Free Acquainted With the Night (9781101546000) by Piper Maitland Page B

toward the mirror, raking her fingers through her hair. After a day of travel, she resembled a hedgehog.
    She strode into the hall, leaned against the door, and squinted through the peephole. Jude gazed straight ahead. He’d discarded his sweater and jacket. His white shirt was unbuttoned at his neck, and she saw the start of curly black hairs on his upper chest. He reached up and smoothed his ponytail. His previous stubble was gone, and she noticed a tiny nick on his chin.
    Cute guy, bad timing. She stepped away from the door. Part of her wanted to be alone with the anagrams, but another part wanted to quiz Jude about those letters. Were they the only reason he’d followed her to Bulgaria?
    Couldn’t the matter have been settled over the telephone? Never mind that he didn’t own a mobile.
    She removed the chain lock and opened the door. The poignant scent of Acqua di Parma drifted over her.
    â€œMiss Clifford,” he said, bowing slightly. “I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
    â€œNot at all.” She smoothed her hair. He disturbed her in more ways than she wished to count.
    He pointed at the elevator. “I was on my way to the mezzanine bar. Would you like to join me?”
    â€œI’m a bit tired.” Translation: You’re as baffling as the anagrams. I don’t need more puzzles.
    â€œWe’ll give it a miss, then.”
    â€œBut I’d like to talk.” Because you’re exceptionally intriguing.
    She opened the door wider. He stepped past her and she caught the scent of his cologne again. Handsome men made her nervous, but Jude also looked as if he could defend himself in a pub brawl.
    â€œWould you like a drink?” she asked. “There’s wine in the mini fridge.”
    â€œThat would be lovely.”
    â€œNot much of a choice, I’m afraid.” She knelt beside the icebox. Bottles clinked as she pulled out a Chablis. She tipped the bottle over two glasses and handed one to him. “Cheers,” he said.
    She raised her glass and repeated Uncle Nigel’s favorite toast: “Here’s mud in your eye.”
    After she took a sip, she set her glass on the desk and picked up the letters. “Why were you using an alias?”
    â€œI didn’t want to be found.” He stared down into his wineglass.
    â€œWhy not?” She sat on the edge of the chair and tucked her feet around the rungs.
    â€œLong story.” He tossed down the wine and grimaced. “Several things happened. Including a broken romance.”
    A romance. Not surprising. Had it broken from Jude’s end or the woman’s? And why was he bringing it up? To show that he wasn’t a pervert? Or unattached? No little wife waiting for him in Switzerland?
    Caro set down the letters. “Uncle Nigel had a heart condition. Did your article concern cardiac issues?”
    â€œNo, genetics.”
    â€œWhy would my uncle be interested in that?” She lifted her glass and drained it.
    â€œI was hoping you could tell me.” He nodded at her glass. “I’m empty, too. Shall I open another bottle?”
    â€œOpen two, if you don’t mind. Not that I’m a sot. The bottles are awfully tiny.”
    â€œIndeed they are.” He walked to the fridge.
    â€œDo you have any idea why my uncle wanted us to meet?” she asked.
    â€œI assumed you were a biochemist, too,” Jude said.
    â€œNothing of the sort.” Her voice sounded too cheerful, and she cringed. Dammit, the wine had fizzed straight to her brain, making her unnaturally chatty. Worse, she couldn’t control it. “I was a Ph.D. candidate, but I quit. Now I’m a tour guide.”
    â€œA Ph.D.” His eyebrows went up a little, as if he hadn’t expected her to be a scholar. “What did you study?”
    â€œHistory. Specifically heretics in the medieval church.”
    He fell silent as he opened another bottle of Chablis. “Why did you give