Free Covert Attraction by Linda O. Johnston

wouldn’t mind that. In fact, he would welcome it.
    Instead, she said, “Thank you. Thank you so much, Daniel. I’d heard a little about that aspect of Judge Treena and the CIU part of the ID Division but no one completely confirmed it. If I’d been sure...well, I’d have had to come back here anyway. But I’m so relieved to have someone I can work with.” Her expression suddenly hardened. “I’m not just being a fool here, am I? I mean, you could tell me anything to make me let down my guard.”
    “And if I tell you you’re not a fool to believe me? Looks like we have another stalemate forming. I’ll understand if you stay wary of me. But I’ve told you the truth, Beth. Whether or not you fully believe it, you can trust me.” As long as she didn’t make his job harder.
    He had an unwelcome urge to seal that thought with a kiss. But he believed that any sudden motion on his part, anything other than acting professionally, would only scare her all the more. He instead finished his beer, then took another bite of rice. “Beth Jones is a good cook,” he said. “But I’m a better one. I’ll have to invite her over to my place for dinner one of these evenings.”
    * * *
    Beth laughed. The sound surprised her. So did her sudden relief.
    She knew better than to fully let down her guard, but she’d check again with Judge Treena to try to confirm what Daniel had said. But it did at least comport with what Her Honor had said to her, which eased Beth’s concerns even more.
    He hadn’t told her everything, though. He’d hesitated in the middle of his story and his expression had gone completely blank for a few seconds. As if he had swallowed something back inside.
    It might be irrelevant, even if it made her curious.
    For now, though, she didn’t hesitate—much—when he asked her to do her part in this conversation.
    “You can undoubtedly get the necessary details about me from Judge Treena,” she said lightly, then took a sip of her remaining beer. “And you probably know at least some of it since she sent you here to go after Preston Corcoris. But here’s the gist of what happened. I was in public relations here at Corcoris Pharmaceuticals for a couple of years. Enjoyed my job helping to tell the world about our wonderful products. But then, as I was researching some of the newest things to determine how to promote them in the best light, I was told things about perfect quality-control reports being fudged somehow. Hidden flaws despite how glowing the reports were. Maybe even bribes to the outside labs that were starting clinical trials on people. I started asking questions. As I became more visible in the PR department, Preston Corcoris started coming on to me. In my naïveté, I thought I’d go along with him in a limited way—not have sex with him, of course, but see if I could get some more information from him.”
    She stopped and swallowed hard, hating all the memories but that one most of all. Corcoris and the way he had attacked her physically. She had gotten away before he could really assault her, but there were no witnesses, no way to prove that any more than she’d been able to find any proof about the rumors she’d been hearing about the pharmaceuticals.
    “Are you okay?” Daniel had stood and come over to her and was kneeling, with one arm supporting her shoulders.
    She considered turning in her seat and throwing herself into his arms, but that would be a bad move.
    “I’m fine,” she assured him. “Really. But I’d like some more beer. How about you?”
    “Sure.”
    She went into the kitchen and got them each another bottle. “Just leave all that.” She waved at the table of dirty dishes, inviting him onto the beige plush sofa in the living room. “I’ll clean it up later. Let’s sit more comfortably while I finish this, okay?”
    “Whatever you’d like,” he said.
    Surprisingly, what she’d have liked at the moment was to throw herself into his arms. And cry? Probably