to it."
    "I don't think we're going to figure it out tonight. Are you hungry?" He shut down his laptop and set it on the coffee table next to the pile of Asa's documents he'd printed when he'd gone home.
    “I'm a little thirsty.”
    Jack smiled, pleased him that she didn't insist he leave. Progress. "I picked up some Ginger Ale on my way over. It's supposed to be ideal for the flu.”
    He went to her kitchen. “I got you some crackers too.”
    “Why are you here?” she asked when he'd returned with the drink and crackers. His smile dropped.  Just