Free Crash and Burn by Maggie Nash Page B

sitting room in front of him. It contained a desk, a three-seater couch, coffee table, a door to the bathroom and a door leading to the bedroom. Next to the desk was a phone plug for Internet connection. He’d take the couch. It was large and at least appeared comfortable.
    “I’ll take the couch,” said Beth, interrupting Daniel’s train of thought. “You must be tired from doing all the driving.”
    “No need. You take the bedroom,” Daniel answered. “I insist. I need to do some research on the Net anyway. I can sleep anywhere, and right now, that couch is a pretty damn good option.”
    “Ah no, you’re not sleeping yet. You promised me Thai food and I’m not letting you sleep until you deliver.”
    “I haven’t for—”
    A loud knock curtailed Daniel’s reply. He moved over and checked through the peephole before he asked who was there.
    “Room service.”
    Beth’s face paled as she squeezed her fists tightly, drumming her legs in a nervous gesture. “I didn’t order anything,” she whispered.
    “I did,” said Daniel smugly as he opened the door and stood back for the waiter to wheel in the cart. The pungent aromas of coriander and lemongrass filled the room.
    Beth just stood there staring with her mouth open and her eyes wide in surprise. “When did you order this?”
    The corners of Daniel’s eyes creased with amusement. “I can’t tell you all my secrets, can I? Where’s the fun in that?”
    Beth glanced first at Daniel, then at the food. She inhaled the delicious aromas coming from the plates and shrugged. “What the heck. Let’s just eat,” she said as she limped over, pulled out a chair and sat down.
    “Will that be all, sir?” asked the waiter as he shuffled from foot to foot, obviously having somewhere better to be.
    “Beth? Would you like anything else?” Daniel asked as he winked at the waiter.
    Beth lifted the plate covers and inspected the meal eagerly. “No thanks, this will be fine,” she replied. She shook out her napkin and placed it haphazardly across her lap, clearly anxious to get started.
    Daniel tipped the waiter while walking him to the door, locking and bolting it behind him. Already seated at the dining cart, Beth tucked in to the meal, oblivious to Daniel’s approach.
    “So you really like Thai food then?”
    Beth swallowed quickly and blushed. “I know I’m greedy, but I promise I’ll leave you plenty. It’s just that I can’t function without food, and it’s been a long time since lunch.”
    “Go ahead. Don’t worry about me. I can order more. It’s refreshing to find a woman who likes her food. Most women I meet eat like sparrows.” Daniel winked at Beth as he sat down. “And a healthy appetite doesn’t seem to have done you any harm.”
    Beth almost choked on her mouthful and grabbed her glass of water quickly to smother the cough. “Thanks,” she said, blushing once again and waving her hand back and forth in front of her face. “I think.”
    Oh great. Not only does he think I’m a stupid woman, now he thinks I’m a glutton. It doesn’t matter, does it? Isn’t that what she wanted to happen? That he didn’t find her attractive and backed off? Of course that’s what she wanted…or was it?
    “So how did you know my favorite Thai dishes?” asked Beth, trying to steer the conversation onto a safer path.
    “Just a lucky guess,” he chuckled as he sat down and started eating. “And they’re my favorites, too, so I guess we have something in common.”
    “Really? Something in common?” said Beth, pausing between mouthfuls. “Now that’s a surprise.”
    “Why? Is it that much of a stretch to find some common ground?”
    She placed her fork down and looked up. “It’s just that our lives are so different. I’m a receptionist, for goodness’ sake. How boring is that? And you? Well, you lead this exciting life running around catching bad guys. There’s no comparison, really.”
    Daniel flinched as he sat stiffly back in his